Governments, conservation organizations, financial institutions and development partners gathered on the sidelines of the 11th Ocean Conference in Mombasa to chart a path from political pledges to practical investments aimed at safeguarding climate-resilient coral reefs.

The high-level event, titled “Protecting Climate-Resilient Coral Reefs: From Political Commitment to Investable Action,” emphasized growing global recognition that while coral reefs are among the ecosystems most threatened by climate change, some reefs possess characteristics that could allow them to survive and recover in a warming world if adequately protected and financed.

Opening the session, Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Festus Ngeno said coral reefs must no longer be viewed merely as ecological assets but as critical infrastructure that underpins food security, livelihoods, coastal protection and economic resilience.

“For too long, coral reefs have been treated as beautiful but fragile ecosystems of the tropics, not as lifelines for the poor. That ends today,” said Ngeno.

Scientists estimate that coral reefs support nearly 25 percent of marine life despite covering less than one percent of the ocean floor. Globally, coral reefs provide food, income, and coastal protection for almost one billion people.

Across the Western Indian Ocean region, coral reefs sustain fisheries, tourism and coastal economies while helping shield communities from increasingly powerful storms and rising sea levels. Yet climate change, ocean warming, pollution, destructive fishing practices, and unsustainable coastal development continue to threaten their survival.

Participants repeatedly stressed that coral reef loss is not only an environmental crisis but also a socio-economic challenge that disproportionately affects vulnerable coastal populations.

Eng. Ng’eno warned that the collapse of coral reefs would have profound consequences for communities already struggling with climate impacts.

“When the coral reefs bleach and die, it is not just an ecological tragedy; it is an economic shock. Livelihoods vanish, protein sources disappear, and coastal communities, already among the poorest and most vulnerable, slide deeper into poverty.”

A Growing Global Coalition

The discussions centered on the High-Level Political Commitment for Climate-Resilient Coral Reefs, an initiative launched during the third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France.

The commitment emerged from scientific findings showing that some coral reefs possess biological, thermal, and ecological characteristics that make them more likely to withstand climate-related stress and help regenerate surrounding reef systems.

Speaking during the session, organizers highlighted the science underpinning the initiative. “Not all reefs face the same fate. Some coral reefs can survive warming oceans, recover, and serve as foundations from which reef ecosystems can regenerate.”

Governments that join the initiative commit to integrating coral reef conservation into national biodiversity and climate strategies, prioritizing climate-resilient reefs in conservation planning, strengthening monitoring systems, tackling pollution and destructive fishing practices, mobilizing financing, and partnering with local communities to ensure equitable conservation outcomes.

Since its launch, the initiative has attracted more than 15 governments and over 30 organizations. During the Mombasa event in Kenya, Comoros, the United Kingdom, and Mexico joined the growing coalition. However, speakers emphasized that signatures alone would not save reefs.

The delegates pointed out that the true meaning of this commitment lies in implementation; as signatories presence here is to show they are not waiting; they are acting.

Countries Announce Concrete Actions

Several governments used the platform to announce measures aimed at translating commitments into action. Brazil highlighted efforts to protect the only coral reef system in the South Atlantic through its Pro-Coral federal strategy, expanded marine protected areas and dedicated funding for reef conservation and restoration.

The country reported alarming impacts from recent bleaching events. “In some regions of Brazil, mortality among key reef-building species exceeds 90 percent,” said Ana Paula, representing the Brazilian government.

Brazil has committed substantial investments in reef conservation and restoration while advancing new partnerships through the Brazilian Coral Coalition. “It is the moment to choose whether reefs become a story of loss or a story of global recovery,” she said.

Indonesia showcased its integrated marine spatial planning efforts and ambitious marine conservation targets under its blue economy agenda.

According to Katinka Listriana, Director-General for Marine Spatial Planning at Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, for Indonesia, coral reefs are the very foundation of our marine biodiversity and the lifeline of millions of coastal communities.

Indonesia is advancing a vision to protect 50 percent of its marine areas by 2055 while exploring innovative financing mechanisms, including coral bonds and coral insurance.

Madagascar announced that it is finalizing a National Action Plan for Climate-Resilient Coral Reefs developed in collaboration with conservation partners. The country also highlighted the temporary protection of 1.3 million hectares of new marine protected areas.

Madagascar’s representative pointed out that protecting the coral reefs is not only a national commitment; it is a regional commitment.

Tanzania outlined several milestones, including a National Action Plan for Coral Reef Conservation, a National Coral Reef Hub, and a National Coral Reef Database. The country also announced plans to gazette the Kilwa Seascape as a marine park, further strengthening conservation along its coastline.

Tanzania’s representative revealed with an emphasis that there is no other way that we can leave these valuable resources to collapse that means there will be no life.

Meanwhile, Zanzibar announced that it had fulfilled a previous pledge to establish two new marine conservation areas and had created fisheries replenishment zones designed to protect climate-resilient coral reefs while supporting sustainable fisheries.

“We are proving that a sustainable blue economy is not a choice between conservation and development, but the integration of both,” said Zanzibar’s Deputy Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries.

Financing Emerges as Central Challenge

Throughout the event, financing emerged as a recurring theme. Participants argued that coral reef conservation must move beyond reliance on traditional donor support and environmental grants toward sustainable investment models capable of attracting public and private capital.

Calling for a fundamental shift in how reef conservation is financed, Ngeno urged governments and financial institutions to act with urgency.

“We are moving beyond the era of diagnosing the problem. We now need a financing revolution for reef resilience.” He challenged governments to back commitments with resources.

“Become a signatory to this high-level political commitment today, not tomorrow, and follow it with a national reef action plan that has a budget line and not just a brochure.”

Ngeno also urged development partners to recognize reef conservation as a climate adaptation investment rather than an environmental expense. “Every dollar spent on reef restoration saves ten dollars in coastal protection costs and disaster relief.”

Conservation partners highlighted opportunities ranging from blended finance and blue carbon initiatives to reef insurance products and public-private partnerships.

New Research Offers Hope

A major announcement came from Bloomberg Ocean Fund, which unveiled new research developed by the Wildlife Conservation Society and Macquarie University.

The study, known as 50 Reefs Plus, identifies more than 165,000 square kilometres of coral reefs across 71 countries and 100 territories with the strongest potential to survive climate change.

The findings significantly expand earlier research and reveal three times more climate-resilient reef areas than previously documented.

Emily Small, Director of Coral Reef Strategy at Bloomberg Ocean Fund, said the initiative offers governments a roadmap for targeted conservation.

“The coalition of governments stepping up to protect and conserve coral reefs is now 19 strong.” She said the narrative around coral reefs should focus not only on loss but also on opportunity.

“Coral reefs are frequently framed as ecosystems in collapse. But we now know there are reefs with the potential to survive and recover if we take the action necessary to protect them.”

The research also supports the launch of Our Reefs, Our Future, a global campaign led by conservation organizations to encourage governments to prioritize climate-resilient reefs.

Looking Ahead

As the high-level segment concluded, participants agreed that scientific evidence, political leadership, and innovative financing must now converge to secure the future of coral reefs.

For many delegates, the side event represented a shift from awareness-building to implementation. The commitments announced in Mombasa demonstrated growing momentum behind efforts to ensure climate-resilient reefs become a cornerstone of both ocean conservation and climate adaptation strategies.

Closing the session, Ngeno urged participants to ensure the gathering delivers tangible outcomes for coastal communities and marine ecosystems.

“Let this event be remembered not as another meeting, but as a turning point when we stopped mourning the loss of coral reefs and started funding their future.”

The message emerging from Mombasa was clear: protecting coral reefs is not only an environmental imperative but an investment in the resilience, food security and prosperity of millions of people whose futures remain tied to the health of the ocean.