On the pathway to Belém, the COP30 Presidency has made it clear that it is time to shift from celebrating commitments to concrete, locally driven climate and ocean action. COP30 presents a critical opportunity not only to ensure that ocean and coastal priorities are fully recognized within the global climate agenda, but to acknowledge that high-level goals on ocean, climate, and biodiversity action are ultimately realized through action at the local level. 

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At a pre-COP virtual roundtable, local and Indigenous leaders, mayors, and community representatives gathered from across Coastal 500 and allied networks. Together, participants identified key needs, shared examples of locally led resilience building, and shaped this unified message to carry to COP30 — ensuring that coastal voices and priorities are heard at the highest levels of global climate decision-making.

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Local Leadership in Climate Adaptation and Ocean Conservation

Local leaders are central to translating global climate goals into tangible community resilience and ecosystem restoration. Local leaders and NGOs identified key needs and priorities that must be elevated at COP30 to ensure effective climate and ocean action.

• Participants emphasized funding as the most critical need to translate local climate adaptation and resilience plans into reality, alongside livelihood support, technical capacity building, and accessible financing mechanisms.

• There was strong consensus that local actions must be context-specific and led by Indigenous peoples and local communities to ensure relevance and effectiveness. Transparency in funding and accountability were highlighted as essential to build trust and ensure resources reach communities.

• The messaging to global leaders must recognize local people as active drivers of change, not passive recipients. Calls were made for elevated recognition and meaningful participation of local governments and indigenous groups in COP30 negotiations and planning.

• NGOs and allies are encouraged to work directly with local governments and communities to ensure resources and programs reflect on-the-ground realities and priorities.

• Facilitating in-person participation and maximizing local representatives’ voices rather than proxy representation was seen as vital for authentic engagement.​
   

Operationalizing Local Leadership and Amplifying Impact

The session highlighted the importance of sustained partnerships, systems, and platforms to amplify local leadership and enhance ocean climate action. Local action and leadership are crucial to achieving climate and ocean targets, necessitating inclusive platforms, sufficient resources, and collaborative partnerships. It is long past time to recognize that global climate ambitions must be realized through local leadership, the protection and restoration of ecosystems, and a centering of people’s experiences.

 

There is power in local stories. Local perspectives are what will make global science actionable and maintain hope amid complexity.