• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.740-749
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• 2023

The ocean plays a vital role in the international carbon cycle, absorbing human-induced atmospheric carbon and preventing further atmospheric carbon accumulation. However, while the ocean had been considered a victim of climate change, it did not receive much attention as a solution for climate change in the major agenda of UNFCCC. Recently, a growing awareness that the ocean can provide numerous potentials to handle untapped issues to address the climate crisis has arisen, which has prompted discussions to strengthen ocean-based climate action. Since 2020, UNFCCC "Ocean and climate change dialogue" has been a forum to integrate and strengthen the ocean-climate nexus. This calls for integrating ocean action into climate action and the relevant sectors. In this regard, this study examined the background and international trends of ocean-based climate action and presented the author's perspective on the scope of content that such action should pursue and the direction to achieve it. In addition, this study identified tasks of the integrated approach and advancement of co-benefit as ways to strengthen ocean-based climate action, and it suggested domestic countermeasures for the Korean marine policy on climate change based on this.