<17%
of climate finance reaches local grassroots communities according to the World Bank Group.
35.5%
of emissions in drilling regions come from offshore oil and gas, as outlined by the OSPAR Commission.
92%
of coastal nations prioritize marine ecosystems in their NDCs, as evaluated by the UNDP Climate Promise.
80%
(estimated) of people displaced by the impacts of climate change are women and girls (United Nations).
Why engage at COP31
Climate action must include the Ocean.
Long anticipated as the "Blue COP," this summit is a critical moment for our ocean.
Frontline communities face steep structural barriers to participating in highly technical UNFCCC processes. RISE UP is heading to Antalya to ensure global policy reflects frontline realities; pushing for stronger Blue NDCs, a just transition away from offshore fossil fuels and direct climate finance for grassroots organizations.
By bringing community leaders into the rooms where decisions are made and sharing the stories of those already facing the climate crisis.
We are holding leaders accountable to turn global promises into real, tangible and locally integrated results.
Key dates
9 November
COP31 opens in Antalya
17 November
Ocean, Seas, Nature and Land Use theme day, including Rio Synergy Day
20 November
Final scheduled day of negotiations
Key messages
What we are asking for
1
Climate finance must reach communities
Direct funding to grassroots organisations to implement and scale locally led solutions.
2
Urgent action on 1.5°C
Rapidly reduce emissions, minimise overshoot and advance a fossil fuel-free ocean by ending new offshore oil and gas exploration and phasing out existing production.
3
Stronger Blue NDCs
Protect marine ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and coastal livelihoods through community-informed national climate commitments.
4
Gender justice in climate action
Address gender inequalities and ensure rights, leadership and meaningful participation of people of all genders in ocean-climate policies and decisions.
5
Agreements must deliver locally
Turn global commitments into national action that responds to community needs and priorities.
What we are working towards
Our priorities for Antalya
Amplifying RISE UP's Ocean-Climate Cluster work
Deepening structural alliances across governments, UN bodies and civil society networks to anchor RISE UP’s advocacy within the UNFCCC framework.
Centering Frontline Leadership
Providing a continuous platform for COP Fellows and coastal community leaders to understand and engage in high-level negotiation tracks and policy roundtables.
Spotlighting Local Solutions in Action
Deploying ground-level stories, adaptation examples and community case studies across pavilion and partner spaces to prove that local action works.
Delivering Our Key Messages on the Ground
Participating in events, media interviews, and digital platforms to share the Ocean & Climate Cluster's advocacy and make sure community priorities are heard.
Engaging in Activation Group 7
Working alongside UNFCCC Climate Champions' AG7 to ensure the Blue Package roadmap serves as a clear, effective pathway for the ocean to be integrated into the global climate action agenda.
Bridging Policy and Grassroots Spaces
Building physical and strategic links between official UNFCCC negotiation halls and frontline advocate spaces to ensure civil society holds decision-makers accountable.
In person
The RISE UP delegation
Khadija Stewart
Senior Campaigner
In Antalya 8–21 Nov
Following negotiations, supporting events, engaging the RISE UP community and driving policy and partnership engagement.
Cheila Almeida
Strategic Communications Lead
In Antalya 15–21 Nov
Storytelling and content capture, social media, community engagement and event support.
Natalie Fox
Communications and Membership Coordinator
In Antalya 14–21 Nov
Storytelling and content capture, social media, community engagement and event support.
RISE UP Fellows
Fellows from across the network will bring frontline experience to Antalya.
Fellow profiles coming soon.
Events
Where to find the RISE UP community
Side Event Room 5 (HATTUŞA)
From the Ground Up: Accompanying Territorial Movements for Oceans, Forests, and Energy
Supporting frontline territorial movements to protect marine and forest ecosystems while championing community leadership in just energy transitions.
Organiser: MOVI and Earth Insight
Date: Thu 12 Nov, 13:15–14:45
CARICOM Pavilion
Beyond Blue Carbon: Integrating the Ocean into Caribbean Climate Ambition and Action
Scaling marine ecosystems, sustainable fisheries, and resilient livelihoods across the Caribbean through community-informed commitments.
Organiser: RISE UP for the Ocean
Date: Tue 17 Nov, 11:30–12:30
TBC
Screening: Blue Carbon (2024) with Invited Speakers
An exclusive film screening and panel discussion exploring the power of coastal ecosystems in climate mitigation and community resilience.
Organiser: Klimate Net
Date:Tue 17 Nov, Evening (Time TBC)
What to watch
Follow the action
Blue Zone
The negotiations, where the negotiations and policy work happens.
Green Zone
Open to the wider public, with events, exhibitions and conversations.
Ocean Pavilion
The lead ocean space in the Blue Zone.
Virtual Ocean Pavilion
Follow the ocean agenda at COP entirely online.
Showcasing locall led solutions
Frontlines of the Blue Future, Issue 2, is out now!
On the road to COP31, the people with the answers are already at work. Issue 2 follows the journey from COP30 in Belém to the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, putting coastal communities, Indigenous peoples, small-scale fishers and youth at the center of the conversation.
Inside this edition, you will:
- Meet the COP30 Fellows: The four frontline leaders who carried community voices directly into the negotiation rooms.
- Learn about the Santa Marta Conference: The First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands.
- Locally Led Solutions: Practical ocean-climate success stories spanning Africa to Latin America—from restored coral reefs to community-managed fisheries.
These solutions work. To scale them, we must secure climate finance that bypasses traditional bottlenecks and directly reaches the grassroots communities delivering them. Click here to read the magazine.
For members
Stay connected
Ocean event mapping
A spreadsheet of ocean events across COP31.
Link coming soon
Member meet-up
A chance to meet fellow members in Antalya.
Details in the WhatsApp Group
