The UN Climate Change Conference 2022 (UNFCCC COP27), will take place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, 6-18 November 2022, to build on previous successes and pave the way for future ambition to effectively tackle the global challenge of climate change.
A wide range of events related to coral reefs and ocean health will be held during COP27. This page collates all relevant events #ForCoral.
If you wish to add an event, please contact us here.
This page is updated regularly as events are confirmed (last update: 07/11).
Official side events
Adaptation solutions #ForCoral nations
Location: Panda Hub, Blue Zone | Livestream
Time: 11:15 – 12:45 (GMT+2)
Organised by: UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean; Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Coral Reef Rescue Initiative (CCRI), International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI)
Access: invite-only for in-person participation | open to all online via the Livestream
As COP27’s premier coral event, this session will focus on global, regional, and national organizations and entities engaged in reef-based adaptation action for ecosystems and communities.
Leaders in action #ForCoral
Location: Nature Pavilion, Blue Zone | Livestream
Time: 14:30 – 15:30 (GMT+2)
Organised by: Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Environment Programme, International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), Bloomberg Philanthropies
Access: invite-only for in-person participation | open to all online via the Livestream
The event will serve to accelerate science-based solutions and launch high-level global commitments to scale action to save the ecosystems on the frontlines of climate change.
Advancing Research & Development to Secure a Future for Coral Reefs in a Warmer Ocean
Location: Ocean Pavilion, Blue Zone
Time: 18:00 – 19:30 (GMT+2)
Organised by: G20 Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP)
Access: open to all with Blue Zone accreditation
Corals support the livelihoods of one billion people but are under serious threat. It is time to raise the ambition to conserve and restore corals and reefs using inspiring science-based solutions. Conserving all corals, not leaving any behind, and even aiming at recovering some of the loss may seem impossible, but this is only the case if we accept the status quo. This event will promote a dialogue on the need to develop next-generation solutions to restore and conserve the world’s corals.
Harnessing Finance for Addressing Climate-Ocean Change
Location: Virtual Ocean Pavilion
Time: 14:00 – 15:00 (GMT+2)
Organised by: International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification (OA Alliance), Global Fund for Coral Reefs
Access: open to all registered in the Virtual Ocean Pavilion
Hear from national governments, Global Fund for Coral Reefs and OA practitioners on the innovative interdisciplinary projects that will help us leverage climate finance for more holistic climate-ocean adaptation.
Ocean Innovators Platform Panel
Location: Four Seasons Hotel
Time: 17:00 (GMT+2)
Organised by: Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation
Access: invite-only for in-person participation
The Ocean Innovators Platform will aim to highlight the essential role of innovation, entrepreneurship and impact investment for a transition towards a sustainable blue economy. As the 3rd edition of this event, the session will host panel discussions with prominent experts in the fields of investment and innovation. Representatives from the Global Fund for Coral Reefs’ Investment Fund will present opportunities for public, philanthropic and private investors to scale nature-positive blue economic growth.
Coral reefs under pressure: data-driven innovations to advance conservation and adaptation under a changing climate
Location: Australian Pavilion, Blue Zone
Time: 14:00 – 15:30 (GMT+2)
Organised by: Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
Access: open to all participants with Blue Zone accreditation
Many sectors of society are important to help governments and communities in identifying the risks and adapting to changing coral reef environments. However, there are large challenges to improving timely access to high-quality coral reef data.
Through presentations and a panel discussion the event will explore some of the new solutions towards improving access to high-quality coral reef data, for example, the Australian- developed ReefCloud platform) and the roles private businesses, philanthropy, government initiatives, non-government organisations and innovators can play in partnership with local communities and marine scientists to improve the access and use of data for supporting climate change adaptation and local management.
What tools do we have to improve rapid adaptation and resilience of corals? A global approach with specific perspectives for the Pacific region
Location: Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion | Livestream will be made available
Time: 15:00 – 15:55 (GMT+2)
Organised by: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement – National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD)
Access: open to all in-person and online via the Livestream
This side event will discuss the extent to which adaptive mechanisms discovered in some corals can be adapted to coral reef restoration (NbS) interventions to increase their resilience to climate change, especially in the Pacific region.
Contact: Riccardo RODOLFO METALPA – [email protected]
Unlocking Private Sector Finance to Accelerate Climate Action in Small and other Vulnerable Countries
Location: Side Event Room 2, Amon Room
Time: 18:30 – 20:00 (GMT+2)
Organised by: the Commonwealth Secretariat in collaboration with the Governments of Saint Lucia, Namibia and Zambia
This event will focus on showcasing existing and new financing facilities offering concrete pathways to scaling-up private sector investment to climate action. It will also provide an opportunity for sharing experiences on private sector engagement in climate action by member countries, financing institutions, and other multilateral organizations. Through this session, the Global Fund for Coral Reefs will be featured as a blended finance demonstration initiative, scaling resilience finance and implementation for vulnerable states.
Adapting Our Coral Reefs to Climate Change: The Latest Science & Management
Location: Israeli Pavilion
Time: 14:00 – 16:00 (GMT+2)
Organised by: Israeli Pavilion
Access: open to all | Livestream
This session will address challenges to coral reefs around the world and to the northern Red Sea, where Sharm el-Sheikh is located. The session will bring together trailblazing reef scientists and management experts to discuss the state of coral reefs as well as the shared management of these ecosystems across international borders.
Contact: Laurel Hunt – [email protected]
Nature-Based Solutions and the Role of Coral Reefs: Opportunities for Ambitious Action in the MENA and Beyond
Location: Saudi Pavilion, Blue Zone
Time: 14:20 – 15:30 (GMT+2)
Organised by: G20 Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP), Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy and King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC)
Access: open to all with Blue Zone accreditation
The Arabian Seas are the warmest of the ocean’s ecosystems and host coral reefs resistant to extreme temperatures, which are, nevertheless, vulnerable to climate change. Coral reefs play an increasingly important role in supporting livelihoods and the economy in the region. Yet, the window to save the corals is closing and we must act now.
This event aims to open a dialogue about nature-based solutions and coral reefs to help bring them to the agenda for COP 28. Coral reefs play an increasingly important role in supporting livelihoods and the economy in the Arabian region. Yet, the window to save the corals is closing and we must act now. What will it take to secure a future for corals in the Arabian Seas?
This event will address:
- Nature-based solutions: opportunities for ambitious action in the MENA and beyond
- What will it take to secure a future for corals in the warm Arabian Seas?
- How can these efforts inform efforts to conserve coral reefs elsewhere?
Peace Reefs: Regional Opportunities to Preserve Red Sea Resources and Life
Location: Nature Positive News Room
Time: 11:10–11:25 (GMT+2)
Organised by: Coral Vita
Access: Open to all | Livestream will be made available
Coral reefs provide valuable benefits to countries, communities, and industries through tourism, coastal protection, and fisheries. But half of the world’s reefs are dead and over 90% are on track to die by 2050. Red Sea corals are proving to be resilient, but they don’t know borders, and along with global impacts what happens in one country can jeopardize regional reef health and the immense value they provide. In this brief session, hear from marine experts from around the Red Sea discuss emerging opportunities for regional stakeholders to collaborate in new ways to preserve the coral reefs that sustain life as we know it.
Contact: Chiara Crompton, [email protected]
Act to Adapt: a Roadmap for Resilient Coral Reef Communities and Fisheries
Location: Nature Pavilion, Blue Zone
Time: 16:30–17:30 (GMT+2)
Organised by: Wildlife Conservation Society
Access: Open to all in-person – registration link should be made available shortly
An interactive event bringing voices from the frontlines of climate impact together with the latest science around climate adaptation to share a hopeful message: local heroes are successfully leading coastal adaptation work all over the world, and new science provides a roadmap for helping communities, coral reefs, and fisheries adapt and thrive in the face of warming.
Accelerating Action – Evening Reception in The Nature Pavilion
Location: The Nature Pavilion, Blue Zone
Time: 18:00–20:00 (GMT+2)
Organised by: Bloomberg Philanthropies, Rare
Access: RSVP on Eventbrite
Bloomberg Philanthropies invites you to a celebration of diverse partnerships in support of critical ocean ecosystems. This Evening Reception will see a short panel discussion about dynamic new ocean reef partnerships, where they came from, why they matter, and how these partnerships can contribute to greater impact.
Hosted by Rocky Sanchez Tirona, Managing Director of Fish Forever at Rare, the event will bring together voices from the civil society, governmental, entrepreneurial and non-governmental sectors, to discuss how partnerships can contribute to greater action in support of critical ocean ecosystems.
Repairing our world, to avoid runaway climate change
Location: Nature Zone Pavilion and online | Livestream
Time: 16:00 – 17:30 (GMT+2)
Organised by: Global Choices Arctic Angels, Global Commons Alliance, Global Fund for Coral Reefs, Green Africa Youth Organisation, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, SilverLining NGO, United Nations Development Programme
Access: invite-only for in-person participation | open to all online via the Livestream
The stability of our earth system relies on 16 unique places in the world. These span the five continents and include ice, oceans and coral reefs, forests and peatlands. Can we protect and repair them before we pass climatic tipping points and invoke irreversible climate collapse? In this session, Earth Commissioners will share the latest insights, before we explore some of the solutions and enablers. Youth voices will bring this intergenerational challenge into sharp relief.
Scaling-up Investment in Nature-based Solutions (NbS): Challenges and Opportunities
Location: Canada Pavilion
Time: 10:15 (GMT+2)
Organised by: Canadian Government
Access: information on access to this event will be added shortly
This panel event will include participation by high-level speakers, representing governments and a variety of organizations, and focusing on the importance of scaling-up finance and investment in nature-based solutions (NbS) to meet our climate and biodiversity goals. Panellists, which include the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, will present their views on current challenges and barriers to mobilizing investment, and the potential opportunities and solutions for overcoming them, including by showcasing innovative and high-potential approaches that can help unlock increased investment to support the global scale-up of NbS.
Climate Action Hub events
The Climate Action Hub showcases the work being done around the world by local governments, the private sector and civil society. First launched at COP24 in Katowice back in 2018, it is held in the main venue of each UN Conference of the Parties and is organised by the UN Climate Change secretariat. The Action Hub will host events from Tuesday 8 November (afternoon) until Thursday 17 November, excluding Sunday 13 November, with a specific theme each day.
November 16th is dedicated to Biodiversity & Oceans, with events focused on coral reefs listed below.
The Hub events do not require an invitation, attendance is free to any registered participant in the COP (governmental delegates, civil society, business representatives, local government representatives, members of the press, investors, artists, etc.) to ensure inclusivity and a variety of input.
For interested registered participants who are not physically present at COP 27, all Action Hub events will be streamed on the COP 27 digital platform, a web-based application to allow for virtual participation. The events will also be live-streamed on the UNFCCC website and made available on demand thereafter.
Learn more here.
Calling in Our Corals
Location: Hybrid / Climate Action Hub
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 (GMT+2)
Organised by: Google Arts
Access: open to all
Hope for Coral Reefs in a Warming World
Location: Hybrid / Climate Action Hub
Time: 11:00 – 12:00 (GMT+2)
Organised by: the UN Environment Programme, the Ocean Agency, the Global Fund for Coral Reefs
Access: open to all
Coral “climate refugia” corals provide hope for the future of coral reefs, but only if we urgently commit, fund and act to implement the Paris agreement. The UN Environment Programme, the Ocean Agency and the Global Fund for Coral Reefs will join forces with globally known UN Global Environmental Ambassador, Ellie Goulding, and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, Ambassador Peter Thomson, to call for accelerated climate action and conservation funding for protection of climate refugia.
How 3D Printing in Clay Restores Coral Reefs
Location: Hybrid / Climate Action Hub
Time: 15:00 – 16:00 (GMT+2)
Organised by: Archireef Limited
Access: open to all
This session will be a demonstration of an award-winning coral reef restoration solution by Archireef. A reef tile and the production material, clay, will be brought to the stage for demonstration. Members of the audience will be invited onstage to have a hands-on experience of how they achieve groundbreaking coral survivorship through different steps from design and production to deployment. Highlights of previous projects will be shared to show the outcomes after an extended period of time post-deployment, which includes a breathtaking scenery of enhanced biodiversity – different marine species settling into the grown coral reefs. Archireef scientists and project leaders will be there to guide and answer any questions the audience may have.
