From 9 to 20 November 2026, Antalya, Türkiye, will bring together heads of state, ministers, scientists, business leaders, and civil society representatives from around the world for the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Ocean & Climate Platform (OCP) will be on the ground throughout COP31! Will you be there? Come and join us at the following events:
Events lead by the OCP
[Side-event] Hype or Hope: Navigating Ocean Mitigation
9 November 6.30-8.00 PM |SE White Room
In partnership with: Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative, Earth Insight, International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification, Ocean & Climate Platform, Ocean Conservancy, Pew Charitable Trust, Sustainable Shipping Initiative, Univ. of Southampton, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WWF
The world is not on track to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, and the window to course-correct is rapidly closing. In this context, interest has grown in technologies intended to enhance the ocean’s uptake and storage of carbon – known as marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR). Yet, these approaches remain highly uncertain, particularly in terms of their efficacy and potential impacts on nature and people. Importantly, they risk diverting political attention and financial resources away from solutions that are already proven and ready to scale, from green shipping to offshore renewables. This side-event will explore the ocean’s role in climate change mitigation, examining the potential and considerations around marine carbon dioxide removal while highlighting actionable solutions to decarbonise ocean sectors.
[Reception] COP 31 Ocean-Climate Reception : Bring the Ocean at the Heart of Climate Action
12 November | 7:30-10:30 pm | Alara Restaurant (Bahçelievler Mahallesi, Konyaaltı Caddesi Atatürk Parkı içi, D:25, D:8 07050 Muratpaşa / Antalya)
In partnership with: Pew Charitable trusts
This reception will bring together the ocean community to take stock of progress in advancing ocean-based climate action and explore priorities for the way forward. It will showcase inspiring country-led initiatives to sustainably manage, protect and restore blue carbon ecosystems, highlighting their contribution to climate mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and broader socio-economic development. The discussion will also provide an opportunity to strengthen collaboration and accelerate action to scale up ocean-based solutions in support of the Paris Agreement.
[Side event] Blue NDC Challenge: Unlocking Ocean-Climate Potential in the Mediterranean
12 November | 4.00pm-4.50pm | Turkish Pavilion
Co-hosted by: France, Ocean & Climate Platform, and Türkiye (TBC)
In partnership with: MedPAN, Ocean Conservancy, World Resources Institute, Plan Bleu, UNEP-MAP (TBC), and WWF-Med (TBC).
The Blue NDC Challenge brings together to bridge the gap between ambition and implementation, and could help unlock the potential of this region. Held under this umbrella, this side-event will convene Mediterranean governments and experts to explore common challenges in advancing the implementation of shared priorities, and identify opportunities for greater regional cooperation to scale ocean-based climate solutions across the basin.
[EVENT] Axis 2 Showcase Event Placing nNature at the Heart of Climate Action
17 November | 2.30-3.15pm | French Pavilion
Organised by Blue Marine Foundation, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, French Office for Biodiversity, High Seas Alliance, Ifremer, Marviva, MedPAN, Ocean & Climate Platform, and Plymouth Marine Laboratory
The ocean does not operate in silos – yet our governance systems often do. Despite the adoption of an “Ocean Constitution” in Montego Bay, as early as 1982, there remains no dedicated space for the international community to address ocean issues in a truly holistic and integrated manner. In this context, strengthening synergies across frameworks will be essential to enhance policy coherence, optimise resources, and improve overall impact. The entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement earlier this year marked a new chapter for ocean protection, reaffirming the value of multilateralism and collective action. The new agreement could create momentum for greater synergies, especially since its effective implementation depends on cooperation with relevant frameworks and bodies. This side-event will reflect on potential pathways to move from fragmentation to integration, exploring how the UNFCCC, CBD, and BBNJ Agreement can work together to deliver more ambitious and effective ocean action.
[EVENT] Axis 2 Showcase Event: Placing in Nature at the Heart of Climate Action
17 November | 9.00 – 10.30 AM | Special Event Room 4
Organised by the Axis 2 coordination group: Ocean & Climate Platform, IUCN, UN Tourism, The Nature Conservancy, Ocean Conservancy, Nature4Climate, UN REDD+, Synergies Collaboration Platform
The event will bring together the initiatives and actors driving the delivery of the three Axis 2 objectives – investments to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation ; conserving, protecting and restoring nature and ecosystems with solutions for climate, biodiversity and desertification ; and preserving and restoring oceans and coastal ecosystems. Through concrete examples, results and success stories, it will showcase progress made since COP30 in Belém, drawing on projects and initiatives that advance climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience, and that deliver wider benefits for people and nature. Evidence will include finance mobilised, areas conserved or restored, country and community engagement and more – showing how action on the ground is translating into tangible outcomes.
Events OCP is attending
[Side event] Nature as Infrastructure: Scaling Coastal Ecosystem-based Solutions for Adaptation and Loss & Damage
11 November | 6.30am-8.00pm | Room 1
Organised by: Conservation International, Rare, Friendship, Boticário Group Foundation for Nature Protection
This session will explore how coastal NbS can reduce climate risks through adaptation, strengthen resilience, and support recovery in communities already experiencing loss and damage, highlighting practical solutions and pathways to scale implementation in Brazil, the Pacific, and Bangladesh. Drawing on proven national examples, including a landmark socioeconomic cost-benefit analysis from Brazil that calculates the multidecadal savings of natural defenses versus recurring grey engineering costs, panelists will examine how enabling policies, sustainable financing, available data, and community engagement are necessary to scale coastal NbS into comprehensive adaptation and loss and damage approaches, develop investment-ready portfolios, and connect them with development and climate finance – including the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage. Coastal NbS must be planned and financed as core adaptation and resilience infrastructure, including in loss and damage responses.
[Side event] 4 COPs : the Ocean as a unifying agenda
12 November | 10.15-11.05am | Ocean Pavilion
Organised by: Nature4Climate Coalition, Norwegian Research Centre, Ocean & Climate Platform, Script Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego
The session will consider the ways that the ocean connects climate, biodiversity, people and continents on this planet, within the CBD, UNCCD and UNFCCC and the BBNJ Agreement. Discussions will identify opportunities for increased cohesion, secretariat cooperation, harmonized indicators and metrics, and integration of governance frameworks, ocean-based finance mechanisms, and diverse knowledge systems across conventions. We envision formulating a 4 COPS -One Ocean Initiative for ocean action. Panelists will be asked to make a brief statement to explain how the ocean is relevant to each convention, particularly with respect to climate and climate solutions.
[Side event] Territories on the frontline: Following the blue thread, from COPs to coastlines
12 November | 5.00-6.00pm | French Pavilion
Organised by: France
The event will showcase the ocean-based solutions that have been developed at all levels, with a particular focus on the role of coastal local authorities and decentralized cooperation. It will review the progress made in the Nice Ocean Action Plan (UNOC-3) and their impact on the ground. Countries participating in the Blue NDC Challenge will be brought together with coastal cities and regions to highlight the Ocean’s contribution to the implementation of the Paris Agreement. French local authorities and their partners that were selected through the “Sustainable Coastal Development” call for projects, supported by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will present their initiatives aimed at adapting to climate change, preserving marine ecosystems, and strengthening the resilience of coastal territories.
[Side event] Océan, climat et intégrité de l'information : mobiliser les institutions de confiance pour accélérer l'action
14 November | 4.45-6.00pm | French Pavilion
Organised by: Nausicaa
[Side-event] Assessing the Status of Ocean-Based Climate Action in Updated Nationally Determined Contributions
16 November | 9.00-9.45am | Australia Pavilion
Organised by: WRI
This event will present a comprehensive assessment of ocean-based climate actions included in updated NDCs, building on the 2025 update released at COP30. The analysis highlights where ambition has grown, where gaps remain, and where resources must be allocated to unlock the full potential of ocean-based climate solutions. The report assesses ocean commitments included in NDCs across five ocean-based subsectors: renewable energy, transport, coastal and marine conservation, fisheries and aquaculture, and marine and coastal tourism. This framework for understanding the status of “blue” NDCs will serve as the foundation for a robust discussion on the current landscape of ocean-based climate action.
[Side-event] From Blue NDCs to Delivery: Accelerating Ocean Implementation at COP31 and beyond
16 November | 4.30-5.30pm | Brazil Pavilion
Organised by: Ocean Conservancy | Partners : WRI; Ocean and Climate Platform; Oceans 5; Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of Türkiye; Government of Australia; Climate High-Level Champions; Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Brazil; WWF-Brazil
[Flagship event] The Blue NDC Challenge
17 November | 9.00-9.50pm | Ocean Pavilion
Organised by: Ocean Conservancy, Ocean & Climate Platform, WRI
[Side event] Healthy Oceans, Resilient Coasts: From Commitments to Action
17 November | 11.30am-1.00am | French Pavilion
Lead by: Australian Institute of Marine Science (Australian Government)
In partnership with : Ifrecor, OFB, WWF, OCP
[Side-event] Bridging the Blue: The Ocean-Climate-Biodiversity Nexus from Pre-COP to BBNJ COP1
19 November | 3.15-4.05pm | Ocean Pavilion
Lead by: Oceano Azul Foundation
[Action Agenda] Axis 2 Synthesis Roundtable Event
17 November | 15:30-17:00 | Action Agenda Zone
Organised by: Action Agenda’s Axis 2 Coordination Group
The Axis 2 Synthesis Roundtable is the flagship strategic dialogue of the Global Climate Action Agenda axis on Stewarding Forests, Oceans and Biodiversity at COP31. It will bring the initiatives and actors implementing the three Axis 2 focus areas – investments to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation (AG5); conserving, protecting and restoring nature and ecosystems with solutions for climate, biodiversity and desertification (AG6); and preserving and restoring oceans and coastal ecosystems (AG7) – to take stock of implementation one year after Belém, hear directly from those confronting barriers to accelerate implementation, and identify shared key messages and next steps for the year ahead.
[Action Agenda] COP 31 Priority Spotlight Event on Oceans & Seas
17 November | 14:00-15:00 | Special Event Room
Organised by: Coastal Tourism Breakthrough (World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Iberostar Hotels and Resorts, Ocean and Climate Platform), in collaboration with the Ocean Renewable Energy Breakthrough
This event will bring together leaders from tourism, energy, government and finance to showcase practical solutions already advancing resilient, low-carbon and nature-positive coastal economies, while identifying the partnerships, policy conditions and investment needed to scale them. The session will highlight what is being delivered in practice, where collaboration is emerging, and how capital can be mobilized to accelerate implementation while protecting ecosystems, supporting livelihoods and advancing the goals of the Paris Agreement.