COP31

Ocean Conservancy at COP31

The annual United Nations climate conference brings nearly every country in the world together to confront climate change and negotiate how governments will respond.

This year’s conference, COP31, comes at a time of growing economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Around the world, communities face rising costs, energy insecurity and increasingly severe climate impacts—all while governments face difficult choices about where and how to invest for the future.

The ocean is at the center of many of these challenges. It absorbs the impacts of a warming planet, from rising seas and marine heatwaves to changing ecosystems and growing risks for coastal communities. It is also part of the response, supporting clean energy, food and economic security, resilient coastlines, and livelihoods for billions of people.

At COP31, the challenge will be to translate growing recognition of the ocean’s importance into the policies, investment and international cooperation needed to deliver meaningful change.

Ocean Conservancy brings decades of science, policy expertise and partnership-building to advance practical ocean-climate solutions. At COP31, we will work with governments, communities, businesses and civil society to strengthen the policies, finance and partnerships needed to move ocean action forward.

Our priorities are to:

Advance the Blue NDC Challenge by supporting countries to turn ocean commitments in their national climate plans into policies, projects, investment and partnerships.
Accelerate the transition to clean ocean energy by scaling responsible offshore wind and other ocean renewables through the Ocean Renewable Energy Breakthrough, while advancing a managed transition away from offshore fossil fuels that protects nature and coastal communities.
Unlock more finance for ocean action by helping countries and projects access the funding and financial tools needed to put ocean-climate solutions into practice.
Strengthen international cooperation on ocean and climate through the Friends of Ocean and Climate, bringing governments together to advance ocean-based solutions across the global climate agenda.

Our work is focused on ensuring that the ocean is not treated as a separate environmental issue but recognized as an essential part of how countries build more resilient economies, strengthen energy and climate security, and respond to a rapidly changing world.

Ocean Conservancy’s Delegation

Find us at the following events in the COP31

*All times are in Antalya local time; accreditation is required to attend events in the Blue Zone

Monday, November 9 | 18:30-20:00
Hype or Hope: Navigating Ocean Mitigation
Side Event White Room
Official UNFCCC Side Event; Ocean Conservancy co-hosting, Shamini Selvaratnam Moderating
View livestream here

Tuesday, November 10 | 10:30-11:30
Global Offshore Wind Stocktake at COP31
Global Renewables Hub, Blue Zone
Shamini Selvaratnam Participating

Tuesday, November 10 | 16:30-17:30
Five Ways to Make the Ocean Economy More Sustainable and Just
Higher Ed Pavilion, Blue Zone
Shamini Selvaratnam Speaking

Wednesday, November 11 | 8:00-9:00
Friends of Ocean and Climate Breakfast
Invitation only

Wednesday, 11 November 2026 | 12:00 to 13:30
Axis 1 Synthesis Roundtable –Special Event Room 1 (Uzungöl), Blue Zone
Shamini Selvaratnam participating

Thursday, November 12 | 10:30-11:30
Synergies Between Coastal Conservation and Ocean-Based Climate Solutions
German Climate Pavilion, Blue Zone
Shamini Selvaratnam speaking

Thursday, November 12 | 12:45-13:35
Harnessing Synergies and Strengthening the Role of the Ocean in NDCs
Ocean Pavilion, Blue Zone
Shamini Selvaratnam speaking

Thursday, November 12 | 16:45-18:15
Advancing NDC Implementation and Readiness Across Small Island Regions
Side Event Room 3, Blue Zone
Official UNFCCC Side Event, Ocean Conservancy co-hosting, Shamini Selvaratnam speaking
View livestream here

Saturday, November 14 | 15:15-16:05
Pathways for a fossil-free ocean – The move away from offshore fossil fuels to offshore wind energy as a sustainable solution
Ocean Pavillion, Blue Zone
Ocean Conservancy co-hosting, Shamini Selvaratnam moderating

Monday, November 16 | 16:00-17:00
From Blue Ambition to Investment: Financing Country-Led Ocean-Climate Solutions
Climate Funds Pavilion, Blue Zone
Ocean Conservancy hosting, Dr. Fatima Vahlsing speaking and Shamini Selvaratnam moderating
Register here

Monday, November 16 | 16:30-17:30
From Belém to Rio: Blue NDCs, Ocean Science and the Road to Implementation
Brazil Pavillion, Mutirão Room, Blue Zone
Ocean Conservancy co-hosting

Tuesday, November 17 | 9:00-9:50
The Blue NDC Challenge, Official Launch of the Implementation Task Force
Ocean Pavillion, Blue Zone
Ocean Conservancy co-hosting

Tuesday, November 17 | 14:00-15:00
COP 31 Priority Spotlight Event for Oceans and Seas, UNFCCC Official Event
Special Event Room 3, Blue Zone
Ocean Conservancy co-hosting, Dr. Fatima Vahlsing speaking, Shamini Selvaratnam moderating

Tuesday, November 17 | 15:30 – 17:00
Axis 2 Synthesis Roundtable – Nature at Work: From Forest to Sea, Turning Belém’s Commitments into Antalya’s Results
Special Event Room: 1 UzungolT, Blue Zone
Ocean Conservancy co-hosting

Wednesday, November 18
Friends of Ocean and Climate High-Level Reception
Invitation only