NOVEMBER 10 – 21, 2025 | BELÉM, BRAZIL

Ocean-based carbon removal
events at COP30

COP30, the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP),  brings governments together to negotiate implementation of global climate policies, including the Paris Agreement. Around these official talks, world leaders, scientists, NGOs, and civil society gather to share solutions and chart the path forward. This year’s conference takes place in Belém, Brazil—at the mouth of the Amazon River, where the rainforest meets the sea—emphasizing the essential role of both ecosystems in sustaining planetary health.

During COP30, Carbon to Sea is proud to join Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and many other grantees and partners at the Ocean Pavilion. Located within the Blue Zone, the Ocean Pavilion will once again serve as the central hub for delegates to exchange ideas on how to address the climate crisis by leveraging marine science and ocean-based solutions.  

Carbon to Sea Initiative’s Global Policy Director, Diane Hoskins will be attending COP30.

To support our partners, Carbon to Sea has compiled this list of side events related to ocean-based carbon removal (oCDR). To add to this list, please contact Danny Gawlowski, danny@carbontosea.org.

Relevant Events

    • Why Remove Carbon? The Role of CDR in Meeting Global Climate Goals
      • 10:30 – 11:30 at the CDR30 Pavilion
      • Organized by the Negative Emissions Platform, UNFCC, and Microsoft

 

    • Government-led Action to Grow High-Integrity Carbon Markets
      • 16:00 – 17:00 at the Singapore Pavilion
      • Join politicians and business leaders as The Coalition to Grow Carbon Markets—led by Singapore, the UK, and Kenya—unveils its shared principles and plans to catalyse a new chapter for high-integrity carbon markets. The event will explore the Coalition’s work to unlock capital for sustainable growth and accelerate progress on global climate goals.

 

    • Challenges for Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal in the High Seas
      • 15:00 – 16:00 at the Ocean Pavilion
      • This panel will discuss stewardship of ocean commons and evaluating mCDR risks and benefits based upon transparency, equity, and science.

 

    • Carbon Dioxide Removal at Scale: What Role for Multi-Level Governance?
      • 17:00 – 17:45 at the Finland Pavilion
      • Organized by Bellona Europa and CNCA.
    • The One Ocean Science Congress: Science at the UN Ocean Conference to make the difference
      • 10:30 – 11:30 at the Ocean Pavilion
      • The OOSC organized by IFREMER and CNRS in June 2025 in Nice, France, was the first ever UN Ocean Conference Special Event dedicated to Science. It delivered recommendations to heads of State and civil society, pledging to act now where science is clear, advance knowledge before irreversible decisions, and turn knowledge into action and action to justice.
      • Organized by IFREMER.

 

    • What should be the role of private companies in the developing field of mCDR?
      • 10:30 – 12:00 at the GAUC Pavilion (Global Alliance of Universities on Climate)
      • As a field of research, ocean-based carbon dioxide removal is expanding. But to see growth in action, the field will need to look to private companies and capital. How should industry be involved in this developing field? And crucially, when? In this session, we will debate the timescales, frameworks, and extent to which industry and research should collaborate.
      • Organized by the Centre for Climate Repair, University of Cambridge.

 

    • Blue Carbon Collaboration: Sharing Japan’s Coastal Solutions with Asia and Beyond (Including Marine CDR Pathways)
      • 12:00 – 13:00 at the Ocean Pavilion
      • Macroalgal ecosystems—especially seaweed beds, kelp forests, seaweed farms, and mangroves—are fast-cycling coastal carbon engines. As nature-led, low-risk climate-repair options, they require rigorous MRV and lifecycle checks, and should be assessed alongside other climate interventions and solutions.
      • Organized by Ocean Policy Research Institute, Sasakawa Peace Foundation.

 

    • Ethical Pathways Ocean Solutions: Guiding Principles for Responsible Climate Intervention Research
      • 13:30 – 14:30 at the Ocean Pavilion
      • This panel will explore how AGU’s Ethical Framework for Climate Intervention Research can guide responsible ocean-based research, emphasizing justice, transparency, inclusive engagement, and ecological integrity in both science and policy
      • Organized by the American Geophysical Union.

 

    • The Oceans as a Climate Hero
      • 15:30 – 17:00 at the CDR30 Pavilion
      • The ocean is our planet’s unsung superhero – absorbing carbon, storing heat, and fighting climate change, though often at great cost to its own health. This panel will take a holistic, science-first look at ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (oCDR), considering multiple biotic and abiotic approaches to strengthen the ocean’s natural carbon sink.
      • Organized by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Exploring Ocean Iron Solutions

 

    • Africa Day : Unlocking the Carbon Market for Climate-Resilient Development
      • 18:30 – 20:00 at Side Event Room 4
      • Convened by African Union Commission, African Development Bank, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and AUDA-NEPAD, this side event will reflect on Africa’s challenges and opportunities within carbon markets, including how to leverage carbon not just as a source of revenue, but as a strategic tool for development.
      • Organized by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)
  • Elevating Voices: Co-Designing Research with Critical Communities for Science-Policy Impact
    • 16:30 – 17:30 at the Ocean Pavilion
    • This panel will discuss how co-designing projects with critical partners can enable projects to be conducted equitably, align with interdisciplinary priorities, and involve communities while disseminating science to help decision-making and technical/social innovation. This open roundtable will bring together practitioners across industry, science, policy, and communities to discuss mechanisms to enhance co-design pathways for ocean-climate solutions such as ocean renewable energy and ocean-based carbon dioxide removal.
    • Organized by Ocean Frontier Institute, AGU, Ocean Visions, and Fugro.
    • Aligning Science, Policy and Safeguards for Ocean-based Carbon Removal
      • 10:30 – 11:30 at the Ocean Pavilion
      • This session will examine the current state of ocean-based carbon dioxide removal research, scientific progress, and emerging policy landscape. Speakers will address governance frameworks, safeguards, and responsible innovation for ocean-based climate solutions.
      • Organized by Carbon to Sea.

 

    • Financing Scalable Tech for a Net Zero Future
      • 11:30 – 12:30 at the Singapore Pavilion
      • High-integrity tech-based carbon removals and reductions may hold the key to net zero, but how can finance be unlocked to scale them? This panel brings together innovators and enablers to reveal what it really takes to bring these technologies to market.

 

    • Scaling Land & Ocean Carbon Sequestration through Blue Economy & Finance
      • 13:30 – 14:30 at the Ocean Pavilion
      • This event will explore how soil- and marine-based carbon sequestration solutions can be scaled and financed across agriculture, forestry, and ocean-based approaches. With the blue economy emerging as one of the fastest-growing sectors worldwide, the discussion will focus on designing financial mechanisms that support sustainable ocean initiatives, address loss and damage needs, and incentivize private-sector investment in ocean-friendly technologies.
      • Organized by NOW Partners Foundation, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and Natural Capitalism Solutions
    • Research for Sustainable Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal
      • 9:00 – 10:00 at the Ocean Pavilion
      • Roundtable discussion on ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (oCDR) approaches and their potential contribution to NDCs, Blue NDC Challenge, Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). Will discusses the potentials, co-benefits (marine biodiversity, ocean health, coastal protection), research needs, and governance frameworks for sustainable implementation.
      • Organized by GEOMAR.

 

    • Group of Negative Emitters
      • 11:00 – 12:30 at the CDR30

 

    • mCDR: Laying the Foundation for Commercial Scale Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal
      • 13:30 – 14:30 at the CDR30 Pavilion
      • This panel will address the technical, regulatory, and infrastructure challenges needed for commercial scale readiness of mCDR solutions, focusing on data-driven science, industry partnerships and international collaboration.
      • Organized by Fugro.

 

    • Municipal Power: How to Realize Carbon Sink Cities?
      • 13:30 – 15:00 at the CDR30 Pavilion
      • Organized by Climate High-Level Champions.

 

    • Joint Launch of the Africa Climate Action Programme (AfCAP) and the Africa Action Plan on Carbon Markets (AAPCM)
      • 13:30 – 15:00 at the Africa Pavilion

 

    • Take another look: How carbon markets are getting better
      • 14:45 – 15:40 at the Nature Hub
      • This event will be a reflection on the “integrity shift” that seems to have taken place in the market in 2025, and discussion of what’s in store on this front in 2026.
      • Organized by Nature4Climate, ICVCM, VCMI, and VCM+ Coalition

 

    • Building the Evidence Base for Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal: Strengthening Research and Government Collaboration on Emerging Ocean-Climate Approaches
      • 15:00 – 17:00 at the Singapore Pavilion
      • Ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (oCDR), including emerging approaches such as ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), represents a critical frontier in ocean-climate innovation with the potential to make a significant contribution to long-term climate mitigation goals. This session will convene leading researchers, innovators, and government representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond to highlight progress in oCDR science and examine in depth promising, yet still developing, techniques like OAE. Participants will discuss the current state of scientific knowledge, research and development priorities, and methodological frameworks for assessing mitigation potential, environmental integrity, and monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems. The session will also consider how early scientific findings can inform the development of future governance and policy systems. The panel will be followed by a networking session.
    • Harnessing Ocean Monitoring Technology for Hazard Mitigation and Carbon Management
      • 10:30 – 11:30 at the Ocean Pavilion
      • This panel will showcase how ocean monitoring technologies are critical for understanding and mitigating marine hazards. It will explore how real-time data monitors the ocean’s carbon budget and informs nature-based climate solutions, like protecting blue carbon ecosystems.
      • Organized by the Marine Hazards Mitigation Center.

 

    • Aligning Canadian climate policy with competitiveness and growth
      • 15:45 – 16:30 at the Canada Pavilion
      • Join policy experts and business leaders to explore how Canadian policy can be updated to align with a competitiveness and growth agenda. As the world continues to rapidly decarbonize, major economies like China are leagues ahead in developing low-cost clean energy and innovative technologies. Find out how policymakers can help ensure Canada’s economy is future-fit in a time of turbulent trade dynamics, rising costs for businesses, and an increasingly competitive global energy transition. Effective policy creates the signals, regulatory frameworks and incentives necessary to attract capital to Canadian markets and enable Canadian companies to compete globally.

 

    • CDR30 Climate Leaders’ Reception: Accelerating Global Carbon Removal
      • 18:00 – 22:00 at the Armazém do Tempo
      • Tickets must be purchased in advance and cost €50.00 each. Space is limited.
      • As the world prepares for COP30, the Coalition for Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR30) invites leading voices in climate innovation to an exclusive evening dedicated to collaboration and impact. ​The CDR30 VIP Side Event brings together 150 influential participants, from policymakers and scientists to investors and innovators, to accelerate durable and scalable carbon removal solutions on a global stage.
      • Organized by the Coalition for Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR30).
    • Africa’s Ocean-Climate Leadership: Mobilizing Action from COP30 to the Our Ocean Conference
      • 12:00 – 13:00 at the CDR30 Pavilion
      • This is a high-level session convening leaders to elevate Africa’s ocean-climate agenda. Kenya will launch priorities for the 11th Our Ocean Conference 2026 under the theme ‘Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future.’
      • Organized by the Government of Kenya and the World Resources Institute.

 

    • Ocean Acidification and Alkalinity Enhancement: Global Case Studies on Impacts and Local Opportunities
      • 13:30 – 14:30 at the Ocean Pavilion
      • This session will explore recent ocean policy and governance developments relevant to ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (oCDR).
      • Organized by Carbon to Sea.
    • Navigating the Policy Landscape for Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal
      • 10:00 – 11:30 at the CDR30 Pavilion
      • This session will explore recent ocean policy and governance developments relevant to ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (oCDR).
      • Organized by Carbon to Sea.

 

    • Ocean Visions: Beyond Either-Or – Responsible Research and Governance for Climate Interventions
      • 11:00 – 12:00 at the Finland Pavilion
      • As global emissions continue to rise, the world faces an urgent need to scale mitigation while preparing responsibly for a high-risk climate future. This session brings together leading voices from science, governance, and innovation to examine how research, policy, and transparent communication can move beyond “either–or” framings. The discussion will ensure that emission reductions remain central while responsibly advancing marine and atmospheric interventions. It will highlight how precaution and preparedness can work hand in hand, building the foundations needed to evaluate potential benefits and risks in a balanced way.

 

    • Launch of Shared Government Principles to Grow Carbon Markets
      • 11:30 – 13:00 at Side Event Room 3
      • This event will launch government-endorsed Shared Principles on the use of high-integrity carbon credits to boost finance for ambitious climate action and COP30 priorities, launched by the Governments of Kenya, Singapore, and UK.
      • Organized by the Governments of Kenya, Singapore, and UK and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

 

    • Accenture Development Partnerships: Global Ocean Observations for Climate Resilience in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape
      • 13:00 – 14:00 at the Finland Pavilion
      • Our ocean has absorbed almost all the surplus heat generated by human activity and a quarter of all human-made carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Despite being the lungs of our planet, 70% of the ocean floor remains unmapped. Today, our global ocean observation infrastructure is under threat from geopolitical uncertainty and heightened tension across the globe. Join this panel discussion to explore how emerging technologies, science diplomacy, and innovative financing can protect the lungs of our planet.

 

 

    • How to be SMART in meeting ocean-climate-societal challenges in a changing landscape
      • 16:45 – 18:15 at Side Event Room 7
      • As planetary boundaries are breached, the ocean and society are increasingly impacted and there is an urgent need for climate-smart scientific solutions as well as policy & enabling conditions. Speakers will share adaptation, governance, and finance examples to address challenges in this dynamic landscape.
      • Organized by Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), Fondation BNP Paribas (Fondation BNP Paribas), International Coral Reef Society (ICRS), and Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean Society (POGO).
    • Cross-Perspectives on Blue Economy Finance in West Africa
      • 16:45 – 18:15 at Side Event Room 4
      • Discussions on financing a sustainable blue economy in West Africa, including investment opportunities, financial innovation, and partnerships for climate-resilient growth.
      • Organized by Banque Ouest Africaine de Developpement (BOAD) and AbibiNsroma Foundation (ANF).

Blue Zone Map

Download the Blue Zone map