The overarching theme of the Conference is “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”. The official program for the 2025 UN Ocean Conference will take place in the Blue Zone, alongside on-site side events, and a large number of offsite events throughout Nice.
To support our partners in their continued research and advocacy on oCDR, Carbon to Sea has compiled the list of known side events. To add to this list, please contact Danny Gawlowski, danny@carbontosea.org.
Note: Carbon to Sea Initiative’s Global Policy Director, Diane Hoskins will be on the ground 6/8-6/13. Meeting requests can be sent to Aarthi Ananthanarayanan, aarthi.ananth@gmail.com.
Agenda
Ocean-based carbon dioxide removal: approaches, risks, co-benefits, and governance
15:45 – 17:00 at the Blue Zone | Room 1
This side event highlights global collaborative research on ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) and its relationship with the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean in line with SDG 14.
Organized by: China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), CNRS, IFREMER, University of Tasmania (UTAS), Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation/OACIS, World Resources Institute (WRI), IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories
Ocean-based solutions: from blue carbon to ocean alkalinity enhancement
18:30 – 21:30 at Institut de la Mer de Villefranche (10 minutes from Nice)
Event followed by buffet reception
Ocean warming, acidification, and oxygen loss are threatening marine ecosystems and the communities and societies who depend on them, but the ocean can also play a key role in mitigating and adapting to climate change. Experts from science, economy, conservation, policy and business will debate the effectiveness, co-benefits and potential risks of two such measures: the protection and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems (a nature-based approach) and ocean alkalinity enhancement (a technological approach).
Organized by: Ocean Acidification and other Ocean Changes (OACIS) initiative; International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation; Institut de la Mer de Villefranche; Global Ocean Decade Programme for Blue Carbon; Centre Scientifique de Monaco Oceanographic Institute, Prince Albert I of Monaco Foundation; Monaco Government; IDDRI; IUCN
Technology and Policy to Inform and Accelerate a Sustainable Ocean
8:00 – 9:30 at the Hôtel West End Nice | 31 Promenade des Anglais 06000 Nice France
“Accessible ocean technology is needed to capture the ocean data and information needed to inform policy. Panelists will discuss some of the latest sensing innovations, along with standards and best practices, as well as how the precautionary principle is applied—or potentially inverted—in the context of Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (MCDR). While often seen as a call for inaction amid uncertainty, the principle also supports proactive measures against serious environmental threats. Panelists will examine how legal mandates intersect with technological limits in monitoring MCDR’s risks and benefits.
Organized by: IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society in partnership with the Ocean Frontier Institute, Marine Technology Society, Society for Underwater Technology, and Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology.
The importance of environmental and ecological monitoring, reporting, and verification to build trust and confidence for marine carbon dioxide removal research
15:30 – 17:30 at FOAM, 1 Place du Pin, 06300 Nice, France
Carbon dioxide removal in the marine environment (mCDR) will need frameworks for environmental and ecological monitoring, reporting, and verification (eMRV) in addition to conventional carbon accounting MRV. The purpose of eMRV is to ensure that practitioners of mCDR can quantitatively demonstrate insight into the ecological and environmental shifts in the marine environment to inform decision makers about the consequences of mCDR, and to build trust and confidence that these changes are well understood when weighing the benefits and consequences of mCDR. Refreshments provided.
Organized by: WHOI, Exploring Ocean Iron Solutions (ExOIS)
Positive Tipping Points: Pathways for mCDR
8:30 – 10:30
How do we define the right pathways for marine carbon removal? Science, NGO, or venturing? Can we integrate engineering and nature-based approaches? Join us to explore scalable, verifiable, and impactful mCDR roadmaps.
Advancing Marine Carbon Removal Innovation: Cross-Sector Partnerships for Climate Action, Livelihoods, and Ecosystem Resilience
11:00-12:30 at NEO VogelART LAB | 6 bis Rue Lascaris 06300 Nice France
The potential of the ocean to remove and store billions of additional tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – while contributing to human livelihoods, economic development, and ecosystem resilience – remains largely untapped. In this high-level event, we highlight a range of marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) techniques that can contribute to the implementation of SDG 14 and highlight diverse collaboration models for advancing the research and development of sustainable and scalable mCDR pathways. In particular, we focus on cross-sectoral intersections such as opportunities to leverage novel mCDR technologies for conservation and restoration; logistics needs and synergies with coastal infrastructure; and partnerships for unlocking financing for innovation and investment.
From Science to Solutions: Advancing the Ocean Carbon System for Climate Action
14:00 – 16:00 at Theatre de la Semeuse, 2 Mnt Auguste Kerl, 06300 Nice, France
The ocean is the largest carbon sink on Earth, absorbing a quarter of anthropogenic CO₂. Yet the ocean carbon value chain is under immense strain: gaps in observation, declining data quality, and fragilities regarding core measurement standards limit its impact on climate policy. This side event builds on the 2023 Ostend Declaration to connect scientific progress with the systems needed to support it – governance, funding, innovation, and collaboration. It will highlight updates on developing a global ocean carbon observing system and explore how to translate science into action through data management, innovation, public policy, and capacity building. Cross-sector experts will outline next steps to strengthen the value chain and accelerate climate solutions.
