Brasil reaffirms its leadership in protecting the ocean and mangroves at the UN Conference

Brasil pledged its commitment to the international effort to protect and restore mangroves by 2030, reinforcing its leadership in ocean policy at the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC-3) in Nice, France

From the COP30 Presidency

At the conference’s opening, Brasil’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Minister Marina Silva, officially announced the federal government's endorsement of the Mangrove Breakthrough Initiative, a global effort aimed at safeguarding and restoring mangrove ecosystems by 2030.

In declaring its support, the Brazilian government underscored the critical role of mangroves as vital carbon sinks and reservoirs, emphasizing their significant contribution to mitigating the effects of climate change.

"Brasil is home to the largest continuous stretch of mangroves on the planet. Protecting these ecosystems means protecting lives, biodiversity, and climate balance,” stated Minister Marina Silva  during a high-level panel on ocean climate action shortly before the official signing.

Launched at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the Mangrove Breakthrough initiative seeks to halt mangrove loss, restore at least half of all degraded mangrove areas, and secure sustainable financing for 15 million hectares of mangroves by 2030. The ambitious global goal is to mobilize USD 4 billion by the end of the decade.

As a member of the initiative's Community of Action, Brasil is committed to mobilizing policies, projects, and financial resources to help achieve these crucial goals.

"We are integrating seas and coastal zones into our climate goals through ocean-based solutions. We launched the ProManguezal Program, expanded marine protected areas, and implemented precautionary measures against deep-sea mining,” Minister Marina Silva highlighted.

Brasil’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), submitted to the UN in November 2024, includes ocean-based climate solutions for the first time, signaling a significant convergence of climate action, biodiversity, and social justice.

Blue NDC Challenge

In a parallel effort, Brasil and France launched the Blue NDC Challenge in Nice. This initiative aims to accelerate ocean-focused climate action and encourage more countries to incorporate ocean protection into their NDCs. Eight nations have already joined, including Australia, Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau, and the Seychelles.

The Blue NDC Challenge was unveiled during an event featuring Brazilian Minister Marina Silva, French Minister for Ecological Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher, and COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago. Other notable participants included Fiji’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change Mosese Bulitavu, Belgium’s Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden, Australia’s Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt, the president of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and COP28 Climate Champion Razan al-Mubarak, and Leticia Carvalho, Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority.

On Monday, Minister Marina Silva, André Corrêa do Lago, and Ana Toni, COP30 CEO, met with Pannier-Runacher to discuss preparations and expectations for the upcoming climate conference. The COP30 team also held a meeting with John Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State and former Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.

English version: Trad. Bárbara Menezes
Proofreading by Enrique Villamil