September 4, 2026
Palau – The Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) is proud to announce that it has joined more than 40 other global organizations and more than 20 governments in support of the world’s first global pledge to protect climate-resilient coral reefs. Officially called “Protecting Climate-Resilient Coral Reefs: A High-Level Global Commitment,” this pledge was launched by the Wildlife Conservation Society, The Nature Conservancy, and WWF’s Coral Reef Rescue Initiative at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France in June 2025.
Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean yet support a quarter of all marine life and nearly one billion people worldwide. They generate US$375 billion annually in food, tourism, coastal protection, and biodiversity, while protecting coastlines and reducing wave energy by up to 97%.
In Palau, coral reefs provide food and livelihoods, and support tourism and local economies. They also protect coastlines and provide habitat for an extraordinary diversity of marine life. And they are deeply connected to Palau’s cultures, traditions, identity, and way of life.
But with more than 70% of reefs around the world threatened by climate change and severe coral bleaching occurring globally, protecting reefs most likely to endure is critical for nature, people, and climate adaptation.
This Commitment, which the Palau government has also joined, is a non-binding, voluntary initiative. In practice, support means contributing where it aligns with expertise — whether that’s providing scientific input, collaborating with signatory governments on implementation, or helping amplify key moments. Among the key partners in the Coral Commitment are The Nature Conservancy, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Conservation International, GEF, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. PICRC has already positioned itself as a regional leader when it comes to climate-smart coral restoration. Signing this Commitment demonstrates PICRC and Palau’s commitment to protecting reefs using the best available science, to support community outreach and local capacity building in reef restoration, and to strengthen partnerships with world-leading institutions.
“For PICRC, this is more than simply signing a commitment,” stated PICRC’s CEO, Roxanne Siual Blesam. “It is an opportunity to strengthen the work we are already doing and to continue looking for ways that we can contribute to meaningful, science-based action for coral reef management in Palau.”
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