Taking climate-smart science and governance to the high seas

Climate-smart ocean planning and governance is an idea whose time has come, as recognized by the World Bank, UNESCO, and the European Commission. Yet, until now it has not been implemented at all in the high seas, nor properly within national waters worldwide. There is no better place to trial climate-smart MSP in areas beyond national jurisdiction than the Southern Ocean. It is one of the largest shared spaces on the planet, and one that faces the most extreme climate impacts today (together with the Arctic). While several initiatives have been developed to protect the Southern Ocean in the past, the time is now to build on this work by taking a new, broader path, engaging all relevant parties and stakeholders and addressing a wide range of interests in an integrated way. Climate-smart ocean planning and govrnance in Antarctica can guide decisions on how marine resources can be used sustainably even as the world changes, providing a model for international waters into the future.