COP28 IUCN Ocean events and more

Join us in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for the 28th UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP28), a global climate change forum bringing together scientists, government and industry leaders, and professionals of all walks of life to inform, inspire and act on climate change.

The IUCN Ocean Team is participating in multiple events and suggests even more, if you have the capacity to attend or watch the livestream of those events being broadcast. 

All times are in local, Gulf Standard Time (GMT/UTC +4)!

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Click to jump to the date you want 

• November 30
• December 1: World Climate Action Summit
• December 2: High Level Opening
• December 3: Health, Relief, Recovery, and Peace
• December 4: Finance, Trade, Gender Equality, and Accountability
• December 5: Energy and Industry, Just Transition, and Indigenous Peoples
• December 6: Multilevel Action, Urbanization, Built Environment, and Transport
• December 7: Rest Day (no events)
• December 8: Youth, Children, Education, and Skills,
• December 9: Nature, Land Use, and Oceans
• December 10: Food, Agriculture, and Water
• December 11
• December 12

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November 30

High-level Reception - Bringing the Greens to the Blue: The Ocean to save Multilateralism, from Governance to Finance 

• By: IUCN, Ocean and Climate Platform, The Ocean Race, UN High Level Climate Champions
• Time: 19:00-22:00  
• Location: IUCN 'Unite for Nature' Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Event type: High-level reception
• Live stream: https://www.iucn.org/cop28live
• About: The Ocean sustains life on Earth. Vital for its climate services, social-cultural-economic benefits and its coastal and marine biodiversity, the Ocean connects us all. Despite growing momentum to build a sustainable blue economy, Sustainable Development Goal 14 - Life under Water, remains the most underfunded of all SDGs. As COP28 kickstarts on 30 November, this high-level event will take stock of efforts to turn the tide for the Ocean-Climate nexus and explore innovative ways to build on this intrinsic relationship to safeguard multilateralism, from governance to finance.

Photo: Ocean & Climate Platform

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Blue Carbon, Unleashing Nature's Superpower, Goals House, Concrete, Alserkal Avenue

• By: Conservation International, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, Erol Foundation and Make Waves
• Time: 20:30-22:30
• Location: Goals House, Concrete, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai  
• Event type: 
• Live stream: 
• About: This panel discussion will feature highlights from their latest film ‘Blue Carbon - Unleashing Nature’s Superpower’, an environmental documentary that brings together music and science to uncover what could be one of our greatest weapons in the fight against climate change

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December 1

Ocean Innovators Platform - The Great Blue Wall: protecting and restoring marine ecosystems at scale 

• By: Ocean Innovators Platform & Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation 
• Time: 09:00-10:30  
• Location: St Regis downtown, Dubai Marasi Dr - Business Bay
• Event type: Round table
• Live stream: 
• About: The Ocean Innovation Roundtables will serve as a hub convening a variety of stakeholders actively involved in the transition towards a sustainable blue economy. This platform not only fosters collaboration but also aims at championing disruptive innovations, facilitating the sharing of expert opinions and the exchange of perspectives on an array of topics intricately linked to the climate-ocean nexus. The sessions are hosted under the chatham house rule to promote open and authentic dialogue between the participants.

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The Ocean Innovators Platform - Marine CDR: deep dive into emerging solutions 

• By: Ocean Innovators Platform & Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation
• Time: 11:00-12:30  
• Location: St Regis downtown, Dubai Marasi Dr - Business Bay
• Event type: Round table
• Live stream: 
• About: The Ocean Innovation Roundtables will serve as a hub convening a variety of stakeholders actively involved in the transition towards a sustainable blue economy. This platform not only fosters collaboration but also aims at championing disruptive innovations, facilitating the sharing of expert opinions and the exchange of perspectives on an array of topics intricately linked to the climate-ocean nexus. The sessions are hosted under the chatham house rule to promote open and authentic dialogue between the participants.

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Opportunities, tools and challenges towards an inclusive and equitable approach for local & regional adaptation to a rapidly changing ocean 

• By: Plymouth Marine Laboratory  
• Time: 11:15-12:30  
• Location: Commonwealth Pavilion
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: There is an urgent need for tools in support of adapting to climate change impacts of a rapidly changing ocean. At the same time, some technical solutions / innovations being proposed are not appropriate for developing / least developed countries (many of whom are Commonwealth Partners) as they require large financial resources / significant infrastructure investment. It is therefore imperative to prioritise the development and mobilisation of appropriate tools that can be rolled out quickly and efficiently at a global scale in a way that promotes equitability and inclusivity without causing unintended environmental consequences. This session will therefore discuss amongst panel members but also with the audience the requirements, opportunities and possible barriers for implementing equitable and accessible ocean adaption solutions specifically for countries with minimal financial resource and high levels of marine biodiversity.

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The Ocean Innovators Platform - Networking Lunch 

• By: Ocean Innovators Platform & Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation
• Time: 12:30-14:30 
• Location: St Regis downtown, Dubai Marasi Dr - Business Bay
• Event type: Round table
• Live stream: 
• About: The Ocean Innovation Roundtables will serve as a hub convening a variety of stakeholders actively involved in the transition towards a sustainable blue economy. This platform not only fosters collaboration but also aims at championing disruptive innovations, facilitating the sharing of expert opinions and the exchange of perspectives on an array of topics intricately linked to the climate-ocean nexus. The sessions are hosted under the chatham house rule to promote open and authentic dialogue between the participants.

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The Ocean Innovators Platform - Green shipping: leveraging innovation to propel the industry’s transition 

• By: Ocean Innovators Platform & Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation
• Time: 14:30-16:00 
• Location: St Regis downtown, Dubai Marasi Dr - Business Bay
• Event type: Round table
• Live stream: 
• About: The Ocean Innovation Roundtables will serve as a hub convening a variety of stakeholders actively involved in the transition towards a sustainable blue economy. This platform not only fosters collaboration but also aims at championing disruptive innovations, facilitating the sharing of expert opinions and the exchange of perspectives on an array of topics intricately linked to the climate-ocean nexus. The sessions are hosted under the chatham house rule to promote open and authentic dialogue between the participants.

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Ocean Research Coalition: Scientific Coordination to Inform Ocean Sustainability Decisions   

• By: CNRS 
• Time: 15:30-16:30 
• Location: Ocean Pavilion 
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnCI--EkKF8
• About: Multiple ocean-related scientific organizations team together to address global issues requiring cooperation and coordination, such as:

1. Better impacting with evidence-based scientific information global policy negotiations (e.g. UNFCCC, CBD, BBNJ)
2. Ensuring an integrated voice of scientific disciplines in support of IPOS
3. Joining forces and expertise to develop a global social-ecological digital avatar of the ocean
4. Fostering synergies in scaling-up funding of research across countries and funding agencies

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High-level Launch of Act 30  

• By: IUCN, IIFB, ESRI, High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People Coalition
• Time: 19:00-21:00  
• Location: IUCN 'Unite for Nature' Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Event type: Launch presentations (onsite is by invitation-only)
• Live stream: https://www.iucn.org/cop28live
• About: IUCN, the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB), and IUCNs Indigenous Peoples Organisation (IPO) members are partnering to design and deliver an international initiative to support Parties in implementing Target 3. The High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC) and ESRI are also partners. We propose holding a high-level reception at COP to launch Act30 and demonstrate IUCNs commitment to co-designing conservation initiatives with IPOs, a practical example of the PODONG initiative (also being launched at COP) that reflects an institutional shift towards this approach.

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December 2

Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement: A Guide to Responsible, Transparent, and Inclusive Research  

• By: Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation (OACIS initiative), GEOMAR, CNRS, WHOI and ClimateWorks Foundation 
• Time: 08:00-09:00 
• Location: Ocean Pavilion
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/9II5YKsl4Js?si=dJlgFdSgkbF6L2qi
• About: This event will delve into the potential and challenges around Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE). OAE is a marine Carbon Dioxide Removal approach actively studied by publicly and philanthropically funded research projects and start-ups. This has created an urgent need to learn if, how and when OAE can work at scale, to identify potential impacts, and to ensure that OAE research is responsible, transparent, and inclusive.

A new “Guide to Best Practices in OAE Research”, aiming to advance knowledge on scientific, legal and social aspects, and on Monitoring, Reporting and Verification, will be released at this event, in the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco. 

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Sea of Change: Advancing sustainable solutions to combat plastic pollution and protect blue economies in the Mediterranean Sea’  

• By: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation 
• Time: 11:00-12:00
• Location: Ocean Pavilion
• Event type: Round table discussion with audience involvement
• Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/B2N4QSHqjAc?si=ztet_koMYSh4pnpR
• About: In light of the critical challenges posed by plastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea, this roundtable will focus on exploring innovative financing mechanisms and collaborative models to protect environment and livelihoods, such as the Blue Economy Mediterranean Partnership, the Med Fund, and the Beyond Plastic Med. Engage with global leaders and experts from public, private, and philanthropic sectors in insightful discussions on driving sustainable and innovative solutions to reduce plastic pollution and foster blue economies in the Mediterranean Sea.

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Paving the Way to Accelerate Private Finance Contribution to International Targets  

• By: IUCN 
• Time: 11:30-13:00  
• Location: BENELUX-EIB Pavilion
• Event type: Side event
• Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBE_QMwTXRo
• About: While investments in nature-based solutions cannot replace deep decarbonization of all sectors of the economy, they can help accelerate and scale up climate change mitigation and adaptation. Fast pacing private investment in nature is imperative, so where do we start? Channelling private finance into conservation has always been the Ariadne's thread of the IUCN's Blue Natural Capital Financing Facility (BNCFF), which offers project development support in that regard.

Join this session to hear what makes BNCFF approach successful, how it can emulate similar efforts by listening to project developers, regranting mechanism managers and other partners alike.

Photo: IUCN

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Making NbS approaches viable for multilateral/private sector financing of infrastructure projects  

• By: Conservation International 
• Time: 16:30-17:30 
• Location: Resilience Hub 
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: The panel will discuss and debate how to accelerate the implementation of nature-based solutions (NbS), including green-gray infrastructure at scale - designing and building the next generation of resilient infrastructure to reduce flood risk for up to 680 million people in the coastal zone providing biodiversity and adaptation benefits. 

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High Ambition for the High Seas  

• By: Government of Palau, Government of Australia, Government of Mauritania, IUCN, Monash University, High Seas Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council, International Fund for Animal Welfare, EarthEcho International and Global Choices 
• Time: 18:00-19:00  
• Location: Monash University Pavilion
• Event type: Commitment and networking - by invitation only
• Live stream: https://www.monash.edu/cop28-events
• About: This event provides an opportunity for countries to demonstrate their commitment to the new UN High Seas Treaty that was agreed in March 2023, through a symbolic declaration of their intent to support swift ratification to ensure the treaty enters into force as soon as possible. The High Seas Treaty marks a significant milestone in global ocean governance, helping to secure greater protection for biodiversity in half the planet that makes up the High Seas and providing a key new tool that will help tackle the climate and biodiversity crises and address ocean and climate justice.

Photo: High Seas Alliance

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December 3

Linkages between climate change, plastic pollution and ocean health   

• By: UNEP BRS 
• Time: 10:30-11:30  
• Location: Seychelles Pavilion
• Event type: Side event
• Live stream: 
• About: 

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Legal Nexus of the Triple Planetary Crisis - convergence of treaty regimes for climate change, biodiversity and plastic pollution  

• By: WCEL 
• Time: 12:00-13:00  
• Location: IUCN 'Unite for Nature' Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Event type: Expert speaker presentations
• Live stream: https://www.iucn.org/cop28live
• About: 

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Financing ocean-based climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience  

• By: PIDF 
• Time: 12:00-13:00  
• Location: Moana Pavilion
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: This session brings together governments, investors, and the private sector to discuss how policy and market initiatives can facilitate private sector investments in the Pacific blue economy.

For small island, large ocean states, sustainable futures lie in the opportunities provided by the blue economy. Attracting private sector investment is key to developing the blue economy and meeting Sustainable Development Goals throughout the Pacific.

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Catalysing investment in the Pacific blue economy  

• By: PIDF
• Time: 13:00-14:00  
• Location: Moana Pavilion
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: Ocean-based climate actions face unique challenges, which make traditional forms of climate and development finance difficult to apply and create unacceptable levels of risk for private sector investment. Novel financing solutions have enormous potential to generate funds for the implementation of ocean-based initiatives such as marine spatial planning, blue carbon projects, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and addressing marine plastics.

This event discusses how different actors in climate finance can support new finance ideas to solve the ocean’s complex problems.

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Return on Ocean Investment Panel

• By: UN Global Compact, Ocean Stewardship Coalition
• Time: 12:30-13:30  
• Location: Ocean Pavilion
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: The meeting will convene ocean industry, governments, investors, and other stakeholders across the finance value chain to identify key enablers to unlock private capital to scale investment in the sustainable ocean economy. The discussion will also serve as a forum to provide initial feedback to the first draft of the Ocean Investment Protocol, a framework for investors, corporations, governments and development finance institutions to be able to unlock mainstream capital to both drive and benefit from future growth in sustainable ocean business.

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Catalyzing Investment in Responsible Ocean Climate Solutions

• By: NOAA, CDR
• Time: 16:00-17:15  
• Location: IUCN 'Unite for Nature' Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: Abstract Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR), when paired with extensive emissions reductions, is a mitigation strategy to limit warming to 1.5°C as it removes legacy carbon emissions from the atmosphere by augmenting natural processes on ocean and land. However, in order to meet climate goals, CDR must scale 30 times its present capacity by 2030, which is estimated to require an annual global investment of 1.13 billion USD/year for research and development. This panel will:

1. highlight recent investments from the US on novel CDR research, especially marine CDR (mCDR), including research on impacts to ecosystems and social systems,
2. outline current mCDR initiatives and priorities in the US and the global south, and
3. call to other governments to join the U.S. in responsible investments for international mCDR research development and demonstration to understand the feasibility of mCDR as a climate solution.

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December 4

Connecting climate mitigation to depolluting oceans through concrete solutions in the Pacific Islands

• By: UNEP BRS
• Time: 09:00-09.50  
• Location: Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: 

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International Recognition of Tidal Flats as Official Blue Carbon

• By: UN Global Compact, Ocean Stewardship Coalition
• Time: 12:00-13:00  
• Location: IUCN 'Unite for Nature' Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Event type: 
• Live stream: https://www.iucn.org/cop28live
• About: 

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Regenerating Seascapes for a Climate Resilient Blue Economy: Implementing the Great Blue Wall

• By: IUCN
• Time: 13:15-14:15  
• Location: IUCN 'Unite for Nature' Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: https://www.iucn.org/cop28live
• About: The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region is particularly affected by the triple crisis of climate, biodiversity & economy. The Great Blue Wall (GBW) launched at COP26 is a WIO-born, major African-driven initiative to achieve a nature-positive world by 2030 through quantifiable objectives tackling this three-pronged challenge. Its implementation is underpinned by proven approaches, such as Nature-based Solutions, which have gained prominence in the conservation and development sectors due to their holistically tackling these crises.

This event will showcase how NbS can build the resilience of a regenerative blue economy that directly benefits coastal communities and delivers conservation outcomes. Questions to be addressed include: How can NbS contribute to the GBW and build climate resilience in the WIO? How can ecosystems provide vital adaptation services for the blue economy? How can we measure the impact of NbS against climate, nature and the economy? How can we ensure regenerative blue economies work for women and youth? Multiple voices, including women, youth, local governments, financers and implementors will share their experiences to spearhead action in the WIO region.

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Ocean-Climate-Society: the UNFCCC & ocean mitigation, adaptation, finance and capacity building

• By: EBCD, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Blue Marine Foundation, Fondation BNP Paribas
• Time: 15:00-16:30  
• Location: Side Event (SE) Room 7
• Event type: 
• Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/@UNClimateChangeEvents/videos
• About: Ocean ecosystems & coastal communities are being impacted by climate change, but the ocean also offers adaptation & mitigation actions.

We will show examples of adaptation, governance and finance framework opportunities, including for the global south, collaboration and ocean integration in the UNFCCC

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Leading on OA Monitoring, Policy Mainstreaming and Finance in the Pacific

• By: OA Alliance, U.S. NOAA Ocean Acidification Program, U.S. State Department, The Ocean Foundation
• Time: 15:00-15:50  
• Location: Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: 

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December 5

The Marine Protected Area as a Nature-Based Solution to Address Climate Change

• By: Indonesia Climate Change Trust Fund
• Time: 10:00-12:00  
• Location: OceanX Pavilion
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: 

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Why a Sustainable Just Transition Requires a Halt on Deep-Sea Mining

• By: IUCN, Deep-Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC), Dona Bertarelli Philanthropies
• Time: 19:00-21:00  
• Location: IUCN 'Unite for Nature' Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: Special guests include government representatives, indigenous voices and minerals experts. 

From UNFCCC COP28, UAE: Events, promotion and activities have already been organised and conducted to support the understanding of a moratorium for DSM.  Photo: Bertarelli Foundation

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December 6

Blue Carbon - Unleashing Nature’s Superpower

• By: Conservation International, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, the Erol Foundation and Make Waves
• Time: 13:00-14:30  
• Location: Center for the Planet Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Event type: 
• Live stream: 
• About: This event will feature highlights from the new film ‘Blue Carbon - Unleashing Nature’s Superpower’ and a panel discussion with community leaders featured in the documentary and leaders from science, government, and the private sector

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How The Seabed Could Save The World

• By: Blue Marine Foundation, Convex Insurance, and The University of Exeter
• Time: 15:45-17:30  
• Location: Goals House, Concrete, Alserkal Avenue
• Event type: Round table
• Live stream: 
• About: The event will shed light on the ground-breaking Convex Seascape Survey and elevate the conversation on blue carbon.

Senior stakeholders from the worlds of business, policy, research, the media, and philanthropy will convene to explore the latest data and strategies for translating insights into action on ocean conservation. ARlo Brady, Rachel Delhaise, Callum Roberts

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Regional leadership on the implementation of innovative Nature-based Solutions as key to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss  

• By: IUCN
• Time: 16:00-17:15  
• Location: IUCN 'Unite for Nature' Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Event type: 
• Live stream: https://www.iucn.org/cop28live
• About: Regional and subnational leadership as catalysts of change. These leaders for biodiversity and climate action discussing the implementation of innovative nature-based solutions as key to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss

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Leveraging UN Mechanisms for Local OA (ocean acidification) Adaptation and Resilience

• By: OA Alliance, co-hosted with UN Foundation, IOC-UNESCO, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Ocean Decade Programme ‘Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability, Commonwealth Secretariat, Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network, and University of Washington
• Time: 16:15-17:45  
• Location: Commonwealth Pavilion
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: Illuminating the global and local science, policy, and financing needed to respond to OA and its impacts.
• Speakers: UN Foundation, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, Green Climate Fund, Oceano Azul Foundation, UN Decade of Ocean Science, Ocean Acidification Research Programme, Commonwealth Blue Charter Secretariat, African Union, USA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connecting Regional Leaders and the Global Community for Biodiversity and Climate Action

• By: IUCN
• Time: 19:00-21:00  
• Location: IUCN 'Unite for Nature' Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: https://www.iucn.org/cop28live
• About: 

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December 8

From Principles to Practice: Building a Resilient Blue Economy for Ocean Health and Climate Resilience

• By: India Sustainable Coastal Management Division (SCMD) and National Museum of Natural History (NMNH, India)
• Time: 10:00-12:30
• Location: India Pavilion
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: The Chennai High Level Principles for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue Economy/Ocean based economy was consented by all G20 countries during the Indian Presidency. The proposed side event is to highlight the principles and promote its adoption by sharing experiences and science-based knowledge.

This event assembles a diverse group of international experts, national experts, innovators, community representatives, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss sustainable and climate-resilient blue economy practices. The discussions will encompass emerging science, technology, and innovation, challenges in policy and governance, and the establishment of finance mechanisms to support national and collective blue economy endeavors.

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The End Plastic Pollution International Collaborative (EPPIC) – Catalyzing action for effective plastic circularity solutions

• By: The Aspen Institute, IUCN, The Ocean Foundation, Searious Business, U.S. Department of State
• Time: 14:00 - 15:00
• Location: US Pavilion
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheUSCenter
• About: EPPIC seeks to galvanize global action on plastic pollution by supporting projects around the world to make the full lifecycle of plastic more sustainable and convene stakeholders to create opportunities that no single philanthropy, NGO, company, or national government could create on its own. It is is a new public-private partnership hosted by IUCN with partners the Aspen Institute, The Ocean Foundation, and Searious Business, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State.

Photo: US State Department

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Valuing the Treasures of the Twilight Zone: Mesopelagic Species and Their Delivery of Biodiversity, Climate, Food and Other Services

• By: IUCN
• Time: 14:00 - 15:00
• Location: Ocean Pavilion
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: Register online for this event at https://oceanpavilion-cop.org/pavilion-programing

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December 9

Accelerating Finance for Nature-Based Solutions

• By: Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW)
• Time: 9:00-10:00
• Location: Australia Pavilion
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: Aligning with COP28’s cross-cutting theme of finance, the discussion will focus on challenges and opportunities to accelerate financing for nature-based solutions, with perspectives from the Australian Government, international environmental organisations, and the private sector. 

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Nature First: From Land to Ocean, our Best Ally for Climate Action

^{(Diving segment dedicated to the the Ocean Breakthrough: conservation and sustainable management of the Ocean)}

• By: Ocean and Climate Platform, Marrakech Partnership on Land Use and on Ocean & Coastal Zone
• Time: 10:00-12:30 (Diving segment: 11:30-12:15)
• Location: Arena 1 (Al Hur), Global Climate Action Hub, Blue Zone
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: The event will showcase remarkable initiatives across land and ocean spearheaded by a multiplicity of non-state actors to reverse biodiversity decline by 2030, increase ecosystem and human resilience to climate change, and achieve a sustainable balance within planetary boundaries.

Stressing the need of implementing systemic approaches this event will draw attention to the need for:

• Advanced land-and-ocean-based solutions to deliver on biodiversity, land degradation and climate goals (UNFCCC, CBD, UNCCD);
• Conserving/restoring the world's natural ecosystems by making system-wide transformations in land use, and ocean and coastal zones management; and
• Taking stock of the size of financial investments in the sustainable management of our natural environment and how these can be scaled up, while ensuring funding reaches local communities.

The Diving segment will further address the challenges faced by the global Ocean but most importantly the opportunity to deliver on both the Paris Agreement and the recently agreed Global Biodiversity Framework. It will further dive into the Ocean Breakthrough and how to scale-up ocean-based climate actions.

The event covers the areas of:

• _{Marine conservation: Coral breakthrough; 30x30 ;}
• _{Marine Spatial planning.}
• _{Ocean-based transport: decarbonising the shipping industry, while accounting for Nature and limiting impacts on biodiversity}
• _{Ocean-based & energy: scaling-up offshore wind with a biodiversity-positive approach}
• _{Whole of society approach: showcasing public-private partnerships, e.g. Seychelles-Pew on blue carbon, Chile and MPAs}
• _{Mainstreaming: taking stock of what’s been achieved since COP21 to recognise the role of the ocean in climate and develop a portfolio of ocean-based climate solutions}
• _{Governance: celebrate milestones for ocean governance with the BBNJ Treaty, DSM, SSF, etc.}

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A Breakthrough Moment for Mangroves: Delivering Global Action on Mangrove Protection and Restoration

• Co-hosted by: COP28 Presidency, Global Mangrove Alliance, High-level Climate Champions, and Mangrove Alliance for Climate
• Time: 12:30-14:00
• Location: Connect Conference Auditorium, Green Zone

Photo: Mangrove Breakthrough

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A roadmap for nature based solutions in our oceans, achieving the Kelp Forest Challenge; protecting and restoring 4 million hectares of kelp forests by 2040

• By: IUCN
• Time: 13:15-14:15
• Location: IUCN 'Unite for Nature' Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Event type: Moderated presentations and panel discussion
• Live stream: https://www.iucn.org/cop28live
• About: Essential for healthy oceans, coastal communities, fisheries, economies, and marine biodiversity from the subtropics to the polar regions, kelp forests are an integral and threatened ocean ecosystem. Their benefits are connected to over 740 million people who live beside a kelp forest, and their economic impact is valued at least 500 billion USD per year. Despite the ever-growing and increasingly prominent climate threats to the ocean’s largest biological ecosystem and the loss of their associated benefits, kelp forest conservation has lagged behind conservation efforts in other terrestrial and marine environments.

The Kelp Forest Challenge aims to address this disparity and accelerate investment and action for an untapped nature based solution by promoting the restoration and protection of 4 million hectares of kelp forests, globally, by 2040. This roadmap is a detailed strategy for how businesses, governments, communities, universities, content creators, and anyone else with an interest can help meet the Kelp Forest Challenge. To save our kelp forests, we will need substantial investment, collaboration, and innovation across different sectors, countries, and philosophies; equitable and large-scale success for kelp forests will only be achieved by bringing together the diversity of solutions outlined here and creating a sustainable ocean for everyone.

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Interlinkages Between the Climate and Biodiversity Crisis in Mangrove Ecosystems

• By: IUCN
• Time: 16:00-17:15
• Location: IUCN 'Unite for Nature' Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Event type: Moderated presentations and panel discussion
• Live stream: https://www.iucn.org/cop28live
• About: 

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Nature-based Solutions for Coastal Resilience, Marrakesh Partnership Implementation Lab

• By: Conservation International, the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA), and the Ocean and Climate Platform
• Time: 16:00-17:00
• Location: Climate Action Zone, Lab 1 (AI Shaheen)
• Event type: Round table discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: The Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action program - the roundtable is designed to convene partners who can Identify examples of where nature-based solutions have been implemented to build resilience for coastal communities, and how to accelerate finance into scaling these solutions beyond proof-of-concept.

It will also identify the policy and financing tools available to accelerate nature-based solutions that build resilience in coastal communities, and highlight best practices for green-grey infrastructure and where policy and foundational finance tools can be leveraged to build an enabling environment.

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Nature-based Solutions: a joint response to the challenges of climate and biodiversity

• By: IUCN
• Time: 17:30-18:30
• Location: IUCN 'Unite for Nature' Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Event type: Moderated presentations and following discussion
• Live stream: https://www.iucn.org/cop28live
• About: 

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High-level dinner of the Friends of Ocean and Climate

• By: Portugal, Fiji, Canada, Germany, Oceano Azul Foundation, UN Foundation, Ocean Conservancy, Ocean and Climate platform
• Time: 19:15-21:45
• Location: Loulouà'a Ballrooom, Ritz-Carlton Hotel
• Event type: Dinner event
• Live stream: 
• About: Presentations and discussions, moderated by UN Ocean Ambassador Peter Thomson

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December 10

Sustainable Aquatic Food Systems

• By: EBCD, FAO
• Time: 14:30-15:15
• Location: Nordic Pavilion
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: 

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U.S. Release of National Ocean Acidification Action Plan

• By: OA Alliance
• Time: 15:30-16:30
• Location: Ocean Pavilion
• Event type: 
• Live stream: 
• About: Join us for a special release of the U.S. OA Action Plan alongside National Government actions to advance SDG 14.3 “to minimize and address OA” by UN Ocean Conference 2025.

OA Action plans call forth renewed ambition to realize mitigation and adaptation targets already in place across UNFCCC and deliver on Sustainable Development Goal 14.3, “to minimize and address ocean acidification.” Additionally, OA Action Plans help prioritize science, policy, and funding needs across the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainability.

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Islands Driving Forward Climate Change Law

• By: IUCN
• Time: 17:30-18:30
• Location: IUCN 'Unite for Nature' Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: https://www.iucn.org/cop28live
• About: 

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December 11

How Can International Ocean Law Assist States to Meet their Climate Change Obligations?

• By: Rutgers, AIDA, HSA
• Time: 13:15-14:45
• Location: Side Event (SE) Room 3, Blue Zone
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: The new High Seas Treaty and guidance from three international courts will require and assist states to ensure human rights, protect ocean biodiversity’s capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change, secure peaceful multilateral outcomes, and deliver on Paris Agreement obligations. 

Full UNFCCC list of side events and their details: https://seors.unfccc.int/applications/seors/reports/events_list.html

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Achieving High-Integrity ENACT NbS Targets: ENACT-ing A Billion

• By: IUCN
• Time: 19:00-21:00
• Location: IUCN 'Unite for Nature' Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: https://www.iucn.org/cop28live
• About: 

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December 12

Strengths and weaknesses of integrating Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

• By: IUCN
• Time: 10:45-11:45
• Location: IUCN 'Unite for Nature' Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: https://www.iucn.org/cop28live
• About: Perspectives and roles of various actors to address the double challenges of Climate crisis and Biodiversity loss and the role NbS can take.

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Innovative Financing to Protect Biodiversity, Integrate Nature and Climate, and Strengthen Indigenous and Local Communities

• Time: 13:15-14:15
• Location: IUCN 'Unite for Nature' Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Event type: Panel discussion
• Live stream: 
• About: 

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Polluting Legacy Shipwrecks – A Global Challenge

• By: IUCN
• Time: 16:00-17:15
• Location: IUCN 'Unite for Nature' Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Event type: Presentation
• Live stream: 
• About: