Centering the Ocean at COP30

The 30th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) will take place in Belém, Brazil in 2025, bringing together countries, organizations, and communities to advance solutions to the climate crisis. As we enter COP30, SOA continues to push for the ocean to be a central part of climate discussions, driving meaningful, lasting solutions—an effort that is core to its mission to activate youth, scale innovative solutions, and mobilize a global network to restore the health of the ocean.

Since COP25, the Sustainable Ocean Alliance has been bringing staff and young leaders to strengthen the profile of our Young Ocean Leaders at COP events. As the primary, and only, youth-centered ocean organization in the UNFCCC’s high-level ocean-climate group, SOA brings youth perspectives directly into the decisions that guide our planet’s priorities. SOA has filled a critical gap in connecting young people to the organizations, initiatives, and Parties advancing ocean-climate action, while contributing to the development of key policies and events, including the first-ever UNFCCC Ocean Climate Dialogues and the Ocean Breakthrough. 

Now more than ever, young people are not only demanding change, they are driving it. Their perspectives, creativity, and lived experiences are essential to shaping climate action that is just, inclusive, and ocean-centered.

We are deeply grateful to the Oceano Azul Foundation for their inspiring partnership and commitment to youth empowerment, making it possible for SOA youth to attend COP30 and drive meaningful action for our ocean and planet.

Youth Manifesto for the Ocean & Climate

The Youth Manifesto for the Ocean and Climate (Portuguese Version here) is one of the most exciting initiatives we’ve been part of ahead of COP30. It brings together priorities, insights, and solutions from SOA Brazil Hubs and partner organizations into a youth-driven blueprint for policymakers, ensuring that regionally-informed perspectives from across Brazil are amplified on the global stage.

Through online consultations and presentations at events in Brasília, Rio de Janeiro, and Salvador, the Manifesto has already begun shaping youth-led ocean-climate action—and it will be presented at various COP30 venues.

Key contributors:

• SOA Brazil - empowering youth through hubs in south-eastern and southern coastal Brazil (Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina), Campinas and Salvador, focusing on ocean culture, advocacy, education, and innovation.

• Associação TransforMAR – advancing ocean culture through environmental education, citizen science, and community mobilization, recognized by UNESCO as part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science. In partnership with SOA Campinas.

• Oxean Hub – creating experiences and solutions that connect society to the ocean through culture, education, and technology. In partnership with SOA Salvador. 

• Other Portuguese-speaking youth organizations participating in the coalition.

COP30 Youth Ocean-Climate Questionnaire

SOA's COP30 Youth Ocean Climate Questionnaire was a global survey open to youth worldwide, with nearly 100 respondents from 44 countries. From the start, the goal was to capture diverse youth perspectives and share them directly with COP30 Special Envoy for the Ocean, Dr. Marinez Scherer, ensuring youth voices are represented in global decision-making. The purpose was to understand youth priorities, solutions, and urgent calls for action across countries and regions, complementing the regionally-focused Youth Ocean-Climate Manifesto.

Results Highlights:

• Strong support for major ocean-climate initiatives:

  • Youth Manifesto for Ocean–Climate

  • Ocean Breakthrough — a UN-backed call for five ocean–climate priorities

  • Blue NDC Challenge — helping countries integrate the ocean into their climate pledges.

  • Special Envoy for the Ocean

• Countries are perceived as not doing enough to implement ocean-climate action.

• Youth identified finance and accountability as critical to scaling ocean-climate solutions.

• Marine conservation emerged as the most important solution.

• Broad agreement that ocean and climate communities are siloed and must collaborate more effectively.

Key Messages

From both SOA's Youth Ocean-Climate Manifesto and Questionnaire, several core messages emerge:

• Ocean and climate are inseparable: Effective action requires integrated, systems-based solutions.

• Youth influence matters: Young people’s perspectives should be central to policy and decision-making.

• Empowerment drives impact: Supporting youth through education, advocacy, and regional engagement is essential to scaling solutions.

What can YOU do?

• By November 15th: Read and sign the #CommitToOcean letter and be part of the movement for ambitious, inclusive ocean-climate action at COP30.

• By November 30th: Support the Youth Manifesto for the Ocean and Climate, which was already submitted to the Brazilian government to reinforce and implement the Blue NDCs, by signing our form to help us press other governments and international organizations to follow through.

SOA Delegation to COP30

Sustainable Ocean Alliance’s (SOA) delegation to COP30 represents a new wave of leadership driving the ocean–climate agenda from the grassroots to global policy. These young leaders are entrepreneurs, scientists, educators, and storytellers transforming local innovation into systemic change. At COP30 in Belém, they will elevate ocean-climate solutions, amplify youth and traditional voices, and forge cross-sectoral partnerships to ensure the ocean is recognized as central to achieving global climate goals.

Delegates:

• Mark Haver (USA) – SOA North America Regional Representative & Global Policy Advisor (Head of Delegation)

• Daniel Caceres (Peru) – SOA Hispanoamerica Regional Representative

• Nayana Cordeiro (Brazil) – CEO & Founder, Tsu Ambiental; President, SOA Brasil

• Carlos Andrés Silva (Peru) – Climate Change Director, SOA Peru

• Gabriela Fernandes (Brazil) – Marine Biologist; Coordinator, Youth Manifesto for the Ocean and Climate (YMOC)

• Sonia Violante Ptasznik (Brazil) – Ocean Leaders Fellow, SOA Brasil

• José Reyeros (Mexico) – Ocean Leaders Fellow, SOA Mexico

• Pedro Dantas (Brazil) – Co-founder & Hub Leader, Oxean Hub / SOA Salvador

• Genilson Brito (Brazil) – Co-founder, Oxean Hub / SOA Salvador

• Antônio Rocha (Brazil) – Coordinator & Co-founder, Oxean Hub / SOA Salvador

• Thiago Sampaio (Brazil) – Director & Co-leader, Oxean Hub / SOA Salvador

• Amanda Suita de Moraes (Brazil) – Marine Biologist; Coordinator, Instituto Ecosurf / SOA Brasil

• Alexandre da Silva (Brazil) – Founder & Director, SOA Campinas / Associação TransforMAR

See SOA’s full delegation here.

*Return to this page for real-time updates from COP30! Together, young leaders are ensuring the ocean is a central part of climate action at COP30.*