The Ocean Panel Sherpas held the 43rd meeting in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from 5–7 December, hosted by Her Excellency Ms. Razan Al Mubarak, IUCN President and UAE’s Sherpa to the Ocean Panel.
Over three days, representatives reflected on a landmark year for ocean action, from Our Ocean Conference in Republic of Korea, UN Ocean Conference in France, COP30 in Brazil, with both successes and failures in multilateralism, and set priorities for the years ahead.
Key discussions included:
- Strengthening ocean–climate action, with strong backing for expanding blue NDCs and highlighting the role of Sustainable Ocean Plans in climate ambition.
- Developing coordinated communications ahead of COP31 and ensuring oceans are central to discussions at future COPs, particularly regarding finance, resilience, and science.
- Kenya’s preparations for hosting the Our Ocean Conference in June 2026.
- Reaffirmed support for the 100% Alliance, encouraging all coastal and island nations to commit to fully sustainable ocean management.
- The importance of bolstering the Global Ocean Observing System to improve monitoring, pollution tracking, and extreme-event prediction, including opportunities for technological innovation and collaboration.
- Advancing plans for the 2026 Progress Report, defining its scale and monitoring approach, and explored ways to strengthen science partnerships.
This renewed cooperation ensures the Ocean Panel remains a driving force for a sustainable ocean economy and international cooperation in the years ahead.
