The UNFCCC convened its annual Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue during the 2026 Bonn Climate Change Conference. The Dialogue serves as a dedicated space to advance Ocean-based climate action by holding discussions on adaptation, mitigation, means of implementation, and science, to share good practices and shine the spotlight on Ocean issues.

Mandated in 2022 by the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan, the Dialogue convenes under the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA) in support of implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

According to the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) summary report of the meeting, the Ocean acts as the Earth’s major greenhouse gas (GHG) sink, absorbing around 90% of the heat generated by emissions. However, the changing climate is warming its waters, altering seawater chemistry, and driving sea-level rise and Ocean acidification, with increasingly detrimental impacts on marine biodiversity and the well-being of people who depend on the Ocean for their well-being or survival.

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The 2026 Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue considered three topics:

• Ocean-based priorities in the nationally determined contributions (NDCs), including restoring and protecting marine ecosystems, sustainable food production, Ocean-based renewables and transitioning away from fossil fuels, sustainable tourism, coastal resilience, and tackling emissions from marine transport;
• Means of implementation, including identifying practical pathways to unlock and scale predictable, accessible, and adequate Ocean-related climate finance, recognizing that a significant proportion of parties – particularly developing countries and small island developing States (SIDS) – have framed Ocean-related actions in their NDCs as conditional on external support; and
• Ocean-climate-biodiversity synergies and international cooperation, including examining practical approaches for improving policy coherence across the UNFCCC and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) processes and identifying concrete areas for alignment across NDCs, National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).

Convening over the course of two afternoons, the Dialogue kicked off with a COP 31 Presidency segment on the Ocean, followed by panel sessions where countries and experts shared national experiences and initiatives related to the Dialogue’s three topics. On day two, panelists focused on formulating outcomes from the Dialogue for COP 31. World Café-style breakout groups captured national and regional best practices. A concluding plenary session finalized key messages.

Throughout the Dialogue, participants underscored that means of implementation are essential for enhancing action and called for better access, international cooperation, capacity building, and the establishment of appropriate governance structures. Many emphasized the need to align needs on the ground with existing financial mechanisms. Participants welcomed the growing recognition of the role of the Ocean in climate action, with several expressing optimism that momentum generated by the Dialogue may pave the way for tangible action and commitments at COP 31.

The 2026 Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue convened in Bonn, Germany, from 10-11 June. [ENB Coverage of Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue 2026]