The ocean has long been Earth’s unsung climate hero — absorbing 90% of excess heat and nearly a quarter of human CO₂ emissions. Yet, it remains dangerously underrepresented in global climate strategies.
The recently released informal summary report of the 2025 Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue makes one thing clear: without embedding ocean action into national climate plans and financial frameworks, the 1.5°C goal will remain out of reach.
The Dialogue, mandated under COP26, convened during SBSTA62 in June 2025, co-facilitated by Ambassador Carlos Cozendey (Brazil) and Ulrik Lenaerts (Belgium). Their message was unified but urgent — the next generation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) must go blue.
Why Ocean Action Is Central to Climate Ambition
Ulrik Lenaerts captured the essence of this shift: “Ocean-based climate action is critical for meeting the Paris Agreement goals and advancing the Global Stocktake.”
From blue carbon ecosystems (mangroves, seagrasses, salt marshes) to renewable ocean energy, the report highlights that sustainable ocean actions can contribute significantly to both mitigation and adaptation. Integrating the ocean into NDCs can:
Enhance carbon sequestration through nature-based solutions.
Strengthen coastal resilience to climate impacts.
Create blue jobs and sustainable economies.
Yet, as Lenaerts warned, there is no one-size-fits-all model. Every nation’s ocean-climate interface differs — from small island developing states to major coastal economies — demanding tailored solutions, not template pledges.
Aligning the Ocean with the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA)
One of the most substantive recommendations from the Dialogue involves integrating ocean health into the Global Goal on Adaptation. The report calls for:
Cross-cutting ocean integration across all GGA thematic targets.
Disaggregated indicators that track ecosystem integrity and connectivity.
Alignment with global frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Global Biodiversity Framework to avoid duplication and improve data coherence.
This holistic approach aims to link biodiversity, climate, and ocean governance — a long-missing synergy in the global policy landscape.
Momentum Building: Global Cooperation and Initiatives
The Dialogue also celebrated new collaborative efforts that are expanding the scope of ocean-based climate action:
The Blue NDC Challenge, launched by Brazil and France, encourages nations to embed measurable ocean goals within their NDCs.
The 2025 UN Ocean Conference Declaration, “Our Ocean, Our Future: United for Urgent Action,” reaffirmed high-level commitments to ocean protection.
Implementation of the BBNJ Agreement (Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction) is expected to reshape governance and cooperation beyond national borders.
Together, these efforts represent a significant shift toward integrated ocean governance — one that recognizes the ocean as a critical enabler of global climate ambition, not a separate environmental issue.
Finance: The Missing Piece in the Blue Puzzle
Despite growing consensus, finance remains the largest obstacle. Ambassador Cozendey’s remarks were direct:
“Ocean solutions cannot remain on the margins. We need finance that is predictable, accessible and targeted to those who need it most—developing countries.”
The report urges that blue finance — investments in sustainable ocean-based solutions — must grow in both scale and equity. Key needs include:
Predictable funding streams for developing nations and coastal communities.
Simplified access to climate finance mechanisms for blue projects.
Capacity-building and technology transfer to enable local implementation.
Currently, ocean-related projects receive less than 2% of total climate finance — a glaring disconnect between ambition and action. Without targeted financial mechanisms, small island nations and coastal economies risk being left behind in the “blue transition.”
The Road to COP30: Turning Dialogue into Delivery
The 2025 Dialogue has laid the groundwork for a Blue COP moment. At COP30, to be held in Brazil, the co-facilitators will present the Dialogue’s outcomes and convene a special session with Parties and observers to debate its recommendations.
For many, this will be a litmus test: can the international community move from rhetoric to results? Can “blue ambition” translate into measurable ocean protection, equitable finance, and concrete climate adaptation?
A Critical Outlook: Between Hope and Hesitation
The Dialogue’s message is inspiring — but execution will determine impact. While momentum is growing, several challenges persist:
Fragmented governance: Ocean issues are spread across multiple UN frameworks, diluting accountability.
Data gaps: Reliable monitoring of marine carbon and biodiversity is still limited.
Political inertia: Economic interests in fishing, shipping, and offshore extraction slow progress.
Still, there are signs of change. With stronger science-policy linkages, growing civil society pressure, and a clear push from ocean nations, COP30 could mark the moment when the ocean moves from the periphery to the core of global climate action.
Conclusion: Time for a Blue Breakthrough
The ocean binds our climate, economies, and futures together. As the world prepares for COP30, integrating ocean action into every NDC is not just an environmental choice — it’s a survival imperative.
The Dialogue’s call is clear: finance the blue transition, align the frameworks, and act collectively. The tide is rising — the question is whether global leadership will rise with it.