Within the framework of the 11th Our Ocean Conference, held in Mombasa, Kenya, from 16 to 18 June 2026, the side event entitled “Scaling Ocean-Climate Action at COP31: From Dialogue to Delivery through Blue NDCs and Finance Reform” was organised under the leadership of the Government of Belgium, with the support of the Governments of Australia, Brazil, Fiji, France, and Türkiye, together with the Ocean & Climate Platform, Ocean Conservancy, WWF-Brazil, WRI, the UNFCCC Secretariat, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and Ankara University National Center for the Sea and Maritime Law (DEHUKAM) as co-organising institutions. The event focused on advancing ocean-based climate action, strengthening the integration of ocean priorities into climate governance processes, and improving access to climate finance for ocean-related initiatives. Discussions centred on the role of the Blue NDC Implementation Taskforce, the systematic integration of ocean action into UNFCCC processes, and practical pathways for national implementation ahead of COP31.
Moderated by Kilaparti Ramakrishna of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the event brought together distinguished international speakers, including representatives of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the French Ministry for the Sea and Fisheries, the Australian COP31 Presidency, the UNFCCC Ocean and Climate Dialogue co-facilitators from Fiji and Belgium, and WWF-Mediterranean. DEHUKAM CEO Dr. Mustafa Başkara participated as a panellist on behalf of DEHUKAM, highlighting the importance of strengthening international cooperation, enhancing ocean-climate governance, and ensuring that COP31 delivers concrete outcomes that facilitate the implementation of ocean-based climate solutions.
The event attracted significant interest from the international ocean and climate community and was attended by regional activity centre directors, diplomats, government officials, representatives of international organisations, and members of the Turkish Delegation. The discussions provided an important platform for fostering collaboration among key stakeholders and advancing efforts to ensure that ocean-based climate action is effectively reflected in both global climate negotiations and national implementation frameworks.
