BAKU, Azerbaijan – Today, members of the Friends of the Ocean and Climate, a network of like-minded Parties working to integrate the ocean-climate nexus into United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) processes, and promote the inclusion of sustainable ocean-based climate solutions into countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), released a joint statement as COP29 comes to a close. Since its founding in 2019, the group has been effective in influencing UNFCCC discussions, championing the creation of the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue, and supporting negotiations related to the inclusion of the ocean in the Global Stocktake.

The joint statement, delivered by Dr. Sivendra Michael, Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, can be found here.

“It has been a privilege to be a co-facilitator for the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue, along with Julio Cordano of Chile. The evidence is clear – the Ocean must play a key role in helping us achieve our collective climate goals, highlighting the importance of the Dialogue to future progress. I look forward to seeing its continued success under new co-facilitators,” said Dr. Niall O’Dea, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and a co-facilitator of the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue.

“The ocean is under immense human-made stress. In addition to pollution and overfishing, it is acidified by CO2 and heated by climate change. It is high time for far more ambitious emissions reductions. Ocean-related industries should take a leading role, especially by the large-scale deployment of offshore wind energy and carbon-neutral shipping. In the short term, it is of utmost importance to fully avoid methane emissions caused by offshore oil and gas production. In the medium term, this production has to stop completely. Every ocean-related climate action must be safe, sustainable and protecting the integrity of all ecosystems, hence excluding any form of geoengineering,” said Prof. Dr. Dirk Messner, President of the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA). 

“Calls for ocean-climate action were mainstreamed throughout CO29, with many governments speaking ambitiously of the need to increase the role of ocean-based solutions in their NDCs and the absolute necessity of aligning efforts to protect biodiversity and address climate change. These conversations are a testament to ocean advocates and the leadership of the Friends of the Ocean and Climate group, a broad range of UNFCCC Parties, who have demonstrated their commitment to ensure sustainable ocean-based climate solutions get the attention, investment and support they need,” said Ocean Conservancy’s Senior Director, Climate Policy, Anna-Marie Laura. “We are in a critical decade, however, and every moment of inaction pushes us further beyond the 1.5°C target. Without a high-quality finance package to support a just transition and a climate resilient future for developing nations, we will fail to stop the climate crisis, and fail to protect our ocean and coastal communities.”

“The headlines come almost daily: climate change is affecting ocean health, and people everywhere are feeling its effects through increasingly severe and frequent weather events. These interconnected crises threaten our health, wellbeing, economies, and livelihoods. But there are solutions—actions we can take now to reduce the impacts we are already seeing, including protecting and restoring vital coastal areas such as mangroves and other blue carbon ecosystems. We applaud the Friends of the Ocean and Climate for their leadership and urge countries to expand ocean-based actions in their climate commitments and funding efforts,” said Conservation International’s Director, Blue Climate Strategy, Jill Hamilton. 

“Coastal communities from cities to villages around the world are increasingly vulnerable to ocean heating, acidification, sea level rise and the destruction of coastal and ocean animal and plant species. It is imperative to rapidly mobilise finance from the public, private and philanthropic sectors that is ambitious, inclusive, accessible and fair, to address their vulnerabilities and reduce their exposure to Ocean Risk. June 2025 will see the third UN Ocean Conference take place in Nice, France, hosted by France and Costa Rica.  It will be immediately preceded by the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF), a Special Meeting hosted by Monaco. This will be a pivotal moment at which to build upon the actions of the Friends of the Ocean and Climate at COP29 and secure even more investment from all sectors to reduce ocean risk, regenerate ‘blue’ nature, and build resilience for the billions of coastal people and millions of businesses around the world that rely on the Ocean,” said the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance’s Executive Director, Karen Sack. 

“The powerful statements from global leaders and advocates underscore the urgent need to integrate ocean-based solutions into climate action. As the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue continues to highlight the vital role of collaboration in addressing these intertwined crises, we must begin the important but difficult task of helping countries include these considerations in their NDCs and NAPs. Agreement on the finance package as outlined by Nick Stern et al is vital. With steadfast leadership and ambitious commitments, we can leverage the ocean’s potential to achieve climate resilience and protect our planet for future generations,” said Dr. Kilaparti Ramakrishna, Director of Marine Policy Center and Senior Advisor to the President on Ocean and Climate Policy at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

“WWF echoes the urgent call to finance mitigation and adaptation efforts that advance sustainable, ocean-based climate action and emphasizes the critical importance of ocean-based climate solutions. Despite the clear link between ocean health, climate and nature, the negotiation outcomes don’t adequately acknowledge the need to address these priorities in tandem. The weak climate finance outcome from COP29 risks stalling essential progress at a time when acceleration is paramount. However, WWF remains dedicated to working with the Friends of Ocean and Climate and other partners to continue to support ambitious actions and finance on the road to UNFCCC COP30 and beyond,” said Pepe Clarke, Global Ocean Practice Leader, WWF International.

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ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY  

Ocean Conservancy envisions a healthier ocean, protected by a more just world. Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram.  

ABOUT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples and local communities to help people and nature thrive together. Go to Conservation.org for more, and follow our work on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

ABOUT OCEAN RISK AND RESILIENCE ACTION ALLIANCE (ORRAA) 

ORRAA is the only multi-sector collaboration connecting the international finance and insurance sectors, governments, non-profits, and stakeholders from the Global South to pioneer finance products that incentivise investment into coastal and ocean Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). ORRAA’s mission, by 2030, is to activate at least US$500 million of investment into this space and, in so doing, help build the resilience of 250 million climate-vulnerable coastal people.