As governments gathered at the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, pledging over $6 billion for marine protection and sustainable initiatives, the issue of offshore oil and gas expansion was notably absent from discussions. Countries such as Norway, Brazil, Guyana, South Africa, Angola, and Kenya are advancing offshore oil and gas projects despite commitments to protect marine ecosystems and combat climate change.
Environmental groups express concern that new drilling could lock these nations into fossil fuel production, undermining efforts to establish a sustainable blue economy. Inia Seruiratu, a Fijian parliamentarian, emphasized the need for a unified approach to climate mitigation and ocean protection, stating, “For too long, two conversations – climate mitigation and ocean protection – have run on separate tracks.”
At the conference, only one side event focused on the threats posed by offshore oil and gas, organized by civil society rather than governmental bodies. The event highlighted the contradictions in policies, as nations simultaneously promote marine protection while pursuing fossil fuel projects.
One-third of global oil and gas production comes from offshore projects, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and threaten marine life through seismic surveys and the risk of oil spills. A report from Earth Insight noted that 85% of hydrocarbon discoveries in 2024 were offshore, with new projects emerging across various regions, including Africa.
