The 2030 Seagrass Breakthrough

The 2030 Seagrass Breakthrough is a global initiative launched at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UN FCCC) in December 2023. Convened by the CMS Office – Abu Dhabi in collaboration with the UN Climate High-Level Champions, appointed by UN FCCC COP Presidencies to mobilize non-state actors such as businesses, cities, and investors in support of the Paris Agreement, the initiative brings together governments, financial institutions, scientists, civil society, and private sector stakeholders to drive coordinated, large-scale action for seagrass conservation and restoration. 

The Breakthrough aims to mobilize USD 12 billion by 2030 and secure 16 million hectares of seagrass ecosystems worldwide. Its vision is to ensure a sustainable future for seagrasses by increasing long-term financing, halting ongoing losses, doubling the extent of effectively protected areas, and scaling up restoration efforts where feasible. 

Seagrasses are vital nature-based solutions that play a key role in climate mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and coastal resilience. Despite covering only a small fraction of the ocean floor, they store significant amounts of carbon, support rich marine biodiversity, stabilize coastlines, improve water quality, and provide nursery habitats for around one-fifth of the world’s largest fisheries. 

However, seagrass ecosystems are in rapid decline due to pressures such as coastal development, declining water quality, and insufficient protection. Restoration efforts remain complex and costly, underscoring the need for strengthened global cooperation, enhanced financing mechanisms, and robust, science-based conservation approaches. 

The initiative is guided by ten core principles, including ecosystem stewardship, science-based decision-making, inclusivity, innovation, transparency, and long-term resilience beyond 2030. It is also aligned with key global frameworks, including the UNFCCC, the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDGs 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).