Since 2021, we have hosted the COOL – Convention of Organisations for a Clean Ocean, an annual gathering of Portuguese civil society organisations dedicated to protecting the ocean.

Born from a clear mission – to build a collaborative network, share experiences, and strengthen these organisations’ capacity to influence – COOL comes at a time when joint action is more necessary than ever.

More than just an event, COOL has become a true space for meeting, co-creation and training, where alliances are forged, and common messages are shaped to tackle the major challenges of ocean governance. Across its editions, COOL has fostered dialogue, debate and access to leading global experts, equipping participants with fresh knowledge and practical tools.

2025 Edition: On the road to UNOC3 with a stronger civil society 

In 2025, April, Lisbon, COOL was held in partnership with Rise Up For The Ocean and Fauna & Flora | Saving Nature Together, and brought together over 130 civil society organisations from around the world with a single goal: to align strategies, strengthen collaborations, and ensure a strong, effective presence at the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), in Nice.

Under the theme “Diving into UNOC3”, COOL25 served as a platform for preparation and mobilisation ahead of this milestone in the international ocean agenda.

The morning focused on presenting key conference topics – including Marine Protected Areas, Deep-Sea Mining, ratification of the High Seas Treaty, and the Ocean–Climate nexus – with contributions from leading experts such as Monica Verbeek (Seas At Risk), Loreley Picourt (Ocean and Climate Platform), Linzi Hawkin (Protect Blue), and Nuno Henriques (CCMAR – Algarve University).

In the afternoon, Fauna & Flora led one of four global meetings culminating in an open letter from global civil society – later presented to policymakers during the UNOC3 plenary.

COOL25 was also the launchpad for the “On the Road to UNOC3” initiative, which provided financial support for NGO participation at the conference, ensuring civil society voices were present in decision-making spaces.

This is a concrete example of the impact of these annual gatherings – strengthening organisations’ ability to influence, and ensuring that at pivotal moments in ocean governance, civil society is not only present, but prepared, coordinated, and speaking with a strong, united voice.

COOL I 2025 Credits: © Oceano Azul Foundation _ Pedro Pina

COOL I 2025 © Oceano Azul Foundation _ Pedro Pina

COOL I 2025 © Oceano Azul Foundation _ Pedro Pina

COOL Academy

Empowering those who protect the ocean

COOL Academy is the training arm of COOL, launched in 2022 to strengthen the skills and capacities of civil society organisations working to protect the ocean in Portugal.

Created in response to the needs identified by these organisations, the Academy offers training in strategic areas such as fundraising, project management, grant applications, leadership, and communications, among others. The programme is updated annually and designed to be decentralised, ensuring participation from organisations across all regions of Portugal.

The 2025 edition of COOL Academy will focus on Project Management and Impact Assessment, aiming to equip participants with knowledge of project design, management, monitoring, and evaluation. The goal is to ensure projects drive the organisational change they intend and maximise their chances of success.

Capacity-building is a cornerstone of a stronger, prepared, and transformative civil society.

Are you part of an organisation working to protect the ocean?

Join the COOL network and take part in meetings, training sessions, and joint actions that strengthen civil society in Portugal.