CORDAP and E1 strengthen a partnership to advance coral restoration and awareness worldwide
PRESS RELEASE, February 14th, 2025
The G20 Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP) and E1 are proudly strengthening a partnership for coral conservation and restoration. A formal agreement was signed by Professor Carlos Duarte, the Executive Director of CORDAP, and Mr. Rodi Basso, the CEO and Co-founder of E1, during the E1 Jeddah GP, in Saudi Arabia. The partnership renews the commitment underscored by both entities to work together to restore and revive the world’s corals for future generations.
Turtle over a bleached coral reef at Heron Island, Australia. Photo by The Ocean Agency / XL Catlin Seaview Survey / Richard Vevers (CC BY 2.0).
There’s one thing that unites people around the world, regardless of their status, origin, gender or political views: sports. Now, more than never, it’s time humanity joins a collective team for the sake of the ocean – and human lives. Water sports and athletes may be the partners we all so urgently need.
Corals and coral reefs are experiencing a major decline worldwide, with over two-thirds of the world’s reefs been lost since 1950’s due to human activity. As local hazards like pollution and water contamination pile onto rising sea temperatures and global climate change, the need for concerted planetary actions arises. The partnership between CORDAP and E1 aims at driving concrete awareness and fundraising actions for ocean conservation and ecosystem regeneration, and deepen audience connections to corals through shared values and a collective purpose.
Highlights of the partnership:
- Awareness and Outreach Programs: through joint initiatives at E1 races, the two entities will collaborate to raise awareness about the challenges facing coral reefs. These efforts include communication campaigns, panel discussions, interactive exhibits, and also outreach programs with schools and universities.
- Fundraising Support: E1 will inspire its network and audiences to support CORDAP’s fundraising efforts, such as auctions, exclusive roundtable events with high-net-worth individuals and philanthropists, crowdfunding campaigns, and direct contributions.
Professor Carlos Duarte speaking at the panel “Facing the coral crisis” during the E1 Blue Impact Programme.
The agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding, was celebrated during the Acceleration Festival, at the E1 Jeddah GP, as part of the E1 Blue Impact Programme. Speaking at the event, as part of the panel “Facing the coral crisis”, Professor Carlos Duarte, Executive Director of CORDAP and Chief Scientist for E1, shared:
“The rapid decline of coral reefs is no longer a distant concern. It is a crisis unfolding before our eyes, which requires Immediate and collective action. As CORDAP partners with E1, we aim to showcase how sports do transcend boundaries – not only for the competition in itself – but to unite people worldwide to champion aquatic conservation. Saving corals is a race against time because the devastation we expected to see in a decade is happening now. Tomorrow is today.”
Rodi Basso, Chief Executive Officer at E1 added:
”As part of E1’s sustainability initiatives, we are delighted to strengthen our long-standing partnership with CORDAP to use E1’s global reach to raise awareness of the need for conservation and preservation of the world’s coral reefs and marine ecosystems.
Signing this Memorandum of Understanding with CORDAP also means E1 will help drive fundraising efforts focussed on marine regeneration which is vital to so many communities and to future generations.
CORDAP and KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) invited members of the E1 teams and Aoki Racing Team on a diving expedition to witness the corals of the Red Sea firsthand.
Through this partnership with CORDAP, E1 will continue to help raise awareness of the critical state of corals globally, while developing education programmes and driving tangible action in each city they race in.
About CORDAP:
The G20 Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform Foundation (CORDAP) was established by G20 countries and is the only international organization fully dedicated to funding global research and development for tropical and cold-water coral restoration and conservation. CORDAP Foundation is the financial arm of the G20 CORDAP. It is committed to secure funding streams, including donations, grants, and financial support from both public and private sectors. Learn more: cordap.org
Media contact (CORDAP):
Carla Lourenco, Communications Specialist, carla.lourenco@kaust.edu.sa