Sustaining Green Fins Jordan: Protecting the Gulf of Aqaba’s Underwater Heritage

While up to 90% of coral reefs worldwide face severe degradation by mid-century due to rapid ocean warming, the Gulf of Aqaba stands out as one of the planet’s most vital marine refuges from climate change. Through the collaborative implementation of the Green Fins initiative, Jordan is taking direct action to address these localised pressures. By empowering local dive and snorkel operators to adopt world-class environmental standards, the Gulf of Aqaba is actively safeguarding its priceless underwater heritage, ensuring the resilience of the ecosystem while underpinning its high-value tourism economy. This executive virtual session celebrates Jordan's accomplishments, present an innovative Blue Natural Capital framework for the marine sector, and outline a forward-looking 5-year national roadmap that positions Aqaba as a global beacon for sustainable coastal stewardship and regional marine excellence. This workshop was developed in collaboration with UNDP Jordan under the GFCR Resilient Reef Programme.