Friends of Ocean Action

This year’s #COP16 in Colombia, underscored a strong, growing commitment to nature protection, particularly in the ocean. While negotiations were not conclusive on financial resources to achieve the full ambition of the #GBF, Colombia should feel proud for the great strides made on mechanisms to ensure the representation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. Progress was also made on updating and submitting #NBSAPs, even though many countries still need to double down on their efforts. A growing recognition of the links between climate change and biodiversity was also evident and many of these conversations will continue during #COP29 in Baku. #COP16 was marked by record participation, with businesses actively engaging to enhance public-private collaboration to drive large-scale change. As I heard throughout the week, this was the first of the many large-scale CBD COPs to come. With increased participation, the world is increasingly aligned on the need to achieve a “Nature Positive” economy, though challenges remain in defining metrics and adapting business models. On the ocean, thanks to the UN Biodiversity CBD secretariat for hosting an ocean day that elevated crucial issues and fostered impactful partnerships. It was inspiring to see so many high level representatives participate and send a clear message about the importance of the ocean for the whole GBF. Thanks to CAF -banco de desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe- for hosting a LATAM ocean day. The region is making strong progress and I feel proud and energized for what’s to come these next few years. We were particularly happy to launch a partnership between World Economic Forum, CAF and World Resources Institute / Ocean Action 2030 to advance the regenerative blue economy in Latin America and the Caribbean. Thanks also to INVEMAR and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia for the announcement of Colombia's Blue Carbon Action Partnership. We are really looking forward to this collaboration! Finally, there was a lot of momentum to advance the target of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030. In collaboration with several co-organizers, Friends of Ocean Action hosted a reception with over 130 participants that shared their commitments and progress. We heard great news ranging from the recent declaration of the largest European MPA in the Azores, to a new MPA accelerator in SE Asia. Stay tuned for more updates on how the world will achieve ocean 30x30! There are many challenges ahead of us, but I left Cali with a renewed sense of inspiration fueled by constructive, bold conversations. Muchas gracias a Silvia Guzzini, Peter Thomson, Cynthia Barzuna and Erick Richard Castro Gonzalez for the great team work to make all of this happen! #BringItAllTogether #OceanAction https://lnkd.in/emiph4Hj

📢 The Special Accreditation Process for NGOs and other stakeholders to attend the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (Nice, 9-13 June, 2025) Stakeholders such as NGOs, civil society and youth organizations, Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, local and regional authorities, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector, philanthropic organizations and others whose work is relevant to the Conference but who are not in consultative status with ECOSOC or accredited to the previous United Nations Conferences must be granted special accreditation by the General Assembly in order to participate in the Conference as observers. ➡ Apply here: https://lnkd.in/dfP3B2H5 📅 Deadline for applications: 13 December 💡 More information: https://lnkd.in/gUrysKfV Peter Thomson #SDG14 #UNOC3 #UNOC #OceanAction #BringItAllTogether

Bringing It All Together for the Ocean: Amplifying indigenous voices and global action 🌏   At COP16’s high-level panel titled ‘Bringing It All Together for the Ocean,’ Winifereti Nainoca, an indigenous knowledge expert from Fiji and consultant for UNESCO’s Ocean Decade, delivered a powerful message on inclusion, using sign language to underscore her point: “Recognize, respect, and engage. We are not doing this with Indigenous People as much as we should. They are there, do or die.”   Other panellists emphasized the need to address overconsumption and overexploitation as key drivers of ocean biodiversity loss, called for synergies between conventions, and stressed the importance of tackling challenges across all sectors and levels of society. The discussion also touched on the impact of plastic pollution on human health and the need to make science and finance accessible and understandable.   Stay tuned for updates from this important event! 🌿 #COP16Colombia #ActforOurPlanet

🔔 🌿 Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance and partners are launching the High-Quality Blue Carbon Practitioners Guide at the UN Biodiversity COP16 in collaboration with Conservation International.       The Practitioners Guide will help drive practical application of the High-Quality Blue Carbon Principles & Guidance, and build more transparent and effective collaboration between project developers, investors, and other stakeholders.🌱  👉 Download the guide here: https://lnkd.in/eXvGFCtM Friends of Ocean Action are happy to feed into with this key resource, and we look forward to integrating it into key work in the Blue Carbon Action Partnership (BCAP): https://lnkd.in/e5YPrpB9    World Economic Forum, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Salesforce, The Nature Conservancy, International Blue Carbon Institute   #BlueCarbon #CBD #Nature #NatureBasedSolutions #HighQualityBlueCarbon #NatureIsAlsoBlue #HQBC #COP16Colombia

The urgency of the #biodiversity crisis is undeniable, but there is a path forward. Our latest film explores how #businesses can lead the way to securing a nature-positive future. Learn more about the Global Biodiversity Framework, and how businesses can speed and scale up action to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030: https://ow.ly/g3zx50TVbQs #COP16Colombia Featured in the video: Karen Sack (Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance), Fleming Voetmann (VELUX), Anne-Sophie Castelnau (ING), Jesper Brodin (IKEA), Rich Lesser, (Boston Consulting Group (BCG)), Eva Zabey (Business for Nature)

I’m so thrilled by the positive news of the #Azores marine protected area that I’ve got to do another post on it. 30x30, protecting 30% of the planet by 2030, is a massive task, but we will achieve it. The #ocean, both the High Seas and the EEZs, will play their part in delivering 30% protection. But we have no time to waste. Thus the Azorean advance is a hugely impressive undertaking that should be celebrated globally.

With the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in June 2025, the #COP16Colombia is a critical moment for the global community to come together and accelerate progress around collective ocean priorities. Join us today as Friends of Ocean Action, WWF and UN Biodiversity will host a lunch and engaging conversation on how to speed up progress on key ocean-related goals within the Global Biodiversity Framework - to Bring It All Together for the Ocean. ⏰ Time: Monday 28 October from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM COT 📍 Location: Nuqui Pavilion (Academia and Research), CBD COP16 Blue Zone 🔎 More information: https://lnkd.in/gyinwm4S Moderated by Pepe Clarke, we will explore how to turn commitments into action on critical issues like: 🌡 Climate change 🐟 Fisheries 😷 Pollution 🐋 Marine protection This conversation feature practical, scalable examples, from speakers featuring Peter Thomson, Astrid Schomaker, Kirsten Schuijt, David Obura, Shruthi Kottillil, Tim Christophersen, Winifereti Nainoca, Oliver Withers, and Patricia Ricard. #BringItAllTogether #TogetherForTheOcean #COP16Colombia, #NatureIsAlsoBlue Alfredo Giron Nava Silvia Guzzini

How can we accelerate progress towards key ocean-related elements of the Global Biodiversity Framework? Today, WWF, UN Biodiversity and Friends of Ocean Action are pleased to invite delegates at #COP16Colombia for lunch and a lively discussion about how we can turn pledges into progress by ‘Bringing It All Together’ #ForTheOcean. Monday 28 October 11.30am-1.00pm Nuqui (Academia and Research) Pavilion CBD COP16 Blue Zone Speakers: Astrid Schomaker, Kirsten Schuijt, Peter Thomson, David Obura, Shruthi Kottillil, Tim Christophersen, Winifereti Nainoca, Oliver Withers, Patricia Ricard. Moderator: Pepe Clarke #bringitalltogether #togetherfortheocean

🌊 Join us today for Ocean Day at #COP16! 🌍 Catch the session "Synergies and Partnerships for Impact" as we dive into global cooperation and networking across international frameworks relevant to marine biodiversity. This discussion will focus on actionable opportunities to enhance collaboration, align efforts and drive policy coherence. Join us in for this conversation highlighting the urgency to establish clear plans and partnerships to accelerate progress towards the Global Biodiversity Framework’s (GBF) targets for ocean conservation and restoration. 📺 Watch the livestream: https://lnkd.in/gHWbiEDs ⏰ Date: 27 October at: 4 PM COT/10 PM CET 📍 Location: Global Biodiversity Framework Pavilion, Blue Zone 🔗 Full programme details: https://lnkd.in/eZfzmBrC Alfredo Giron Nava, Silvia Guzzini, Peter Thomson, UN Biodiversity, FAO, UN Environment Programme, Ocean Action 2030, World Resources Institute, International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), Ocean & Climate Platform #OceanDay #COP16 #Biodiversity #OceanClimateAction #PartnershipsForImpact

The Ocean Day at Cali opened with inspiring speeches from Inger Anderson, Executive Director of #UNEP and Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of #UN Biodiversity. The packed room indicated what many believe, that #COP16 is the most ocean-related CBD conference ever held. With the #ocean providing over 90% of the planet’s living space, that is as it should be. In my remarks this morning, I referred to the recently-released UNEP Emissions Gap Report and the UN Secretary-General’s report launch comment that, “Either Leaders bridge the emissions gap, or we plunge headlong into climate disaster.” We have already crossed the threshold of a #Climate Crisis and biodiversity is one of its victims. The question is “What are we going to do about it?” The answer lies in the Green Transition, moving into sustainable economic models operating within planetary boundaries, and stopping the burning of fossil fuels. The ocean must play its part in achieving the #KMGBF target of protecting 30% of the planet by 2030. It’s a huge ask, but we must and can achieve the target. The challenge before us this week is for the ocean community to put together a strategy to effectively achieve #30x30. Watch this space! UN Environment Programme UN Biodiversity Friends of Ocean Action