A global coalition of coral reef nations has expanded to 20 countries after five new governments signed the High-Level Climate-Resilient Coral Reef Commitment at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya. The commitment is the first global pledge focused on protecting climate-resilient coral reefs, which scientists believe have the greatest potential to survive climate change and support future reef recovery.
The new signatories joined the initiative one year after it was launched at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France. The growing coalition now spans coral reef regions around the world and aims to increase protection for reefs considered critical to biodiversity, food security, coastal resilience, and local economies.
Coral reefs cover less than 0.1% of the ocean floor but support around 25% of all marine life. According to the commitment partners, reefs generate up to $2.7 trillion annually in ecosystem services and support the livelihoods, food security, and coastal protection of nearly 1 billion people worldwide.
Despite their importance, only 28% of identified climate-resilient reefs currently fall within protected or conserved areas. Conservation groups say this protection gap highlights the need for governments to integrate reef conservation into national climate and biodiversity strategies.
New campaign launched alongside reef commitment
The announcement coincided with the launch of Our Reefs, Our Future, a global campaign led by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The initiative uses scientific research to identify coral reefs most likely to withstand climate change and coral bleaching, helping governments prioritize conservation efforts.
“With 20 coral reef countries now signing the high-level commitment, governments are embracing science-based action and making a statement that there is renewed hope for coral reefs,” said Dr. Susan Lieberman, WCS’s Vice President of International Policy.
She added: “WCS stands shoulder to shoulder with our partners to deliver the best scientific, technical, and financial support to ensure governments can maximize actions to protect these reefs in national biodiversity, climate, and other strategies and actions. We look forward to bringing on more signatories ahead of CBD CoP17 in October and UNFCCC COP31 in November – landmark moments for the ocean and a chance to show leadership in saving the most resilient coral reefs – for the sake of biodiversity and humanity’s future.”
The commitment calls on participating governments to identify and prioritize climate-resilient coral reefs in national policies and 30×30 conservation planning. Countries also agree to reduce local pressures such as water pollution and destructive fishing practices, establish reef monitoring systems, and ensure local communities play a leading role in conservation efforts.
Governments urged to turn pledges into action
“Our reefs are not postcards. They are lifelines – sustaining over 500,000 livelihoods along Kenya’s coast alone,” said Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change.
He added: “That is why this Commitment cannot be a signal of good intentions; it must be a binding signal of political will. We need a financing revolution: reef conservation funded by a budget line, not a brochure, and treated as climate investment, not charity. Our destinies are tied to the future of this ecosystem. This is the turning point – the moment we stop mourning what we’ve lost, and start funding what we can still save.”
Marie-Céline Piednoir, Global Coordinator for the High-Level Coral Commitment, said the agreement sends an important message to governments, policymakers, and investors.
“When a government signs the Coral Commitment, it sends a clear signal – to the global community, to fellow nations, to policymakers, and to funders – that this country is ready and willing to act for its reefs,” said Marie-Céline Piednoir, Global Coordinator for the High-Level Coral Commitment.
She added: “But a signature is only the starting point. Our work is also to make sure that signal travels all the way from a global stage down to the water’s edge, so that global ambition ripples into local action, and coastal communities who have always lived alongside these reefs become the ones leading their protection.”
The High-Level Climate-Resilient Coral Reef Commitment is jointly led by WCS, The Nature Conservancy, and the WWF Coral Reef Rescue Initiative. Organisers said the coalition remains open to additional countries ahead of major international meetings later this year, including CBD CoP17 and UNFCCC COP31.
Photo credit: Matt Curnock / The Ocean Agency
