On 9 December 2025, Fiji announced that the “Accelerating Global Action to Promote the Climate Resilience of Coral Reefs” resolution became the first resolution at UNEA-7 to achieve full consensus among all Member States, a remarkable achievement delivered after intense, highly technical negotiations that concluded at 1 a.m. The resolution was officially adopted during the Closing plenary of UNEA-7 on December 12 2025, the resolution text may be found here.
This resolution was one of 15 draft resolutions and three draft decisions (as of 8 December 2025), forwarded from the Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR) to the UNEA-7 plenary. Of the initial 15 draft resolutions discussed during UNEA-7, only 7 were forwarded during the Committee of the Whole (CoW) closing plenary before the high-level segment.
This milestone comes at a time when the world continues to face an unprecedented global coral bleaching event and accelerating threats to reef ecosystems. Fiji’s leadership has been instrumental in driving forward coordinated, science-based international action #ForCoral.
Blue Pangolin Consulting’ On-the-Ground Support
Throughout the development and negotiation of the UNEA-7 coral reef resolution, Blue Pangolin Consulting, through Margaux’s work, has been proud to support Fiji in shaping a strong, evidence-based outcome. Working closely with Fiji’s team in Nairobi, she provided timely technical input and helped maintain clear, coordinated communication during rapidly evolving discussions.
In the months leading up to UNEA-7 and throughout this week in Nairobi, Margaux supported Fiji’s delegation by offering:
- Technical and policy expertise,
- Support for coordination and communication, and
- Guidance to ensure the resolution reflects the latest evidence and the real needs of reef-dependent communities.
Fiji’s Leadership in Multilateral Environmental Diplomacy
Fiji’s technical team, led by Dr. Sivendra Michael, Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, and Ms. Senimili Baleicakau, Director of Environment, worked tirelessly to navigate a complex landscape of scientific, environmental, and geopolitical issues. Their leadership brought all countries on board and secured early consensus, with three negotiation days still remaining at UNEA-7.
This is a powerful testament to Fiji’s leadership in multilateral environmental diplomacy and its unwavering commitment to protecting coral reefs and the communities that depend on them.
Officially adopted during the Closing plenary of UNEA-7 on December 12 2025, the resolution calls for:
- Strengthened global action to promote climate resilience of coral reefs;
- Enhanced monitoring and data collection, including through the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN);
- Mobilisation of financial resources for conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of coral reefs.
These priorities strongly align with Blue Pangolin Consulting’s ongoing work to support resilience-building, strengthen monitoring, and advance coordinated action for coral ecosystems globally.
Looking Ahead
Blue Pangolin Consulting stands ready to continue supporting Fiji, UNEP, and coral nations worldwide in the implementation of this resolution.
This achievement is a testament to what is possible when countries, experts, and communities unite to safeguard coral reefs and the millions who depend on them. The UNEA-7 coral reef resolution represents a meaningful and urgent step forward in matching global ambition with decisive, coordinated action #ForCoral.
Read further news items related to the resolution:
