COP30 Morning Brief – November 18

Day 9: Tuesday, 18 November

by the COP30 Communications Team

Thematic Focus: Forests, Oceans, Biodiversity, Indigenous peoples, Local and traditional communities, Children and Youth, and Small and Medium entrepreneurs.

From Oceans to Forests, Supporting Vital Ecosystems

Today at COP30, the climate community comes together to advance a unified vision for protecting the world’s vital ecosystems — from oceans and coastal zones to forests and the biodiversity that sustains life and livelihoods. Day 9 builds momentum for the structural shifts needed to safeguard nature while strengthening resilience for people on the frontlines of climate impacts.

The morning anchors this narrative with two major high-level ministerials. Delivering Ocean Commitments highlights global progress on the Blue NDC Challenge and shows how ocean-based climate solutions are becoming central to national planning and the implementation of the First Global Stocktake. In parallel, the Bridging Action Agendas from COP16 to COP30 roundtable deepens synergies across climate, land, and biodiversity frameworks — reaffirming that restoration and conservation must advance together to protect ecosystems and support communities.

Throughout the day, countries, Indigenous peoples, SMEs, and regional partners highlight how innovation and local leadership drive nature-positive development. The launch of the NAP Implementation Alliance strengthens collaboration on national adaptation priorities, while the Global Ethical Stocktake underscores the need for fairness and shared responsibility. Together, these moments reinforce a core COP30 message: protecting ecosystems means protecting people and our future.

COP30 Presidency Press Conference @ 12:00 PM

Remarks from:
- Minister Sonia Guajajara, Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil
- Bruna Cerqueira, COP30 Action Agenda Director
- Marinez Scherer, COP30 Special Envoy for Oceans
- Nigel Topping, UN Climate Champion COP26

Date: 18 November
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Press Conference Room 1

COP30 Presidency Press Conference @ 6:30 PM

Remarks from:
- Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, COP30 President
- Ana Toni, COP30 CEO
- Ambassador Liliam Chagas, COP30 Negotiator

Date: 18 November
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Press Conference Room 1

Key Moments:

• 10:30AM - 12:00PM  High-Level Ministerial Event: From Ambition to Implementation: Delivering Ocean Commitments
  This high-level event will showcase ocean-based climate solutions, highlighting progress on the Blue NDC Challenge and the Action Agenda Blue Package, with governments and non-state actors joining forces to deliver on the First Global Stocktake and paving the way for COP31.
  Location: SE Room 2 - Madeira

• 10:30AM - 12:00PM  Bridging Action Agendas from COP16 to COP30: Strengthening Synergies Across Land, Climate and Nature
  A high-level roundtable aligning the UNCCD COP16, CBD COP16 and COP30 Action Agendas to strengthen synergies across Rio Conventions, accelerate state and non-state actions on ecosystem restoration, and foster partnerships connecting climate, biodiversity, land, and resilient, sustainable livelihoods for people and planet.
  Location: SE Room 1 - São Francisco

• 11:00AM - 12:00PM Centering SMEs in Climate Action: Building the Ecosystem for Scale
  Drawing on examples from the Global South, this event highlights how SMEs drive climate innovation and resilience. It convenes organizations collaborating under the Climate-Proofing SMEs Campaign to focus on how enabling policies, access to finance, data standardization, and targeted capacity building can unlock SME scaling and advance global climate goals.
  Location: Axis 6 Thematic Room

• 2:00PM - 3:30PM High-Level Roundtable to Launch the NAP Implementation Alliance
  The event launches the NAP Implementation Alliance, a new multi-actor platform, developed as part of the COP30 Action Agenda, designed to accelerate collaboration and mobilize resources for implementing national adaptation priorities.
  Location: Action Room 5

• 2:30PM - 4:00PM Global Ethical Stocktake: An Ethical Mutirão for Climate Action ​
  Global leaders and civil society representatives will present the concept and 2025 trajectory of the Global Ethical Stocktake (GES) Circle, including six Regional Dialogues and numerous civil society-led self-organized dialogues across all continents. The event will launch the GES Global Report, highlighting key recommendations to advance the implementation of the Paris Agreement, and will reflect on future pathways for GES as a permanent platform for ethical reflection and multi-sector dialogue under the Climate Convention.
  Location: SE Room 3 - Parnaíba

For More Information:

Inside COP Podcast - The Outrage and Optimism podcast that provides exclusive and behind-the-scenes access to this year's UN climate conference. Today, Christiana Figures sits down with Minister Sonia Guajajara, Brazil’s Minister for Indigenous Peoples, for a powerful conversation about Indigenous diplomacy, forest protection, and why this COP marks a historic shift in global recognition of Indigenous leadership.

Follow the COP30 WhatsApp Channel
Visit the COP30 Website

UNFCCC/COP30 Daily Events Schedule:
● COP 30 - Overview Schedule
● Belém Climate Summit Documents
● COP 30 - Main conference schedule
● Global Climate Action at COP 30 | UNFCCC
● Climate High-Level Champions Website
● Top of the COP Newsletter
● 2025 Action Agenda Granary of Solutions