Dr. Mustafa Başkara, CEO of the Ankara University National Center for the Sea and Maritime Law (DEHUKAM), met with Ms. Diana Fox Carney, spouse of the Prime Minister of Canada, Canada’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, and Chair of the 12th Our Ocean Conference, on 22 October 2026 in Ankara.
The meeting took place during Ms. Diana Fox Carney’s visit to Ankara as part of the historic official visit of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to Türkiye to meet with H.E. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, marking the first bilateral official visit to Türkiye by a Canadian Prime Minister. Discussions focused on international efforts to advance ocean conservation, address climate change, and promote sustainable ocean governance.
During the meeting, DEHUKAM’s activities in the fields of the law of the sea and maritime policy were presented, with particular emphasis on ongoing preparations for the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), to be hosted by Türkiye in Antalya from 9 to 20 November 2026. The discussions highlighted the critical role of seas and oceans in addressing climate change, the importance of integrating ocean-related considerations into global climate policies, and Türkiye’s efforts to advance the ocean agenda within the COP31 process. In this context, particular attention was given to the ongoing efforts of Türkiye and DEHUKAM to develop a document aimed at reinforcing the role of oceans in international climate action, promoting sustainable ocean governance, and strengthening the integration of ocean-related priorities into the global climate agenda. The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange views on enhancing international cooperation and fostering greater recognition of the ocean–climate nexus within the COP31 framework. Ms. Diana Fox Carney’s forthcoming participation in COP31 was also welcomed as a valuable opportunity to further strengthen international dialogue and cooperation on ocean-related priorities within the global climate agenda.
The meeting was also attended by Ms. Özlem Aksoy and Ms. Aysun Boşça, representatives of the Türkiye COP31 Office, alongside DEHUKAM Senior Researchers Dr. Alperen Furkan Taş and Büşra Deniz Önsöz.
The discussions further addressed key priorities for the 12th Our Ocean Conference, scheduled to take place in Canada on 10–11 May 2027, as well as recent international developments concerning ocean conservation, the sustainable use of marine resources, and ocean governance. In this context, particular emphasis was placed on the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), its significance for strengthening international ocean governance, and its potential contributions to marine biodiversity conservation and sustainable ocean management. The discussions also explored opportunities to enhance coordination between COP31 and the 12th Our Ocean Conference, strengthen international dialogue at the intersection of ocean and climate policies, and identify potential areas for collaboration, particularly in relation to the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement and the advancement of the global ocean agenda.
The meeting underscored the importance of advancing the global ocean agenda within the COP31 process and strengthening the integration of ocean-related priorities into international climate action. In this regard, the discussions provided a valuable opportunity to explore avenues for enhanced international cooperation, reinforce the ocean–climate nexus, and contribute to a more coordinated and ambitious global approach to ocean protection and climate action.
