Kilaparti Ramakrishna is a senior advisor to the President and director on Ocean and Climate Policy Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
The past year marked a decisive shift in global ocean governance, from recognition to operationalization. After decades of advocacy, the ocean is no longer treated as a peripheral environmental concern but as a central pillar of climate stability, food security, and sustainable development. What was once fragmented across institutions and agendas is now beginning to converge into a coherent global priority. Yet the true test ahead is delivery. Nowhere will this transition matter more than in Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific–home to the world’s most populous coastlines, fastest-growing blue economies, and most climate-vulnerable marine regions.
Asia sits at the epicenter of the ocean–climate nexus. The Indian and Pacific Oceans sustain billions through fisheries, trade, and ecosystem services. At the same time, the region faces accelerating sea-level rise, coral reef degradation, intensifying cyclones, and coastal flooding. Megadeltas such as the Ganges-Brahmaputra, Mekong, and Irrawaddy are already experiencing profound ecological and social stress. Small Island Developing States across the Pacific confront existential threats from climate change, while rapidly urbanizing coastal zones from South Asia to Southeast Asia face mounting exposure to ocean and climate risks. The stakes are therefore immediate, developmental, and human.
One of the most important global advances has been the deeper integration of the ocean into climate action. National climate strategies increasingly recognize ocean-based mitigation and adaptation, from blue carbon ecosystems and coastal resilience to offshore renewable energy and maritime decarbonization.
Across Asia, countries are embedding mangrove restoration, seagrass protection, and nature-based coastal defense into national adaptation plans. Offshore wind deployment is expanding from China to India, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, while regional initiatives are exploring green shipping corridors and port decarbonization. These developments reflect the growing recognition that climate solutions are incomplete without the ocean—and that ocean-based pathways can simultaneously support livelihoods, resilience, and economic transformation.
A defining feature of this transition from convergence to delivery is the growing intersection between ocean governance and digital transformation, highlighted by India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences through its leadership at the AI Summit (16-20 February 2026) with the initiative “AI for Our Oceans of Tomorrow: Data, Models and Governance.” This signals that ocean governance is entering the era of intelligent systems.
For the Indo-Pacific, where dense coastal populations intersect with intensifying climate risks, AI-enabled ocean intelligence can transform preparedness and planning. From cyclone forecasting in the Bay of Bengal to monsoon variability, sea-level rise projections, fisheries management, and coral reef monitoring, artificial intelligence is accelerating the conversion of vast streams of oceanographic, satellite, and climate data into actionable knowledge. India’s expanding capabilities in Earth observation, ocean modelling, and open digital platforms position it as a bridge between advanced technological systems and the needs of developing coastal states across the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
This digital transformation is closely tied to the future of ocean observations. Sustained and interoperable observing systems—combining satellites, autonomous platforms, and in-situ networks—form the backbone of climate prediction and marine ecosystem management. Artificial intelligence can enhance these systems by improving data assimilation, forecasting accuracy, and real-time monitoring. Strengthened ocean observations will, in turn, play a decisive role in informing the Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement, providing critical insights into ocean warming, sea-level rise, carbon uptake, and coastal vulnerability. In this way, digital innovation is not merely technological; it is foundational to climate accountability and ambition.
The governance dimension is equally important. As the Ministry of Earth Sciences has emphasized, AI must strengthen equity and cooperation. Ocean data increasingly functions as a global commons, and ensuring access to digital ocean intelligence for Small Island Developing States and least developed coastal nations will be essential to narrowing capacity gaps. This linkage, from data to decision-making, connects directly to the broader United Nations reform agenda. As the UN system seeks to reduce fragmentation and better align climate, biodiversity, development, and ocean mandates, integrated data architectures and science-policy interfaces will be indispensable. AI-enabled ocean intelligence can support more coherent global governance, strengthen early-warning systems, and enhance implementation of agreements such as BBNJ.
Momentum has also accelerated in global ocean governance. The entry into force of the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction marked a historic turning point in addressing governance gaps on the high seas. For Asia and the Indo-Pacific–whose economies depend heavily on marine biodiversity, fisheries, and maritime trade – the Agreement represents both responsibility and opportunity. Its first Conference of the Parties will shift focus from negotiation to implementation, emphasizing science cooperation, marine protected areas in areas beyond national jurisdiction, capacity-building, and equitable benefit-sharing. For developing countries across the region, success will be measured by access to technology, participation in marine science, and fair distribution of benefits from marine genetic resources.
At the same time, ocean finance is gaining prominence. Multilateral banks, climate funds, and private investors increasingly view the ocean as a strategic investment frontier. Coastal resilience, sustainable aquaculture, coral reef protection, and blue carbon ecosystems offer large-scale opportunities for climate and development finance. Yet financing gaps remain significant, particularly for least developed countries and Pacific island states. Closing these gaps will require scaling concessional finance, aligning ocean investments with national development priorities, and mobilizing both public and private capital.
If the past year was one of convergence, the coming year must be one of delivery. Indo-Pacific leadership will be central. Major regional economies—including India, China, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, and the Republic of Korea—have both the capacity and responsibility to drive large-scale ocean-climate solutions. Regional cooperation—from ASEAN to the Indian Ocean Rim Association and Pacific institutions—can advance shared priorities such as sustainable fisheries, marine ecosystem protection, ocean observation, and climate resilience.
Five concrete deliverables should define success in the coming year. First, effective operationalization of the BBNJ Agreement, including capacity-building and technology transfer for developing countries. Second, firm integration of the ocean into climate finance architecture, with dedicated support for blue carbon and coastal adaptation. Third, meaningful institutional convergence through UN reform, improving coordination across ocean-related mandates. Fourth, stronger integration of science, ocean observations, and AI-enabled early-warning systems into policy and climate decision-making, particularly through future Global Stocktakes. Fifth, inclusive implementation ensures tangible benefits for coastal communities, small-scale fishers, women, youth, and indigenous knowledge holders across Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
Ultimately, the transition from convergence to delivery will determine whether the ocean agenda fulfills its promise. Asia and the Indo-Pacific, with their scale, dynamism, and vulnerability, are positioned not only at the frontline of climate risk but also at the forefront of solutions. By aligning science, digital innovation, finance, and multilateral governance, the region can demonstrate that ocean stewardship, climate resilience, and sustainable development are mutually reinforcing imperatives. With sustained cooperation and science- and data-driven leadership, this can be the year when momentum translates into measurable progress, advancing a healthier ocean and a more resilient future for billions who depend on the sea.
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