Reconciling China’s domestic marine conservation agenda with the global 30 × 30 initiative

Abstract

The 15th UN Biodiversity Conference (COP-15) offers a critical and timely opportunity for world leaders to set out transformative actions to halt biodiversity loss for the coming decade and beyond. One prominent agreement coming from the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is protecting 30% of global oceans by 2030 (Ocean 30 ×30). With the presidential role of COP-15 and its vast ocean uses, the leadership and commitment of China is instrumental to achieving a global target on marine conservation. However, the pathways to China’s realization of the 30 × 30 goal remain unclear. Here, we use the country’s newest domestic agenda on marine conservation, which was released between the first and second half of COP-15, to shed light on (1) how its domestic policy may reflect China’s next steps on the global initiative and (2) how the Ocean 30 × 30 goal could advance the country’s plan to tackle its own marine conservation challenges. The policy analysis helps delineate the connections and gaps between the global and domestic goals, and provides recommendations for China to advance its ongoing marine protected area reform within the context of the 30 × 30 target.