ADVISORY/MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Ocean to Play Center Stage at COP31 Climate Negotiations

ANTALYA – At COP31 (November 9–20) in Antalya, Türkiye, Ocean Conservancy experts will call on governments to put ocean-based solutions at the center of their climate commitments and recognize the ocean as critical to building resilient economies, strengthening energy security and meeting global climate goals. Ocean Conservancy will focus on two priorities: the official recognition of offshore oil and gas in climate plans and the integration of the ocean into these plans. 

“It’s reassuring to see that the COP31 mascot is a loggerhead turtle, but symbolism alone won’t deliver the action we need,” said Dr. Fatima Candace Vahlsing, Ocean Conservancy Vice President, Climate. “More than 90 percent of coastal countries have put ocean solutions at the heart of their climate strategies, but around 60 percent will never get built without additional funding. COP31 must help us to move  from pledges to projects and turn political will into action – affordable clean energy powering homes and businesses, mangroves restored, and communities better protected from storms. Ocean Conservancy will prioritize bringing countries and funders together to turn commitments into action on the ground.”

Following Brazil’s publication of the first global roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels, Ocean Conservancy will launch a new effort — the Offshore Transition Initiative as part of the UNFCCC Global Climate Action Agenda to explore pathways to transition away from offshore fossil fuels, a threat to coastal communities and marine life alike, The initiative will serve as a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration, supporting countries by developing practical guidance and evidence, and fostering partnerships to address barriers and manage the transition within their national contexts.

“The health of our ocean and the stability of our climate are inseparable, yet offshore fossil fuels  continue to put both at risk,” said Shamini Selvaratnam, Ocean Conservancy Director of International Climate and Clean Energy. “Continued expansion of offshore fossil fuels risks locking in emissions for decades while placing growing pressure on marine ecosystems and coastal communities. Through the Offshore Transition Initiative, we are bringing offshore fossil fuel production firmly onto the global climate action agenda. We cannot have a healthy ocean and a thriving planet without addressing emissions driving climate change, and that means transitioning away from fossil fuels both on and offshore ”

Another key development expected at COP31 is the launch of the Blue NDC Implementation Taskforce, a global mechanism designed to accelerate the integration of ocean-based solutions into national climate plans. The Taskforce is a key new component of  the Blue NDC Challenge, a global initiative supported by Ocean Conservancy and led by 21 countries, including COP31 co-host Australia and COP30 host Brazil, that aims to elevate the ocean in climate action. In addition to the Taskforce launch, more countries are expected to join the initiative at COP31.

Additionally, Ocean Conservancy is proud to support a cleanup hosted by its longtime International Coastal Cleanup partner, TURMEPA, on November 15th.

Ocean Conservancy experts will be on the ground and available for interviews. They can speak to:

• The transition away from offshore fossil fuel extraction in the UN climate process
• How countries are and should be integrating the ocean into their national climate plans
• Accelerating the transition to clean ocean energy, including offshore wind
• Mobilizing climate finance for ocean protection and solutions
• Efforts to strengthen international cooperation on ocean and climate
• The role of responsible marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR)

A list of ocean-related events that Ocean Conservancy is participating in can be found below.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Note: all times are local.

More Information:

• Today, the ocean faces mounting threats from rising global temperatures to plastic pollution to ocean acidification and more. While the UN 2026 NDC Synthesis Report found 78% of national climate plans (Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs) contain at least one explicit reference to the ocean, nations are still falling short of their Paris Agreement commitments.

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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.