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Five More Countries Join Global Push to Protect Climate-Resilient Coral Reefs
Five governments have joined a global commitment to protect climate-resilient coral reefs, lifting the total number of signatories to 20. The announcement at the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa underscores growing international support for science-based reef protection as climate pressures intensify.
Quick Facts
Who
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
What
Five governments signed the High-Level Climate-Resilient Coral Reef Commitment
When
June 17, 2026
Where
Mombasa, Kenya
- Five governments signed the High-Level Climate-Resilient Coral Reef Commitment
- The total coalition reached 20 signatories
- WCS presented the commitment at the official plenary of the 11th Our Ocean Conference
- A related campaign, Our Reefs, Our Future, was launched
- Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
Five governments have signed a global commitment to protect climate-resilient coral reefs at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, bringing the total number of signatories to 20. The pledge is aimed at identifying and safeguarding reefs most likely to withstand climate change and support future reef recovery.
The High-Level Climate-Resilient Coral Reef Commitment was presented by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) at the conference plenary. The coalition was first launched at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, in June 2025 and now includes reef countries from all major coral regions.
WCS said the initiative is urgent because coral reefs remain highly threatened: they cover less than 0.1% of the ocean floor but support around 25% of marine life and provide food, livelihoods and coastal protection for nearly 1 billion people. The organisation also said only 28% of identified climate-resilient reefs are currently inside protected or conserved areas.
Under the commitment, governments agree to prioritize climate-resilient reefs in national policies and biodiversity planning, strengthen monitoring and action plans, reduce local pressures such as pollution and destructive fishing, and include community leadership in reef protection efforts. The announcement also coincided with the launch of a broader campaign, "Our Reefs, Our Future," led by WCS, WWF and The Nature Conservancy.
Why This Matters
This expansion signals that coral-reef protection is moving from broad conservation messaging to targeted, science-based policy. For governments, NGOs, and coastal stakeholders, the practical takeaway is that climate-resilient reefs are becoming priority assets for monitoring, zoning, pollution control, and fisheries management—steps that can be integrated into national biodiversity plans now.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 17, 2026
WireFive new governments signed the commitment at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya.
Jun 18, 2026
WireWCS publicized the expanded coalition, saying the total number of signatories had reached 20.