The following statement was delivered during the Oceans Dialogue on June 11 2026 on behalf of the ENGO-DCJ constituency during the 64th meeting of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB64) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC):

My name is Ranjana Giri from Asia Pacific forum on Women, Law and Development and I am speaking on behalf of Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice (DCJ).

Under the Blue Economy framework, oceans are increasingly transformed into sites of exploration, expansions and extractions in the name of climate adaptation and mitigation, different coastal infrastructure maladaptation projects, marine conservation zones and more activities to come with the support of blue bonds and blue carbon markets. All of these are causing displacement, restricted access to marine resources, marine ecosystem destruction, weakening local economies and the erosion of customary coastal territories. Therefore, we as DCJ want to ask- Who truly benefits from the ‘blue economy,’ and at what cost to women, small scale fisheries, Indigenous Peoples and coastal communities ?

For the sustainability of the oceans:

1. The governments must reject ‘blue economy’ models that accelerate ocean grabbing, ocean degradation and false climate solutions such as carbon markets and blue carbon trading.
2. Deep sea mining, marine geoengineering, marine carbon dioxide removal and other high risk and potential disastrous technologies as well as military exercises and nuclear testing must be stopped.  They threaten marine ecosystems, biodiversity, food sovereignty and uses ocean as mere climate dumping sites for critical minerals for electric batteries and nuclear power plant waste.
3. Off shore oil and gas expansion and production must be halted and phased out as part of a just and equitable transition . 
4. International financial institutions (IFIs) like World Bank, IMF, ADB as well as corporations and wealthy countries must be held accountable for the worsening climate crisis and social harm. 
5. Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) must be incorporated in all ocean based climate action with meaningful participation and decision making power of Indigenous Peoples, small-scale fishers, women, and coastal and island communities 
6. Climate finance must be provided as grants, not loans, and direct access to funding must be ensured for grassroots women and communities.
7.  Local communities and Indigenous peoples-led conservation and traditional knowledge must be recognised and supported as real climate solutions.   
8. Just and equitable transition must be advanced that prioritises people’s needs, food sovereignty, and sustainable livelihoods rather than profit.