Ocean Conservancy at COP208

Ocean Conservancy is heading to COP28, the UN Climate Conference in Dubai, with a clear agenda:

• Elevate the ocean’s role as a powerful solution to climate change
• Champion clean ocean energy as a crucial ocean-based climate mitigation solution by advocating for a responsible, rapid and just transition to clean ocean energy. This includes advancing the deployment of offshore wind with a net-positive impact on biodiversity and promoting the phase-out of offshore fossil fuels.
• Advocate to address the blue finance gap, by making the case for the for concessional finance to support developing countries in deploying offshore wind energy at scale.
• Raise awareness about the escalating plastic production, urging its integration into the emission reduction agendas of nations.
• Provide a convening space for parties in bringing ocean-based climate solutions to the forefront of climate negotiations.

We recognize the monumental challenge of addressing climate and biodiversity crises while ensuring a healthy, thriving and resilient ocean. Every day, we witness the ocean’s diminishing capacity to protect us. The science is unequivocal—to save the ocean, we must limit planetary warming to 1.5 degrees. This calls for a 45% reduction in global emissions by 2030, a goal we believe is intrinsically linked to the ocean’s health.

Meet Our Experts

Our participation at COP28 underscores the ocean’s critical role in the broader climate dialogue and our commitment to safeguarding it for a sustainable climate future. Meet our experts who will be in attendance:

• Kacky Andrews, Chief of Strategy
• Luis Estévez-Salmerón, International Government Relations Associate Director
• Shamini Selvaratnam, International Climate Policy Associate Director
• Whitney Berry, Climate Policy Senior Manager
• Aarthi Ananthanarayanan, Climate and Plastics Initiative Director

Events

This a full list of side events Ocean Conservancy will participate in at COP28. Please note that UNFCCC Accreditation for the COP28 is required for all events taking place in the Blue Zone. All times are listed in Gulf Standard Time (GST).

Driving Ocean Climate Action at COP28 
December 3, 2023 from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.
Location: Ocean Pavillion, Blue Zone
Moderated by Kacky Andrews, Chief of Strategy
This Davos-style discussion, hosted by the Friends of the Ocean and Climate, will feature high-level representatives from countries speaking on the actions they are taking to integrate the ocean as part of the response to climate change. This will set the stage for negotiations at COP28 to advance the ocean-climate nexus in the UNFCCC and beyond.
Find more details here. 

Global Initiative for Nature, Grids and Renewables Launch
December 5, 2023 from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m.
Location: IUCN Pavilion, Blue Zone
Featuring Kacky Andrews, Chief Strategy Officer
Join the Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for the launch of GINGR: Global Initiative for Nature, Grids and Renewables. Ocean Conservancy will speak at the event.
Register to join. Drop-in attendees are welcome.

Global Offshore Wind Alliance Ministerial
From Targets to Turbines: Next Steps in Offshore Wind
December 5, 2023 from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Location: Global Renewables Hub, Pavilion MA15, Blue Zone
Featuring Kacky Andrews, Chief Strategy Officer
The Global Offshore Wind Alliance Energy Day Ministerial Event will delve into the market enablers that can leverage the existing successes within the offshore wind industry while addressing the current challenges. The event aims to foster a robust dialogue among the attendees, engaging in a high-level discussion on refining policy and regulatory frameworks, exploring innovative financing models, and unveiling a transformative initiative aimed at bridging the skills gap in the offshore wind sector.

Powering the Future: Accelerating Offshore Renewables to Advance Energy Transitions and Climate Resilience
December 8, 2023 from 6:00 to 7.30 p.m.
Location: Pavilion of Latin America and the Caribbean, Blue Zone
Featuring Shamini Selvaratnam, International Climate Policy Associate Director
This side event, organized by CAF—Development Bank of Latin American and Caribbean and Ocean Conservancy, will bring together representatives from multilateral banks, governments, industry, and civil society to discuss the need for concessional finance mechanisms to promote offshore wind deployment to deliver on climate and conservation targets.
Find more details here. 

Taking Stock of Climate Action on Land Use & Ocean and Coastal Zones
Nature First: From Land to Ocean, Our Best Ally for Climate Action
December 9, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Al Hur, Blue Zone
Moderated by Shamini Selvaratnam, International Climate Policy Associate Director
Organised by Marrakech Partnership on Land Use and Ocean & Coastal Zones this event will showcase remarkable initiatives across land and ocean spearheaded by a multiplicity of non-state actors to reverse biodiversity decline by 2030, increase ecosystem and human resilience to climate change, and achieve a sustainable balance within planetary boundaries. 

High-Level Dinner of the Friends of Ocean and Climate
December 9, 2023
Hosted by The Governments of Portugal, Fiji, Canada and Germany, Oceano Azul Foundation, UN
Foundation, Ocean Conservancy and Ocean & Climate Platform.
Invite Only

Advancing Plastic Reduction as an Essential Tool to Achieving the Paris Agreement Goals
Featuring Aarthi Ananthanarayanan, Climate and Plastics Initiative Director
December 9, 2023 from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Chile Pavilion, Blue Zone
Hosted by Chile and Ocean Conservancy, this event will convene high-level representatives from countries, private sector representatives and non-governmental organizations to share their actions to integrate actions to advance plastic reduction as a climate mitigation tool. A reception will follow the event.
Find more details here.

Mobilizing and Implementing Ocean-Based Climate Mitigation Solutions
December 10 from 4:45 – 6:15 p.m.
Location Room SE-1, Blue Zone
This UNFCCC Official Side Event, hosted by the Friends of Ocean and Climate group, will focus on mobilizing concrete ocean-based climate action and encouraging Parties to include and implement ocean-based climate solutions in their NDCs, NAPs and other national climate plans.
Find more details here.