The 2022 UN Ocean Conference takes place on June 27 – July 1 in Lisbon, Portugal. The objective of the Conference is to incite action and promote innovative, science-based solutions to the deep-rooted societal problems revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with the SDGs to usher in a new chapter of global ocean action.
This is the second UN Ocean Conference. The first was held on June 5-9, 2017 in New York City, USA. Its focus was on the promotion of progress in implementing Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.
The Global Ocean Forum continues its work in advancing the ocean agenda in various international fora by organizing, along with 10 partners (Nausicaa National Sea Center, France; World Ocean Network; One Ocean Hub; Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States; African Union Development Agency; Global Fund for Coral Reefs; United Nations Development Programme; Acadia University; Envirostrat; and Urban Coast Institute, Monmouth University), a side event on Creating a Blue Society: Innovative solutions for sustainable ocean and coastal management action to be held on Thursday, June 30 from 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM in Side Event Room 2 at the Altice Arena Convention Center.
This side event addresses ways by which scientific and innovative approaches to ocean-based socio-economic development based on the idea of a Blue Society could effectively integrate long standing concepts of coastal management, ocean planning and ecosystem-based management; and how these approaches could be especially beneficial for small island developing States and other developing countries. A Blue Society incorporates culture into the pillars of a Blue Economy, involving civil society in socio-economic development because every human being on earth depends on the ocean for survival.
Additionally, this side event will contribute to information sharing and discussion towards advancing the implementation of SDG14 Life below water in an interlinked manner through cross-cutting initiatives that also address other SDGs including: 7 Affordable and Clean Energy; 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities; 13 Climate Action; and 17 Partnerships for the Goals, among others. It will focus on scientific and innovative solutions that address the constraints to scaling up ocean action towards the implementation of Goal 14, including through fresh approaches to integrating various development and management frameworks and paradigms as well as relevant initiatives in pursuit of other SDGs.
For a list of speakers and other information about the side event, view the event brief here.