Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, regulate the global climate, and sustain the livelihoods of millions of people, yet they have historically remained on the margins of the international climate negotiating agenda.
COP31, to be held in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026, offers a unique opportunity to reverse this trend: Australia will serve as President of the Negotiations, holding full authority over the negotiating process, while the Pacific will host a dedicated Pre-COP, including a specific session on climate finance for small island developing states.
Against this backdrop, it is precisely middle powers — states that, while not among the world’s great superpowers, possess sufficient diplomatic capacity and moral legitimacy to bridge opposing blocs — that are positioned to lead ocean-climate action. This panel examines the role of these actors in placing oceans at the centre of the negotiating agenda: from marine biodiversity protection to blue finance, from the coastal resilience of small island states to the governance of international waters.
The discussion will address how countries such as Australia, Türkiye, and Pacific nations can translate their shared leadership of COP31 into concrete outcomes for ocean health, and what space exists for Europe and Italy to support this “blue” agenda as an essential, rather than secondary, component of the fight against climate change.
