COP30 in Belém marked a turning point for the ocean within global climate negotiations. For the first time, the COP Presidency elevated the ocean alongside forests and energy as a central pillar of climate action—underscoring its critical role in both adaptation and mitigation. From the launch of the Belém Ocean Declaration and the Blue NDC Challenge to new momentum behind the Mangrove Breakthrough and blue carbon finance, COP30 brought oceans to the climate table like never before.

In this conversation, we bring together two leading voices shaping that agenda—The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA)—to reflect on what COP30 delivered for coastal and marine ecosystems. We’ll explore what’s next for translating ambition into impact: scaling finance, deepening equity, and ensuring ocean solutions are front and center in the climate decade ahead.