RELEASE/MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Ocean Conservancy Experts Head to COP30, Urge Nations to Include Offshore Wind, Other Ocean Solutions in Climate Plans

WASHINGTON – Ocean Conservancy experts will attend COP30 from November 10–21 in Belem, Brazil to push for greater investment in ocean-climate solutions like offshore wind and decarbonized shipping. Analysis shows that solutions like these could help achieve one third of the emissions reduction needed to curb the worst impacts of climate change.

According to the UN’s recent 2025 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Synthesis Report, while progress has been made to reduce global emissions — a 10% reduction in emissions is expected by 2035 — nations are still falling far short of the targets set out in the Paris Agreement. The gap is 50%. 

“The gap is big, but the ocean is bigger,” said Ocean Conservancy’s Senior Director of Climate Policy Anna-Marie Laura, “And we need to seize the opportunity in Brazil to  showcase the ocean as a climate solution deserving of funding and firm commitments.”

Ocean solutions remain vastly underfunded compared to their climate potential, but momentum is growing: 39% more countries now include the ocean in their climate investment plans, according to the UN 2025 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Synthesis Report. 

Earlier this year at the UN Ocean Conference, Ocean Conservancy and its partners worked with Brazil and France to support the launch of the Blue NDC Challenge, urging countries to put the ocean at the center of their climate commitments (Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs). Brazil, France, Australia, Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau and Seychelles were among the first cohort to join, while the UK, Chile and Madagascar joined during New York City Climate Week in September. More are expected to join at COP30.The Blue NDC Challenge, elevates governments’ commitments to concrete 2025–2030 targets — such as restoring 100,000 hectares of mangroves, expanding offshore wind, and accelerating zero-emission shipping — paired with access to financial and technical support. 

Our experts will be on the ground and available for interviews, and stay tuned for an announcement about the current state of Blue NDCs.

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Note: all times are local.

ABOUT THE EXPERTS

Anna-Marie Laura
Anna-Marie is the Senior Director of Climate Policy at Ocean Conservancy. In this role, she manages the organization’s domestic and international ocean climate priorities, from advancing responsible offshore wind to working to have the ocean included in Nationally Determined Contributions. Prior to joining Ocean Conservancy, Anna-Marie was the Director of Policy and Strategic Partnerships at Rare, an international conservation and development non-profit and an Ocean and Coastal Policy Advisor for U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, where she worked closely with many stakeholders to advance U.S. domestic ocean policy priorities. She was a Knauss Sea Grant Fellow in 2010, has a Coastal Environmental Management degree from Duke University and received a BSc in Marine Science from the University of South Carolina. Anna-Marie is based in Washington, D.C.

Shamini Selvaratnam
Shamini Selvaratnam is Director of International Climate and Clean Energy at Ocean Conservancy, where she focuses on promoting ocean-based clean energy solutions and advancing renewable energy investments. Shamini has a rich background working with the private sector, governments, and multilateral institutions. Her previous experience includes roles at UNDP, the World Bank, and in the private sector in the renewables industry. During her time at UNDP, she played a pivotal role as the Energy Partnerships Lead for the Sustainable Energy Hub. At the World Bank, she made significant contributions as a senior consultant for the Sustainable Renewables Risk Mitigation program and as the External Affairs lead for the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition. Shamini also served as the Environment & Climate Action Working Group Lead for UN Global Compact Canada. Shamini holds a Masters of Science in climate change and Development from SOAS, University of London and a Bachelor’s degree in sociology and communications from York University.

Whitney Berry
Whitney Berry is Ocean Conservancy’s Associate Director of Climate Policy. Whitney is an expert on ocean and climate change policy and works to advance the organization’s domestic and international ocean-climate priorities. Her portfolio includes ocean-based mitigation and adaptation policy solutions to combat climate change and protect the marine environment. Previously, Whitney worked for the State of California’s Natural Resources Agency as a cabinet-level Climate Change Policy Manager within the office of the Ocean Protection Council. Prior to her position with the California Natural Resources Agency, Whitney was a California Sea Grant Fellow working on state-level ocean-climate policy. She graduated from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies with a Master’s Degree in International Environmental Policy and a concentration in Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. Whitney is based in Bend, OR.

ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY  

For more than 50 years, Ocean Conservancy has delivered effective, evidence-based solutions for the ocean and all who depend on it. Today, we continue to unite science, people and policy to protect our ocean from the greatest challenges it faces: climate change, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss. We are a 501(C)3 headquartered in Washington, D.C. that inspires a worldwide network of partners, advocates and supporters through our comprehensive and clear-eyed approach to ocean conservation. Together, we are securing a healthy ocean and a thriving planet, forever and for everyone. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky or Instagram.