Philanthropic Funds

The ocean absorbs 25% of annual carbon emissions,  and has the power to store even more. Our Blue Carbon research explores how ocean ecosystems like seagrass beds, corals and coastal wetlands capture and store carbon, helping to combat climate change and support healthy fisheries and coastal communities.

Your support for the Climate Fund will:

• Advance knowledge of how and where the ocean stores carbon
• Reveal the connections between blue carbon habitats, fisheries and coral reefs
• Guide global efforts to protect and restore carbon-rich habitats
• Inform future marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) methods
• Shape policy and support the growth of carbon finance
• Put the ocean at the heart of climate and net-zero solutions

Our biodiversity research unlocks vital knowledge about ocean habitats, species diversity and how life beneath the waves is changing as our planet warms. With less than 25% of our seafloor mapped, much of our underwater world remains unexplored and misunderstood.

By supporting the Biodiversity Fund, you will help to:

• Improve understanding of ocean life and ecosystems
• Contribute to global seabed mapping efforts
• Provide critical data for ocean conservation
• Support the creation and monitoring of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
• Discover new species in remote regions
• Inform sustainable policy for deep-sea activities

Plastic pollution is threatening ocean health worldwide, from microplastics in fragile marine habitats to debris in the deepest ocean trenches. Our Pollution research aims to close the knowledge gap: tracking where plastics go, how they break down, and what harm they cause to ocean life.

Supporting the Hazards and Pollution Fund helps to:

• Provide robust data on the amount and sources of ocean plastic
• Map how plastics move through ocean currents and change over time
• Improve understanding of microplastics’ impacts on marine species and habitats
• Inform effective ocean clean-up initiatives
• Influence government and industry policy on plastic production and waste

Inspiring the next generation is key to safeguarding our ocean’s future. Through our Education Fund, we bring ocean science alive for young people, train future researchers and equip global communities with knowledge and skills.

Your gift to the Education Fund will:

• Inspire future ocean scientists and explorers
• Bring STEAM subjects to life through hands-on learning with NOC experts
• Create high-quality resources for schools and communities worldwide
• Provide top-class training for early career researchers and postgraduates
• Build public understanding to protect the ocean for generations to come