Be a part of the blue solution.

The Ocean Pavilion at COP31 will showcase the critical role of the ocean in advancing climate solutions and building a sustainable future. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and partners of the Ocean Pavilion are seeking proposals for sessions that align with the priorities of the COP31 Presidency Action Agenda, bring together diverse perspectives, and foster meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and action across sectors.

The Call for Proposals will close on Friday, September 4, 2026, and decisions are expected to be released in mid-September. Please review the form and the Programming Committee Considerations outlined below carefully before submitting your proposal. If you're interested in becoming an official partner of the Ocean Pavilion, please complete our expression of interest form or email us at info info@oceanpavilion-cop.org.

Submission Deadline – Friday, September 4, 2026 (11:59pm ET)

COP31 Ocean Pavilion Event Proposal

"*" indicates required fields

1Contact / Org

2Event Information

3Review Your Submission

URL

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

I. Point of Contact / Proposer

First Name*

Last Name*

Email*

Title*

Country*

II. Organizing Entities

Lead Organization*

Partner Organizations / Co-Organizers (if any)

III. Event Information

Programming Committee Considerations: To support the development of a dynamic, inclusive, and impactful program, the Programming Committee will evaluate all proposals using a range of criteria. Preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate strength in two or more of the following areas:

Interactive and engaging session design that encourages dialogue, audience participation, and collaboration. While traditional panel discussions remain welcome, applicants are encouraged to consider creative formats that foster meaningful exchange and actionable outcomes.
Diverse perspectives, including balanced representation across gender, geography, sectors, career stages, and lived experience.
Alignment with the COP31 Presidency Action Agenda, including the Oceans and Seas theme and its core focus areas.
Relevance and impact, including the potential to inspire collaboration, generate practical insights, and advance ocean-climate action.

Proposed Title*

Choose a clear, concise, and engaging title that accurately reflects the focus of your session. Aim for a title that is accessible to a broad audience and avoids overly technical or vague language.

Proposed Format*

Select the format that best describes your proposed session. All Ocean Pavilion sessions are 60 minutes in length and cannot be extended. We encourage applicants to consider interactive and participatory formats that foster dialogue, collaboration, and audience engagement.

Panel Discussion

Seaside Chat

Lightning Talk

Workshop

Roundtable Discussion

Facilitated Discussion or Debate

Storytelling or Multimedia Session

Networking Session

Other

Proposed Description*

Provide a clear overview of your proposed session, including its objectives, key topics, intended audience, and expected outcomes. Be sure to explain why this conversation matters and how your chosen format will engage participants.

Alignment with COP31 Priorities*

Describe how your session connects to the priorities of the COP31 Presidency Action Agenda, including the Oceans and Seas theme and its core focus areas.

Proposed Speakers

Each session may include a maximum of five people on stage, including the moderator (four seats and one podium); this limit cannot be adjusted.
All speakers must participate on-site; virtual participation will not be available.
Diversity across gender, geography, sectors, career stages, and lived experience is critical and will be considered in reviewing your proposal.
Placeholder speakers are acceptable and may be updated if your session is selected.

Moderator

Name

Title

Organization

Speakers

Name

Title

Organization

IV. Scheduling Preferences

Preferred dates, first choice

Preferred dates, second choice

If limited to specific dates, please explain.

If you're interested in becoming an official partner of the Ocean Pavilion, please complete the expression of interest form, or email us at info@oceanpavilion-cop.org