Blue Economy and Finance Forum & Third UN Ocean Conference

As the fourth global coral bleaching event unfolds—now affecting approximately 84% of reefs worldwide—coral ecosystems face unprecedented threats. These reefs are essential to food security, disaster risk reduction, and livelihoods for millions, yet they remain critically underfunded in global environmental finance. Since its launch in 2020, the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) has supported efforts across 21 reef-dependent countries, backing nature-based solutions and reef-positive enterprises that build both ecological and community resilience.

At the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF) and the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), the GFCR Coalition will demonstrate how blended finance can deliver scalable, investment-ready solutions that strengthen marine ecosystems and local resilience. Backed by a global public-private coalition—including UNCDF, UNDP, and UNEP—the GFCR will spotlight its investment-ready pipeline of reef-positive enterprises, regional finance platforms, and de-risking instruments. At UNOC3 and BEFF, GFCR will seek new partnerships and commitments to help protect at least 3 million hectares of coral reefs by 2030. Its engagement underscores the broader call to close the ocean finance gap, accelerate progress on SDG14, and ensure coral reefs are not left behind in global climate and biodiversity efforts.

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Blue Economy & Finance Forum

June 7

Convened by: GFCR, UNCDF, UNDP, UNEP, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Blue Alliance, BNP Paribas, CAF (Development Bank of Latin America), General Organization for Conservation of Coral Reefs and Turtles in the Red Sea (SHAMS), IDB Invest, Konservasi Indonesia, Matanataki, Pegasus Capital Advisors, Standard Chartered Bank, UBS Optimus Foundation, Women’s Micro Bank.

This event will showcase existing reef-positive solutions from reef-rich developing areas, including Tanzania, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, and wider Small Island Developing States (SIDS), highlighting scalable projects in sectors such as waste management, sustainable agriculture, ecotourism, and fisheries. Despite growing attention toward a sustainable blue economy, these projects face significant investment barriers, including small deal sizes, high risk perception, market access, and restrictive policies that hinder scaling. The session will enable an expert-led dialogue to explore practical strategies to overcome challenges and attract investment at greater scale.

Convened by: UNCDF, UNDP, UNEP, UN Global Compact, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IDB Invest, Inter-American Development Bank, Pacific Community (SPC), World Resources Institute (WRI).

This high-level event will bring together public, private, and civil society leaders to explore innovative financial solutions aimed at closing the SDG 14 funding gap and building a sustainable ocean economy. It will feature two focused sessions: the first on scaling private sector innovations and addressing barriers to ocean-positive investment; the second on developing inclusive financial systems that deliver win-win-win outcomes for ocean health, communities, and industry. The event will also introduce the One Ocean Finance Facility—a proposed global platform to mobilize de-risked capital, crowd in private investment, and support systemic coherence across the ocean finance ecosystem.

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UN Ocean Conference

The #ForCoral Pavilion will host a robust agenda of more than 40 side events, as well as a series of strategic convenings through two dedicated meeting spaces, providing opportunities to drive conservation, protection, and restoration of coral reefs, while providing a critical platform for the coral reef community to exchange knowledge on replicable and scalable solutions. Please see the pavilion website for more information.

June 6

Hosted by: Fondo Acción

Three Conservation Trust Funds enhance Caribbean marine resilience by funding post-event recovery and ecosystem health. Their parametric hurricane insurance secures financial support for coastal assets. Reef response preparedness integrates natural capital into disaster planning, ensuring rapid recovery. The financial strategy guarantees timely, predictable resources, mitigating long-term fiscal impacts.

June 9

Hosted by: OECD

Drawing on the OECD’s policy guidance, this event will identify concrete ways that development partners can help overcome the aforementioned challenges and equip developing countries to chart their course towards a sustainable ocean economy. It will feature good practices and lessons learnt from diverse stakeholders operating in the ocean space, underscoring that the shared nature of the ocean – both within and between countries – makes co-operation a necessary building block of a healthy ocean.

Hosted by: Stony Brook University, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, SHAMS, The New York Climate Exchange, and Healthy Reefs for Healthy people

This event will share key findings from the report and feature a panel with experts from the Red Sea, Caribbean, and Coral Triangle exploring how regional lessons can inform transboundary and seascape-scale conservation.

Hosted by: UN Tourism, UNEP and UN Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP – One Planet Network)

This high-level panel will bring together tourism ministers from coastal and island nations—including Costa Rica, Barbados, Mauritius, and Indonesia—alongside leaders from the private sector and research institutions to explore how tourism can support resilient and sustainable ocean economies. The discussion will spotlight innovative finance approaches and scalable solutions—including case studies from the Global Fund for Coral Reefs—that enable developing countries to unlock investment for ocean-based sectors and advance climate-resilience outcomes.

Hosted by: WCS

The session will feature short scientific presentations on 50 Reefs+ modelling outputs, followed by funder and policy perspectives on leveraging evidence-based maps for action.

Hosted by: GLISPA

This workshop will bring together key conservation trust fund leaders across SIDS to co-create and define the structure, purpose, and priorities of a new Community of Practice. It will also provide a platform to explore potential collaboration opportunities and identify capacity-building needs.

Hosted by: COBSEA

This side event highlights the Network as a platform for joint action, knowledge exchange, and capacity building to accelerate progress toward SDG14 and 30x30. Regional actors will present approaches for connected, inclusive, and effective marine protection across the EAS.

Hosted by: CORDAP, ICRI, GFCR

This event will show how to transfer and link knowledge across research, capacity building, policy and governance, financing, and stakeholder engagement, and highlight efforts towards the integration of these disciplines into effective action plans to conserve and restore corals. It will also help strengthen multilateral processes related to ocean conservation and sustainable blue economy, tapping from and contributing to SDG 14 financial resources.

Hosted by: UNDP, Cape Verde, EU, Global Environment Facility, Grenada, Maldives, Norway, Palau, Sweden, UK

This event convenes high-level leaders and ministers to spotlight the leadership of SIDS in advancing ocean-positive sustainable development. The session will explore the critical role of integrated, island-wide solutions, climate-resilient financing, food and water security, and transformative approaches to safeguard marine ecosystems. UNDP will highlight GFCR as a case study.

Hosted by: Ocean20-South Africa’s G20 Presidency, the National Research Foundation’s South African Environmental Observation Network(NRF-SAEON) and the United Nations Global Compact.

South Africa’s Ocean20 initiative convenes stakeholders from academia, industry, government, and civil society to co-develop solutions to pressing ocean challenges. The aim is to ensure these actions are impactful, inclusive, fundable, and leave a lasting legacy for South Africa, Africa, and G20 partners.

June 10

Ocean Action Panel 3 will focus on mobilizing finance to close the ocean funding gap and accelerate delivery of SDG14. It will spotlight blended finance, blue bonds, debt-for-nature swaps, and risk mitigation tools that can unlock private capital, particularly for SIDS and LDCs. The panel will examine barriers such as weak enabling environments and limited investment pipelines, while highlighting opportunities to align public, philanthropic, and industry finance.

Hosted by: Dirección de Asuntos Marinos y Costeros del Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible de Colombia (DAMCRA)

This event will demonstrate how conserving and restoring marine-coastal ecosystems—such as coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves—can support a thriving blue economy. Case studies from the GFCR Colombia and Mesoamerican regional programmes will be presented.

Hosted by: WCS, multiple governments and partners

This high-level event will integrate the latest scientific findings with government commitments, supported by strategic funders. It will launch a call to action for countries to commit to protecting climate-resilient coral reefs.

Hosted by: GLISPA, CBF, GFCR, SeyCCAT, MCT, NOW, CTI-CFF

This session will highlight how Conservation Trust Funds in SIDS are using blended finance to unlock investment, enable blue bonds, and support marine conservation.

June 11

Hosted by: ICRI, GFCR, GCRMN, SPREP, SPC

The breakfast will pre-launch the GCRMN’s report on the status of Pacific coral reefs and showcase GFCR-supported Pacific projects. The session will blend storytelling, ceremony, and solution-sharing.

Convened by: GFCR

The GFCR is convening an informal session at UNOC3, bringing together the Executive Board, UN Global Team, and GFCR Convening Agents for open dialogue and exchange, as well as strategic reflection. The dialogue will provide space to highlight concrete implementation stories and results from across the GFCR portfolio; discuss key challenges and opportunities within GFCR priority geographies; and share broader experience in blended finance or coral reef action beyond the GFCR.

Hosted by: UNDP and Government of Costa Rica

As global momentum builds towards a Global Plastics Treaty, the Source to Sea approach provides a critical pathway for systemic change in tackling plastic pollution. This session will serve as a platform to share best practices, mobilize financing, and foster partnerships to accelerate action for a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Hosted by: UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, COP30 Brazilian Presidency, GFCR, ICRI, Mangrove Alliance, Ambition Loop, UNCDF, UNEP

This high-level gathering will highlight the Ocean Breakthrough Agenda and spotlight progress on coral and mangrove initiatives. It will align momentum from UNOC3 to COP30.

June 12

Hosted by: Stockholm Environment Institute

This side event will explore innovative approaches to coastal resilience, with a focus on nature-based and multi-use solutions, novel financing mechanisms, and the role of marine spatial planning.

Hosted by: Blue Alliance

This dynamic session showcases how Blue Alliance is scaling reef-positive solutions that combine conservation, finance, and community leadership to regenerate coral reefs and build resilient coastal economies.

Hosted by: Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Ambiente, Cuba

The event will highlight the critical role of intergovernmental platforms in strengthening regional networks of marine protected areas (MPAs), promoting ecological connectivity, and accelerating progress toward Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Hosted by: Konservansi Indonesia

This side event aims to highlight the region’s urgent challenges, discuss community-led and science-informed responses, and seek scalable solutions through international collaboration.

Hosted by: Wildlife Conservation Society

This session will spotlight wastewater pollution as a critical but often overlooked threat to coral reef health and climate resilience. Critically, wastewater pollution exacerbates the vulnerability of coral reefs to climate change impacts, making its management one of our best local management strategies to boost reef resilience and protect their vital ecosystem services.

Hosted by: Project Zero

This first-of-its-kind art exhibition showcases works by 36 global artists to inspire coral reef action. All pieces will be available through Sotheby’s online. Learn more about the art pieces and auction here: www.forcoral.org

June 13