New Delhi: In a groundbreaking move to address the global climate crisis, France and Brazil unveiled the Blue Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Challenge on June 10, 2025, during the opening of the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France. This landmark international initiative urges countries worldwide to prioritize ocean-based solutions in their climate plans ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), which Brazil will host in Belém in November 2025. With the ocean playing a pivotal role in mitigating climate change, this challenge aims to reshape global climate strategies by placing marine ecosystems at their core.
The Blue NDC Challenge: A Call to Action
The Blue NDC Challenge is a bold call for all nations to integrate the ocean into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the cornerstone of each country’s commitment under the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, limit global warming to 1.5°C, and enhance climate resilience. Launched on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, the initiative underscores the urgent need to recognize the ocean as a critical ally in combating climate change.
Eight countries—Australia, Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau, Seychelles, France, and Brazil—have already pledged to incorporate ocean-focused strategies into their updated NDCs, setting a precedent for global cooperation. The initiative is supported by prominent organizations, including Ocean Conservancy, the Ocean & Climate Platform, and the World Resources Institute through the Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance (ORCA), with an endorsement from WWF-Brazil.
Why the Ocean Matters in Climate Action
The ocean is a powerhouse in the fight against climate change, performing critical functions that stabilize the planet’s climate. According to the document, the ocean absorbs approximately 30% of global carbon dioxide emissions, acting as a significant carbon sink. Coastal habitats like mangroves and seagrasses sequester carbon at rates up to four times higher than terrestrial forests, making them vital for carbon storage. Additionally, the ocean captures about 90% of the excess heat generated by greenhouse gas emissions, regulating global temperatures.
Beyond its role in climate regulation, the ocean offers immense potential for renewable energy. Offshore wind energy alone could meet over one-third of global electricity needs, providing a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. These attributes make the ocean an indispensable tool for achieving emission reduction targets and building climate resilience.
Brazil’s Leadership and Oceanic Significance
As the host of COP30, Brazil is leveraging its status as an oceanic nation to champion the Blue NDC Challenge. With 40% of its territory located at sea, Brazil hosts marine ecosystems of global importance, including the only coral reefs in the South Atlantic and the world’s largest contiguous mangrove belt along the Amazon coast. These ecosystems serve as natural buffers against extreme weather events and contribute significantly to carbon storage, playing a dual role in climate adaptation and mitigation.
Brazil’s recently submitted NDC marks a historic milestone, explicitly including ocean-based climate actions for the first time. These actions encompass national Marine Spatial Planning, enhanced coastal zone management, and programs for the conservation and restoration of mangroves and coral reefs. “For Brazil, the Blue NDC Challenge represents a key opportunity to strengthen ocean-related climate action and to emphasize the essential role of ocean-based solutions in achieving emission reduction targets,” said Marina Silva, Brazil’s Minister for the Environment and Climate Change. “Through this initiative, Brazil seeks to advance international cooperation on ocean climate action in the lead-up to COP30.”
Global Commitment to Ocean-Based Solutions
The eight inaugural countries joining the Blue NDC Challenge span diverse geographies and economic contexts, demonstrating the universal relevance of ocean-based climate action. Governments participating in the challenge commit to reducing emissions and building resilience through a range of ocean-focused measures tailored to their national contexts. These measures include:
- Sustainable Management and Conservation: Implementing marine spatial planning, integrated coastal zone management, and climate-smart marine protected areas to conserve and restore coastal and marine ecosystems.
- Clean Ocean Energy: Phasing out offshore oil and gas production while expanding renewable energy sources like offshore wind, wave, and tidal power, supported by innovation and technology transfer.
- Maritime Sector Resilience: Reducing emissions and strengthening resilience in maritime industries, including shipping and seafood value chains.
- Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture: Promoting climate-resilient fisheries and aquaculture to ensure long-term ocean health and food security.
“Ultimately, industrial marine sectors and natural ecosystems are underused tools in addressing climate change and other development needs,” said Wavel Ramkalawan, President of Seychelles. “As world leaders gather in Nice and prepare for COP30 in Belém, they can take inspiration from Seychelles in championing ocean-based climate action.”
Australia’s Environment Minister, Senator Murray Watt, echoed this sentiment: “We are pleased to join the Blue NDC Challenge and work alongside COP30 host Brazil, as well as France, Fiji, Seychelles, Mexico, and Palau, to highlight the vital role of the ocean in global efforts on climate change.”
Support from Global Partners
The Blue NDC Challenge is bolstered by a robust network of partners and initiatives, including the Ocean Breakthroughs led by the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, the UN High-Level Climate Champions, and the NDC Partnership hosted by the World Resources Institute. These organizations aim to mobilize investment and action in ocean-based solutions to achieve a net-zero, resilient, and nature-positive future by 2050.
NGOs supporting the initiative have hailed it as a transformative step. “The ocean already plays a vital role in stabilizing our climate—but it has vast untapped potential to be an even greater part of the solution,” said Janis Searles Jones, CEO of Ocean Conservancy. “From harnessing clean energy like offshore wind to restoring marine ecosystems that store vast amounts of carbon, there are many ways that countries can use ocean-climate solutions to deliver on the Paris Agreement.”
Tom Pickerell, Global Director of the Ocean Program at World Resources Institute, emphasized the urgency: “Ocean-based climate solutions can deliver up to 35% of the emissions reductions needed to keep 1.5°C within reach. But we are running out of time to maximize the ocean’s potential. We applaud Brazil’s leadership in launching the Blue NDC Challenge.”
Global and Indian Initiatives for Ocean Conservation
The Blue NDC Challenge aligns with broader global efforts to protect ocean ecosystems. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) restrict activities to safeguard marine life, while the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) aims to reverse ocean decline through scientific advancement. In India, initiatives like MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) and the Deep Ocean Mission reflect a commitment to coastal ecosystem restoration and sustainable marine development.
A Vision for COP30 and Beyond
As the world approaches COP30, the Blue NDC Challenge sets the stage for a new era of climate action that fully integrates the ocean’s potential. “The Paris Agreement was the beginning—a promise that ambition would grow over time. Ten years on, the time for promises is now over,” said Loreley Picourt, Executive Director of the Ocean & Climate Platform. “The Blue NDC Challenge is how we turn Paris ambition into Belém action.”
Marina Corrêa, Oceans Lead at WWF-Brazil, highlighted the initiative’s significance for vulnerable communities: “As the host of the next climate conference, Brazil has a unique opportunity to lead by example with an ambitious, science- and nature-based agenda that amplifies the voices of vulnerable communities. Including the ocean in national commitments is essential to addressing the climate crisis with the urgency it demands.”
Conclusion
The Blue NDC Challenge, launched by France and Brazil, is a clarion call for nations to harness the ocean’s immense potential in the fight against climate change. With eight countries already on board and robust support from global partners, the initiative is poised to drive transformative change in how countries approach their climate commitments. As the world prepares for COP30, the ocean is no longer a peripheral consideration but a central pillar of global climate strategy, offering hope for a resilient, sustainable, and nature-positive future.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Blue Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Challenge?
The Blue NDC Challenge is an international initiative launched by France and Brazil on June 10, 2025, at the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3). It urges countries to integrate ocean-based solutions into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, emphasizing the ocean’s critical role in reducing emissions, limiting global warming to 1.5°C, and building climate resilience ahead of COP30 in November 2025.
2. Which countries have joined the Blue NDC Challenge?
Eight countries have committed to the initiative: France, Brazil, Australia, Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau, and Seychelles. These nations have pledged to include ocean-focused strategies, such as marine conservation, renewable energy, and sustainable fisheries, in their updated climate plans.
3. Why is the ocean important for addressing climate change?
The ocean absorbs about 30% of global carbon dioxide emissions and 90% of excess heat from greenhouse gases, acting as a major carbon sink and climate regulator. Coastal ecosystems like mangroves and seagrasses store carbon at rates up to four times higher than terrestrial forests, and offshore wind energy could meet over one-third of global electricity needs.
4. What specific actions are countries encouraged to take under the Blue NDC Challenge?
Participating countries are encouraged to implement measures like sustainable management of marine ecosystems through marine spatial planning and protected areas, phasing out offshore oil and gas in favor of clean ocean energy (e.g., offshore wind), reducing emissions in maritime sectors like shipping, and promoting climate-resilient fisheries and aquaculture.
5. Who supports the Blue NDC Challenge?
The initiative is supported by Ocean Conservancy, the Ocean & Climate Platform, and the World Resources Institute through the Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance (ORCA). It is endorsed by WWF-Brazil and backed by partners like the Ocean Breakthroughs, UN High-Level Climate Champions, and the NDC Partnership, which aim to boost investment in ocean-based climate solutions.
