Climate Change and Sustainable Development of the Ocean

Climate-related ocean challenges have emerged as a defining issue at the intersection of marine environmental protection and global sustainable development. Sea level rise, ocean acidification, and changing marine ecosystems increasingly threaten the health of the world’s oceans, directly impacting progress towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The response to these complex challenges has come into sharper focus following the 2025 UN Ocean Conference and the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion on “Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change,” which underscored the collective responsibility of all states to safeguard the marine environment with due diligence and genuine international cooperation. Despite recognition of these urgent needs, gaps persist in the development and implementation of effective governance frameworks, with ongoing debates over the adequacy of existing legal mechanisms, the evolution of state responsibilities, and the integration of climate science into decision-making processes.

This Research Topic aims to advance understanding of the legal, policy, and governance responses needed to address climate-related challenges facing the oceans. The objective is to critically assess the mechanisms by which states and the international community are responding to contemporary marine threats caused by climate change, such as rising sea levels, increased acidification, and degraded marine ecosystems. Key questions include: What innovations in governance and legal frameworks are required to protect vulnerable oceanic regions and populations? How can states better align national policies with new international expectations in light of evolving climate risks?

This Research Topic is limited to legal and governance approaches to climate-related challenges in the marine environment, with an emphasis on the effectiveness, innovation, and implementation of these responses.
To gather further insights in this area, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Legal responses to sea level rise and the protection of small island developing states.
• Innovation in ocean governance mechanisms to address climate adaptation and risk.
• Integration of climate science into policy and legal frameworks for ocean protection.
• State and international organization cooperation to manage transboundary marine challenges.
• The evolution of shipping in the context of climate-related environmental change.
• Mechanisms for protecting climate-induced migrants and addressing ocean-related climate justice issues.

Keywords: Sustainability, Climate Change, Global Governance, State Responsibility, Law of the Sea

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.