COP30 in Belém, Brazil

For two weeks each fall, representatives from all over the world gather for the Conference on Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the primary international body for coordinating global action against climate change. This past November, COP30 was held in Belém, Brazil. While we know climate action is falling short of what’s needed to protect our ocean, it’s hard to walk away from two intense weeks at COP30 and be anything but committed to the road ahead.

At COP30, our Ocean Conservancy delegation hosted outcome-oriented events, observed negotiations and met with champions across governments and civil society to advance ocean-climate action. We are united in our conclusion that 2025 is the year the world finally embraced ocean solutions as essential tools for confronting the climate crisis.

Ocean Conservancy was at the table for this meaningful outcome, and the programs, policies and partnerships we created and championed were at the center of the progress.

Highlights from COP30

• The Blue NDC Challenge gained serious momentum. Under the Paris Agreement, countries submit plans called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) explaining how they will tackle climate change. Launched in 2025 by France and Brazil, and supported by Ocean Conservancy, Ocean & Climate Platform and World Resources Institute, the Blue NDC Challenge is a global call for all Parties to the Paris Agreement to integrate ocean-based climate solutions into their plans, signaling their commitment to accelerate ocean-based mitigation and adaptation actions that deliver benefits for climate, nature and people. By the end of COP30, 17 countries had joined the Challenge. In recognition of the broadening acceptance of ocean-based climate solutions, Brazil and France announced the transition of the Challenge to the Blue NDC Implementation Taskforce to increase the pace of turning these plans into action.
  
• COP30 included the first-ever High-Level Ocean Ministerial—and the room was packed. These High-Level convenings signify global priorities, drawing leaders and decision-makers to align agendas. The momentum for a Ministerial was possible thanks to the Blue NDC Challenge and clear civil society contributions via the “Blue Package,” a roadmap developed to turn ambition on ocean-based climate solutions into action. The founding members of the Blue NDC Challenge—Brazil and France—and four additional Ministers from Blue NDC Challenge countries—Fiji, the United Kingdom, Mexico and Portugal—provided examples of how their nations are implementing ocean-climate solutions. Senior officials from six additional countries also spoke at the Ministerial, with many announcing they’ve joined the Challenge, which brings the total number of countries to 17. (Here is the full list of countries that have joined the challenge: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Fiji, France, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Palau, Portugal, Seychelles, Singapore and the United Kingdom.)
  
• A report from Ocean Conservancy, World Resources Institute and Ocean & Climate Platform released during COP30 revealed that an increasing number of nations—at least 66 countries, or nine out of 10 island and coastal nations—included the ocean in their NDCs. The report received global attention and helped advance the conversation around the need for countries to focus more on the ocean to mitigate climate change through offshore renewable energy like wind, zero-carbon shipping, decarbonization of aquatic foods, and phaseout of oil and gas. According to the report, these actions account for only 12% of all ocean-climate actions found in NDCs, too small a number when the ocean has such vast potential to help us mitigate the worst impacts of climate change.
  
• Responsible offshore wind development is advancing globally. The opportunity for offshore wind to address climate change is reflected in the COP30 Blue Package, and we continue to build on the Oceans Breakthrough initiative announced by a number of partners, including Ocean Conservancy, at COP28. Ocean Conservancy hosted and spoke at several COP30 side events about the opportunity to deploy offshore renewable energy in ways that balance people, nature and climate. One of our key contributions this year to advancing responsible offshore wind globally is the launch of the Global Initiative for Nature, Grids and Renewables (GINGR) Offshore Working Group Stocktake and Recommendations Report.
  
• The ocean-climate connection was considered throughout negotiations. With the support of the Friends of the Ocean and Climate, a coalition of Parties increasingly committed to seeing ocean-climate outcomes across global climate negotiations, the importance of healthy ocean and coastal ecosystems and ocean-climate solutions was recognized in the outcomes of COP.

• Brazil’s Presidency of COP30 demonstrated genuine commitment to raising the profile of ocean–climate throughout the conference. Compared to recent years, Indigenous peoples had increased access to the Blue Zone and protests were permitted. Brazil put offshore wind and ocean and coastal ecosystems, like mangroves and coral, at the heart of their NDC. However, as similar with overall climate efforts, there is still much more that needs to be done. The country permitted offshore oil and gas drilling at the mouth of the Amazon River.

We had a long list of goals for COP30, and there was not as much movement on some fronts as others.

But on balance, the event yielded significant progress for ocean-climate action, and the ocean emerged as one of the clearest areas of accelerating climate-change momentum.

What comes next

Building from the energy coming out of COP30, we are outlining our agenda for the coming year. Here are some key actions and aspirations in our sights.

• Recent decisions have created space to drive policy coherence among the Rio Conventions (Climate, Biodiversity, Desertification). While COP30 negotiations regarding synergies did not advance in a meaningful way, we are hopeful that ongoing negotiations will agree to enhance collaboration between the Conventions since protecting the ocean from climate change and biodiversity loss go hand in hand.

• Despite strong international support and much debate, direct language about phasing out fossil fuels was ultimately absent from the final draft report from COP30. Looking ahead, we are hopeful that the fossil fuel phaseout roadmap, aimed at creating a structured framework for countries to gradually reduce their dependence on coal, oil and natural gas, will advance outside official processes.

• Ocean Conservancy is preparing for the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue in June 2026, when Fiji will join Belgium as Dialogue Co-Facilitator. The most recent co-facilitators, Belgium and Brazil, set an ambitious vision that brought the Dialogue a step closer to fulfilling its mandate to support the integration of the ocean across UNFCCC processes and set a strong foundation for ocean-climate action heading into COP30. We hope to see another ambitious Dialogue that encourages coherence, collaboration and coordination of ocean priorities ahead of COP31.

• The 2026 Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) Forum on Financing Climate Action in Water Systems and the Ocean will cover the full “source to sea” water cycle, recognizing the interconnectedness of water systems and ocean ecosystems. Ocean Conservancy sees the Forum as a timely opportunity to explore new financing pathways under global climate processes to facilitate predictable, targeted support for mitigation, adaptation and resilience-building in marine and coastal systems ahead of COP31. Parties and non-Party stakeholders are invited to submit inputs on the topics and possible sub-themes of the Forum, with submissions due by January 31, 2026.

• Antalya, Turkey, emerged as the host city for COP31, while Australia will lead the negotiations process in 2026. The roles have never been split between two nations. Ocean Conservancy remains optimistic that COP31 will be even more ocean-centric, and that a “blue” COP focused on marine challenges and solutions will swiftly follow.
  
• While there was progress at COP30, much-needed calls remain for greater ambition in advancing protections for a healthy ocean and the implementation of ocean-climate solutions. Our Ocean Conservancy team is eager to work with Australia and the Pacific, the Friends of the Ocean and Climate, and leaders in civil society to define what comes next for ocean-climate solutions in the UNFCCC overall agenda and its financing mechanisms.

Ten years after Paris, Belém reminded us of what’s possible. The world is finally embracing ocean solutions as essential tools for confronting the climate crisis. Now it is up to governments, civil society, funders and communities to work together to scale them—boldly, equitably and urgently. Add your name and urge decisionmakers to take ocean-climate action now.