Africa is emerging as a global leader in advancing innovative ocean-climate solutions - from protecting vital coastal ecosystems, to empowering young leaders and local communities, to developing sustainable blue economies.

This high-level session will launch Kenya’s priorities for the 2026 conference, highlighting both opportunities and challenges for Africa’s ocean-climate agenda. It will convene leaders from Africa and beyond to chart how the OOC can deliver on the outcomes of COP30 and build ambition towards COP31 and mobilize commitments to accelerate ocean-climate solutions, strengthen coastal community resilience, and deliver the scale of ocean-climate finance needed across Africa and the globe.