The first Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue was mandated by COP 25, Chile Madrid Time for Action 2019 (paras 30-31 and 33-34), and held in December 2020.

The Glasgow Climate Pact welcomed the summary report from the first ocean dialogue and invited the SBSTA Chair to hold an annual dialogue, starting SBSTA 56 in June 2022, to strengthen ocean-based action. The Pact also invited the SBSTA Chair to prepare an informal summary report on each annual dialogue to be made available to Parties at the subsequent session of the COP.