Featured: Read the Ocean Panel’s 2026 Progress Report
Members of the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel) held their annual leaders’ meeting today, co-chaired by President Surangel Whipps Jr. of Palau and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway, where they reaffirmed the central role of the ocean in climate action and discuss priorities for the road to COP31 […]
Across the Ocean Panel, progress is evident as all 19 members are currently developing or implementing their Sustainable Ocean Plans (SOPs), a key part of their commitment to sustainably manage 100% of their national waters. Members are putting in place have enabling conditions needed to deliver these plans, such as stronger legal and institutional frameworks, […]
Developed through engagement with First Nations peoples, ocean communities, researchers, conservationists, governments and marine industries, the SOP recognises the interconnected nature of Australia’s ocean, economy and communities. It sets out eight priority areas for action: climate action; protecting, restoring and building marine resilience; growing ocean industries; working with First Nations peoples; strengthening collaboration; ensuring equity […]
Ocean Panel member Kenya staged an impressive event in Mombasa which saw a record breaking 5,000 participants including heads of state, ministers, scientists, Indigenous leaders, youth representatives, business executives and civil society organizations. This year’s edition also included an Executive Business and Investment Forum and a Research Symposium as part of the conference for the first time. As the first Our Ocean Conference to be held in Africa, it highlighted […]
From 16-18 of June, governments, experts and ocean leaders are convening at the 2026 Our Ocean Conference – hosted this year by Ocean Panel member, Kenya – to elevate the actions needed to secure a healthy, productive and resilient ocean for generations to come. Key to achieving this outcome is the Ocean Panel’s 100% approach, […]
Leaders, ministers, scientists and international partners gathered from June 3-4 at the Island States Ocean Summit in Tokyo, co-chaired by President Surangel S. Whipps Jr of Palau alongside Yohei Sasakawa Honorary Chair of the Nippon Foundation and Vidar Helgesen Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. The summit highlighted the critical role of island states in ocean stewardship and the urgent need for international cooperation to address climate change, biodiversity loss and the sustainable management of ocean resources. A key announcement was the […]
San José, Costa Rica (April 21, 2026) — Colombia today committed to sustainably manage all of its national waters by 2030, becoming the latest member of the 100% Alliance. The declaration was made by Colombia’s Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, who highlighted the ocean’s strategic importance for the country’s development and the urgency of advancing their protection. […]
Published in the Official Gazette (‘Diario Oficial de la Federación’) the plan sets out a comprehensive framework to sustainably manage 100% of Mexico’s Exclusive Economic Zone, an area covering 3.27 million km2. It sets out a long-term vision that translates Mexico’s international commitments into concrete, measurable, and coordinated actions, aligned with the 2030 Agenda for […]
From new commitments and an expanded membership, to achieving targets, the Ocean Panel has showcased tangible progress in driving sustainable ocean management, climate action and innovative solutions. Below explore some top highlights from this year’s COP: Brazil joins the Ocean Panel At COP30, Brazil became the 19th member of the Ocean Panel, committing to sustainable management of all 3.68 million km² of its national […]
The SOP establishes an overarching framework to guide the sustainable management and long-term stewardship of Ghana’s marine and coastal environments and is structured around six strategic pillars: ocean wealth, ocean health, ocean knowledge, ocean equity, ocean finance and maritime security. The SOP articulates a clear national vision that Ghana’s dedication to safeguarding marine ecosystems while enabling the sustainable use of ocean resources […]
