1. Introduction
The ocean is a critical part of the global climate solution.
The Southeast Asia Framework for Oceans Action in Mitigation (SEAFOAM) program aims to demonstrate additional ways countries can meet or raise their ambition  under the world’s most important climate treaty – the Paris Agreement.
At COP28, the Global Stocktake document reflected the significant role protecting and preserving coastal ecosystems and ocean-based action should play as part of pathways towards net zero.
The ocean has the potential to provide 25 per cent of the emissions reductions needed annually to meet 2050 climate targets.
Yet very few countries have made the leap to include ocean based action within their nationally determined contributions.
Climateworks Centre’s SEAFOAM program aims to create a template showing how a country like Indonesia could include sectors such as blue carbon, offshore renewable energy and green shipping within its next Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which is due in 2025.
As the largest archipelagic country in the world and host to 17 per cent of the world’s blue carbon ecosystems, Indonesia is one of the most important countries in the world for ocean-based climate change mitigation.
Sustainable management of the ocean around Indonesia offers dual benefits of significant emissions mitigation while providing coastal communities with climate resilience.
To date, no country with a maritime sector and economy as large and multifaceted as Indonesia has attempted the substantial inclusion of ocean-based measures in its NDC.
Our work seeks to support countries and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in raising the collective level of ambition and literacy on ocean-climate issues.
The SEAFOAM project is increasing recognition of the need to include the ocean in national climate mitigation strategies and the benefits of doing so.
What we’re doing
SEAFOAM’s ambition is that Indonesia has reached net zero emissions, enabled by the development of a sustainable blue economy, by 2050.
SEAFOAM will achieve this through:
- influencing Indonesian climate policy and action through strategic engagement and convening activities that strengthen inclusion of ocean-based mitigation within the NDC
- blue pathway development to guide ocean-climate policy design and inform government decision making processes related to the NDC and the development of the sustainable blue economy
- building capacity on ocean-climate nexus to enhance knowledge, coordination and collaboration across stakeholders including government, private sector, not-for-profit and academia
- blue financing and subsidy research to uncover novel financial mechanisms to support the realisation of long term climate and biodiversity goals.
2. Key releases
- Report
Shaping a credible blue finance taxonomy for Indonesia
In this report, Climateworks Centre shows how an ocean-aligned finance taxonomy can direct investment towards safeguarding the ocean, building climate resilience and generating sustainable economic growth for Indonesia.
- Report
Turning the tide: Advancing Indonesia’s blue economy through ocean-based mitigation actions
Indonesia’s ocean is central to its climate and economic future. As the world’s largest archipelagic nation, home to 17 per cent of global blue-carbon ecosystems, Indonesia has an unparalleled opportunity to align its blue economy ambitions with its climate goals.
- Report
Sea of opportunity: Ocean-based mitigation to support Indonesia’s climate ambition
This report assesses the mitigation potential of coastal and ocean areas and their contribution to Indonesia’s 'Second NDC', and suggests mechanisms for including the ocean in the forthcoming NDC. In addition to examining mitigation potential, it also provides details of key relevance to decision makers such as enabling and economic factors, scientific gaps and the likely flow-on effects.
3. Partners
This work could not have been achieved without valuable support from our philanthropic funders Philanthropy Asia Alliance, Quantedge Advancement Initiative, TPC (Tsao Pao Chee) and NO.17 Foundation, UBS Optimus Foundation, Dalio Philanthropies, and Mr Phillip Wang and Mrs Gail Lien-Wang, whose commitment is essential to raising awareness and advancing solutions for ocean mitigation in the region.
4. Our experts
5. Related
Climateworks Centre strengthens Indonesia’s readiness to develop a blue carbon economy
A recent training workshop helps turn Indonesia’s blue carbon potential into sustainable action
- Webinar
Financing the future of Indonesia’s blue economy – The Briefing Room
The ocean is worth US$1.5 trillion a year, yet investment in this blue economy is less than 1 per cent of that value.
Supporting Indonesia’s leadership on ocean–climate on the global stage
Climateworks combined analysis, policy support and capacity building to help embed ocean solutions in Indonesia's climate strategies.
- Webinar
Turning the tide with Indonesia’s ocean economy
Join us for our final Briefing Room webinar of the year at 2:00pm on Tuesday 2 December 2025 and discover how Indonesia’s ocean economy can supercharge climate action and sustainable economic growth.Â
- Report
Turning the tide: Advancing Indonesia’s blue economy through ocean-based mitigation actions
Indonesia’s ocean is central to its climate and economic future. As the world’s largest archipelagic nation, home to 17 per cent of global blue-carbon ecosystems, Indonesia has an unparalleled opportunity to align its blue economy ambitions with its climate goals.
- Report
Sea of opportunity: Ocean-based mitigation to support Indonesia’s climate ambition
This report assesses the mitigation potential of coastal and ocean areas and their contribution to Indonesia’s 'Second NDC', and suggests mechanisms for including the ocean in the forthcoming NDC. In addition to examining mitigation potential, it also provides details of key relevance to decision makers such as enabling and economic factors, scientific gaps and the likely flow-on effects.
- Webinar
Sea of opportunity: The role of ocean mitigation in Indonesia’s decarbonisation
Ocean-based climate mitigation could provide up to one-quarter of the emissions reductions needed to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Blue carbon and ocean-based sectors can meet half of Indonesia’s net zero target by 2050: report
Climateworks Centre releases new report from its Southeast Asia Framework for Ocean Action in Mitigation (SEAFOAM) project, 'Sea of Opportunity: Ocean-based mitigation to support Indonesia's climate ambition'.
Analisis dan pemetaan Climateworks menunjukkan peluang Indonesia untuk memimpin aksi iklim berbasis kelautan
Climateworks’ SEAFOAM menganalisis peluang mitigasi di tiga sektor; karbon biru (blue carbon), energi terbarukan lepas pantai, dan perkapalan.
Indonesia can lead the way on ocean-based climate action. New Climateworks analysis and mapping shows how
Climateworks’ Southeast Asia Framework for Ocean Action in Mitigation phase 1 report analysed three sectors: blue carbon, offshore renewable energy and shipping.
Climate solutions are already in our nature
Dr Sali Jayne Bache, Monash University, and Astra Rushton-Allan, Climateworks Centre, write for Info360.
Climateworks on the ground at COP27
Climateworks is at COP27, meeting with partners, funders and key decision-makers from across the region — as well as running and presenting at events.
Policy wields most power in climate mitigation
Our leads for Australia and Southeast Asia look at new findings from the IPCC report and how they see them playing out in our region
Protecting mangroves and seagrass could boost Indonesia’s new climate targets
As the world works towards net zero emissions, Indonesia has a huge opportunity to boost its climate leadership, write Climateworks Centre's Brurce M. Mecca and Astra Rushton-Allan.
Three ways Indonesia can enable ocean-based climate action
There is growing interest in ocean-based climate action as countries update their climate pledges under the Paris Agreement. But key systemic challenges remain. We explore the international ocean work to date and how it can shape Indonesia’s climate ambition in the next decade.
Indonesian ocean project secures involvement of both prominent marine scientist and leading environmental economist
Professor Luky Adrianto and Christy Desta Pratama have confirmed they will be part of Climateworks Centre’s newest international ocean project.