On World Oceans Day, Brasil receives BRL 40 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies to support marine protection

For the COP30 presidency, safeguarding the oceans is crucial to climate protection

During the third United Nations Conference on the Oceans (Conferência das Nações Unidas sobre Oceanos/UNOC) in Nice, France, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced an investment of approximately BRL 40 million to bolster the conservation of Brasil’s marine and coastal ecosystems.

Made on World Oceans Day, the announcement highlights the link between safeguarding the oceans and the climate agenda, particularly in the context of COP30, scheduled for November in Belém.

This financial support will help Brasil expand its network of marine and coastal protected areas, contributing to the global goal of protecting 30% of the oceans by 2030, also known as the "30×30" target.

Ana Toni, the CEO of COP30, said, "We cannot protect the climate without protecting the ocean. That is why marine and coastal conservation will be at the heart of COP30. We welcome this new support, which will help Brasil strengthen its commitment to protecting these vital ecosystems and move towards achieving the 30×30 global goal.”

Brasil has over 10,000 kilometers of coastline, one of the largest continuous stretches of mangroves in the world, and the only coral reefs in the South Atlantic. Around 54% of the Brazilian population lives in coastal regions. The Southwest Atlantic, along the Brazilian coast, is one of the areas most affected by climate change and ocean warming.

The oceans play a key role in regulating the climate. They absorb and store heat, acting as the planet’s natural “air conditioner”. Oceans also redistribute heat globally through ocean currents, capture and store large amounts of carbon, which helps reduce global warming, and influence the water cycle by regulating rainfall patterns.

The Bloomberg Philanthropies’ investment will support initiatives such as restoring and protecting mangroves, coastal zones, and coral reefs in the states of Pará and Amapá; strengthening and improving management of protected areas and sustainable fishing, using satellite technology and artificial intelligence to identify threats to the Brazilian coast; and promoting participatory and collaborative management of the Brazilian coast.

The program as a whole emphasizes the role of local and Indigenous communities as key actors in protecting mangroves and other coastal ecosystems. Projects will be carried out in collaboration with organizations like Rare, WWF-Brasil, the Global Mangrove Alliance, Oceana, Global Fishing Watch, and SkyTruth.

English Version: Trad. Bárbara Menezes
Proofreading by Enrique Villamil