New strategic partnership announced aboard OceanXplorer during UN Ocean Conference with ocean advocates James Blunt and Philippe Cousteau Jr.
PRESS RELEASE, Nice, France, June 10th, 2025
Today, The G20 Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP) and The Earthshot Prize announce the launch of a joint global Coral Innovation Search to fast-track solutions for coral reef protection and restoration.
The new strategic partnership was unveiled aboard OceanXplorer, a research and media vessel operated by OceanX, during a high-level side event at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3).
The event brought together global voices from venture capital, corporate, investment, and philanthropic organisations – including musician and ocean advocate James Blunt and environmentalist Philippe Cousteau Jr. – to discuss the urgent need to mobilise resources and innovation to safeguard a future for corals.
Photo: frozen coral by Prof. Chiahsin Lin
Launching the global Coral Innovation Search
The event also marked the beginning of the global Coral Innovation Search, a new strategic partnership between CORDAP and The Earthshot Prize inviting individuals, research institutions, start-ups, NGOs and businesses to submit coral innovations that could help turn the tide on coral reef decline.
Of the partnership, CORDAP Executive Director Professor Carlos Duarte said:
“We are witnessing an ecological emergency unfold in real time, with coral reefs, our planet’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems on the brink of collapse. Yet, we are not powerless. Through this partnership with The Earthshot Prize, we are building a coordinated global pipeline of innovation, one that identifies, accelerates, and scales the most promising solutions from lab to reef. This is a call to the world’s coral innovators, from scientists to entrepreneurs, to join us in safeguarding a living legacy for generations to come.”
Chris Large, Senior Director of Prize and Portfolio at The Earthshot Prize, said:
“The Earthshot Prize is thrilled to be partnering with CORDAP to help promising and much-needed coral solutions to fast-track their deployment in the coming years. We have received dozens of nominations over the years but we are still searching for more. We want to understand all the promising ways to manage ocean temperatures, make coral tougher and assist coral reproduction. And want to know how tech, local stewardship and innovative financing can come together to offer greater ecosystem resilience. Our first action together is to issue an open call for coral innovators to tell us about their work”
During the event, guests participated in a solution-focused dialogue led by CORDAP strategic advisor Mark Rose, discussing how to bridge the gap between breakthroughs and real-world implementation – particularly in the Global South. The conversation explored workforce development, scaling impact, and mobilizing investment for innovation.
Musician and ocean advocate James Blunt closed the evening with a passionate call to action for the protection of coral reefs:
“The time to act is now—before our coral reefs become nothing more than a tragic lesson in a textbook. We are on the brink of losing these breathtaking, life-sustaining ecosystems forever. I want my children to experience their wonder firsthand—not just read about what we failed to protect. Let’s rise to this challenge, today.”
Photo: Reef Acoustic Playback System (RAPS) deployed in the field in off St. John, USVI. Credits: Aran Mooney, WHOI
A global coral crisis
This new collaboration comes at a pivotal moment for ocean ecosystems. Coral reefs are among the most valuable and diverse ecosystems on the planet. They support over a quarter of all marine species, sustain the livelihoods of more than a billion people, protect the shorelines of coastal communities and provide at least US$2.7 trillion annually in goods and services.
But they are on the brink of collapse. Since early 2023, more than 84% of the world’s coral reefs have experienced bleaching stress, driven by marine heatwaves and rising ocean temperatures. In addition to these global threats, corals and reefs are also exposed to emerging local stressors such as water pollution, the spread of diseases, habitat destruction, illegal catch, among other human activities.
Applications for the global Coral Innovation Search
Applications are now open for individuals or organisations in any sector, private companies, NGOs, academic institutions, or public bodies. Submissions are open now via https://theearthshotprize.awardsplatform.com/ and will close on 10 July 2025.
Selected innovations will be considered for promotion on The Earthshot Prize Launchpad platform for support and funding, as well as for CORDAP’s grant programs.
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
About OceanX:
OceanX is a nonprofit working to unlock the ocean’s sustainable potential. Through a dual focus on science and education, we’re building a new paradigm where humanity and the ocean mutually thrive. Our approach is fueled by exploration, leveraging advanced research, multimedia educational programs, cross-sector partnerships, and advanced technology to help transform how people understand and value the ocean. Our work strives to fortify biodiversity and increase the sustainable use of ocean resources to help ensure the ocean remains a foundation for human wellbeing and potential. OceanX is a nonprofit operating program of Dalio Philanthropies. For more information, visit www.oceanx.org and follow OceanX on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
About The Earthshot Prize:
For more information about The Earthshot Prize, visit: www.earthshotprize.org
Follow The Earthshot Prize on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok.
Founded by Prince William in 2020, The Earthshot Prize is a global environmental prize and platform designed to discover, accelerate and scale ground-breaking solutions to repair and regenerate the planet. Inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s Moonshot, which united millions of people around the goal of reaching the moon, The Earthshot Prize aims to catalyse an Earthshot challenge to urgently encourage and scale innovative solutions that can help put the world firmly on a trajectory towards a stable climate, where communities, oceans and biodiversity thrive in harmony by 2030.
The five challenges are: Protect and Restore Nature; Clean Our Air; Revive Our Oceans; Build a Waste-Free World; and Fix Our Climate. The Prize aims to turn the current pessimism surrounding environmental issues into optimism by championing inspiring leadership and helping to scale incredible cutting-edge solutions. It will discover 50 winners over 10 years with the power to repair the planet. More than an award, The Earthshot Prize works in partnership with a Global Alliance of Partners to support the scaling of the solutions discovered and selected each year.