Participants welcomed growing recognition of the role of the Ocean in climate ambition, and several expressed optimism that momentum arising from the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue may show the way to tangible action and commitments at COP 31.

Delegates met to prepare a set of draft decisions and documents to pave the way for the smooth operationalization of the Agreement. While they reached agreement on many issues, there were disagreements on the rules of procedure, the subsidiary bodies, and the financial rules and regulations.

With some countries and companies ready to begin mining critical minerals on the ocean floor, the Council is facing growing pressure to advance the draft exploitation regulations while ensuring environmental protection, equitable benefit-sharing, and legal certainty.

After three months of consultations, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) tasked with developing a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, has elected Julio Cordano (Chile) to serve as its new Chair.