Leading with science for ocean health and climate action

Q: Let’s start with an introduction. What is your role at Fugro and how did you come to it?

A: I lead Fugro’s Climate and Nature market development in the Americas. My background spans policy, industry and entrepreneurship in the blue economy, but the common thread has always been building partnerships that strengthen communities and protect ocean health. I joined Fugro because I was impressed with the team and their commitment to doing what’s right. And I believe strongly that global industry partners like Fugro, who bring decades of technical experience operating in very complex, highly regulated environments in all corners of the world, are needed to scale climate solutions effectively.

Q. What is COP, and how does it create space for ocean science?

The United Nations has coordinated several international treaties and conventions on various topics like biological diversity, chemical weapons and climate change. These agreements are reviewed and negotiated among the parties to the convention through international conferences, thus the name Conference of the Parties, or COP. 

The UN’s annual climate summit is probably the most well-known COP and is where countries, scientists, NGOs, philanthropies and industry come together to tackle climate change. For decades, the ocean was out-of-sight and out-of-mind at these meetings, with the focus almost entirely on emissions and land-based ecosystems. The ocean science community has worked hard to change that, and it is now recognised that ocean and climate and intrinsically connected. At COP30, we saw that trend continue, with the ocean—and, more specifically, ocean data—firmly on the agenda.

Q: COP30 was held in Belém, at the edge of the Amazon. How did that setting shape the conversation?

A: Belém sits at the land–sea interface, so the setting naturally linked forest protection and ocean health. That connection inspired the Belém Ocean Declaration, a global call to invest in ocean observation, mapping and monitoring as the foundation for resilience and sustainable development. Fugro was proud to be a signatory of that declaration. It set the tone for our participation at COP30, reinforcing that ocean science isn’t just part of the conversation, it’s a priority.

Q: What is the Ocean Pavilion, and why is Fugro involved?

A: The Ocean Pavilion is a dedicated space inside the Blue Zone, the restricted access area where national delegations negotiate climate policy. Its purpose is simple: to make ocean science visible in climate discussions. The Pavilion brings together scientists, policymakers, NGOs, philanthropic organisations and industry leaders to share knowledge and explore solutions that connect ocean health, sustainable development and climate action.

Fugro has contributed to Pavilion programming since COP27 and became a collaborating partner at COP28, drawing on our decades of experience collecting, analysing, integrating and managing ocean data. By helping move the ocean from the margins to the centre of climate negotiations, we’re delivering on our purpose to help create a safe and liveable world.

Our Blue Zone accreditation comes through our partnership with IOC/UNESCO in support of the UN Ocean Decade. For us, being part of the Ocean Pavilion is both a privilege and a chance to show how industry can lead with science and turn data into action.

Q: Why is it important that the ocean is now seen as central to climate action?

A: The ocean covers two-thirds of our planet, contains 99% of all habitats, absorbs nearly 30% of greenhouse gas emissions and regulates every facet of climate stability, from shaping weather systems to supporting biodiversity and enabling global trade. But we lack high-quality datasets about this critical resource. For instance, only a fraction of the seafloor is mapped to modern standards. That gap affects our ability to plan renewable energy projects like offshore wind, design ports that can withstand rising seas, and build coastal defences strong enough for more frequent extreme storms. Without this data, we’re flying blind, and that’s not an option when billions of dollars and millions of lives are at stake.

Q: What unique perspective did Fugro bring to COP30 discussions?

A: When faced with challenges, we start with science. That was our perspective at COP30: focus on evidence, then build solutions that work at scale. We emphasised practical steps like setting clear standards for monitoring, making data systems interoperable and creating tools that help regulators and investors make informed decisions.

This approach shaped conversations on marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR), where we stressed that innovation must be guided by science and stakeholder input. It also informed our role co-chairing a midpoint review of the UN Ocean Decade with IOC/UNESCO, identifying what’s working, where the gaps are and how partnerships can accelerate progress.

Q: What are the biggest gaps and how do we close them?

A: We’ve come a long way, but there’s still a lot to do. Programmes like Seabed 2030 have pushed major goals forward—from 6% of the seafloor mapped to modern standards to 27% in just a few years. That deserves to be celebrated, but it’s just the beginning. We need broader coverage in the deep ocean, long-term observation networks and data that’s open and easy to use.

Equally critical is financing and developing a pipeline of bankable projects. SDG14, Life Below Water, remains the least funded of all the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and that lack of investment is slowing progress. Better project scoping and new financing models that value nature and risk reduction, and reduce uncertainty for projects, are essential. Right now, too many good ideas stay on paper or operate on scales that are too small. Until project developers implement a net ecosystem value approach, we won’t move fast enough to meet the climate challenge. Leveraging ocean data and science to articulate a defensible investment case, while valuing nature and risk reduction, is how we move from ambition to implementation.

Q: What stood out to you in Belém?

A: Brazil’s leadership, without question. Hosting COP is a massive undertaking with many logistical complexities. There were certainly challenges and policy outcomes that fell short of some ambitions, but I credit Brazil for bringing global attention to the Amazon and its coastal ecosystems. It was exciting to see the global Mangrove Breakthrough initiative gain serious momentum during the conference, with new endorsements from Pará and other states. Nature-based solutions have so much potential, and seeing those commitments turn into action was inspiring.

Q: What’s your call to action for the global ocean community?

A: Collaborate and follow science. Invest in ocean data infrastructure because it reduces risk, enables approvals and unlocks capital. Co-invest in aggregated demand for ocean data at scale, and design projects with monitoring from day one. If we keep the focus on evidence and partnerships, we can move from ideas to implementation—and start delivering real results where they matter most.