June 8, 2024
Happy World Ocean Day and welcome to the June 2024 edition of Ocean & Climate News! This issue provides an overview of recent and upcoming ocean events and continues with highlights of additional relevant ocean and climate news and GOF news.
As a special note, the Global Ocean Forum encourages one and all to celebrate World Ocean Day today! Proposed in 1992 by the government of Canada and officially launched by The Ocean Project in 2002, World Ocean Day catalyzes collective action for a healthy ocean and a stable climate in collaboration with global partners. The 2024 action theme for World Ocean Day is Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean and Climate.
Ocean & Climate News
4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States
The fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) was held from 27-30 May 2024 in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. Under the theme of “Charting the course toward resilient prosperity,” the Conference sought to assess the ability of SIDS to achieve sustainable development. The fourth in a series of conferences held every 10 years, SIDS4 convened the international community to review SIDS’ sustainable development progress and propose a new decade of partnerships and solutions to fast-track their path to resilient prosperity.
Upon the conclusion of the conference, world leaders adopted the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS: A Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity, a 10-year plan of action on how to achieve sustainable development of SIDS with support from the international community. To help SIDS meet their ambitions for resilient prosperity, countries agreed to facilitate easier access to affordable and concessional finance, increase the effectiveness of development finance, scale-up biodiversity climate finance, in line with existing obligations and commitments and urgently accelerate climate action. Other areas of focus included the ocean-based economy, science, technology and innovation, and monitoring and evaluation, including improving data collection and analysis in SIDS. (United Nations)
The Global Ocean Forum (GOF) was pleased to have organized a virtual side event during SIDS4 entitled Integrated approaches to ocean governance in the context of climate change, the BBNJ Agreement, and Small Island Developing States, together with the University of the South Pacific, Solomon Islands National University, the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner, and the Common Oceans Cross-sectoral Project. This event included a high-level panel discussion on integrated and collaborative approaches used to progress the ocean in the climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development agendas. The event underscored the opportunities provided by the adoption of the BBNJ Agreement to explore the biodiversity conservation, mitigation and adaptation potential of the vast high seas, along with its ecosystems and resources. See here for a summary report of the event. Watch a recording of the event here.
Bonn Climate Change Conference
The 60th sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 60) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are currently being held at the World Conference Center Bonn in Bonn, Germany from 3-13 June 2024. The conference continues discussions on issues of critical importance, such as the Global Stocktake, Global Goal on Adaptation, just transition, loss and damage and the mitigation work program. The conference is expected to make progress on these and other important issues and prepare draft decisions for adoption at COP 29 / CMP 19 / CMA 6 at Azerbaijan to be held from 11-22 November 2024. In conjunction with SBSTA 60, the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue 2024 will be held from 11-12 June 2024. The dialogue will focus on the topics of: 1) marine biodiversity conservation and coastal resilience; and 2) technology needs for the ocean-climate action, including finance links. For more information on past dialogues, see here.
Preparation for United Nations Ocean Conference
In advance of the 3rd UN Ocean Conference that will be held in June 2025, a stakeholder meeting entitled High Level Event on Ocean Action: Immersed in Change is being convened in San Jose, Costa Rica from 7-8 June 2024 in an attempt to generate national, regional, and global ocean solutions in an inclusive manner, with the participation of all relevant stakeholders. This stakeholder meeting is organized by the government of Costa Rica and will serve as a platform for the exchange of best practices and successful experiences related to ocean governance and health. The meeting aims to highlight topics of global significance to the ocean and drive specific implementation actions to address the severe environmental crisis it faces. Panels will address fishing resources, ghost gear, blue economy, technology, marine plastic pollution, effective implementation of global agreements, and more.
On 2 July 2024, a preparatory meeting will be convened by the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York. The two host countries of the 3rd UN Ocean Conference, France and Costa Rica, will co-chair the meeting.
Ocean Literacy World Conference
Just in time for World Ocean Day, the Ocean Literacy World Conference is taking place in Venice, Italy from 7-8 June 2024. Organized by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO in collaboration with the Prada Group, the Government of Italy, and the Municipality of Venice, the conference brings together the ocean literacy and education community to promote a more harmonious and better-informed relationship between humans and the ocean. The Venice Declaration–an ocean literacy declaration which will provide concrete recommendations for integrating ocean literacy into policy-making efforts–will be developed and signed during the conference. To contribute to the effort, consider taking this short survey to help guide the creation of the Venice Declaration.
Capitol Hill Ocean Week
Organized by the US National Marine Sanctuary Foundation every June in Washington, D.C., Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW) brings together U.S. scientists, policymakers, scholars, businesses and conservation leaders to address pressing conservation, science, and management issues facing the ocean and Great Lakes. With a thematic focus on leadership, CHOW 2024 (which occurred 4-6 June 2024) called upon leaders from all walks of life to come together to drive attention and innovation to protect our ocean and center people at the core of ocean solutions.
BBNJ Informal Dialogues
During the 3 June BBNJ Informal Dialogue, delegates had the opportunity to share updates on the BBNJ Agreement process, particularly in the lead up to the first official UN meeting at the end of June to organize the preparatory process. Part 1 of the June BBNJ Informal Dialogue focused on the upcoming organizational meeting of the Preparatory Commission and featured a presentation from the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea. Part 2 continued discussions from previous BBNJ Informal Dialogues on the establishment of a clearing-house mechanism and featured presentations on clearing-house mechanisms of the International Maritime Organization and the United Nations Environment Program as well as a presentation by Dr. Marjo Vierros highlighting lessons learned from past and existing clearinghouse mechanisms based on a policy brief from the Common Oceans Capacity Project. A copy of this presentation is available here. Part 3 explored the capacity-building and technical assistance needs of developing countries with a view to becoming parties to the BBNJ Agreement in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 78/272. Finally, Part 4 concluded with the sharing of BBNJ-related initiatives organized or in preparation by delegates.
Citizen of the Ocean Youth-led World Forum
Calling ocean enthusiasts and champions 18-30 years old worldwide! Throughout 2024 and 2025, Nausicaa is organizing Citizen of the Ocean, a global youth-led forum, which aims at:
- Drawing up youth priorities for sustainable and equitable ocean;
- Making an inventory of effective and innovative ocean-based solutions to Ocean Decade challenges;
- Designing the content of the Ocean Citizen networking tool for mobilising a community of practice.
To achieve this, there will be five rounds of online regional workshops in 2024, an Ocean Citizen Summit in France in spring 2025, and a youth advocacy during international events (in particular the UN Ocean Conference 2025).
Applicants will be evaluated in terms of their age eligibility, motivation, commitment, availability. 100 participants from all continents will be chosen for the Citizen of the Ocean Youth-led Forum. The selection process will ensure inclusion and diversity of participants in terms of occupation, residence, nationality, field and levels of education, interests, and gender.
Registration has been extended! Apply by 15 June 2024: Registration Form
Additional Upcoming Ocean Events in 2024-2025
There will be several major ocean events to look forward to in 2024 and 2025, including the following:
- East Asian Seas Congress 2024 (to be held in collaboration with Xiamen World Ocean Week), 6-8 November 2024, Xiamen, China
- The Global Ocean Forum is looking forward to participating in EAS Congress 2024 with a virtual side event as a preview event to the Virtual Ocean Pavilion at the UNFCCC COP29 – more details to come
- 12th Annual World Congress of Ocean, 12-14 November 2024, Singapore
- UNFCCC COP29, 11-22 November 2024, Azerbaijan
- See below for information on the GOF’s plans for participating in COP29
- UN Ocean Conference, 9-13 June 2025, France
Global Ocean Forum News
Cross-sectoral Project
The Cross-sectoral Project organized regional stakeholder dialogues in each of its two pilot regions, the Southeast Pacific and Pacific Islands, as the first step in broader stakeholder engagement which aims to include representatives of relevant ministries, relevant regional bodies, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, academic and research institutions, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and other civil society groups. Designated representatives from national ministries and regional bodies provided input on the proposed project activities to ensure the project stays true to its co-design and co-implementation approach. The main Year 1 activities of the project include a capacity needs assessment to evaluate existing capacity for ABNJ management and governance in the Southeast Pacific and the Pacific Islands region and the development of an ABNJ governance platform. As a first step of the capacity needs analysis, the project and its stakeholders will now focus efforts on fast-tracking the development of national and regional ABNJ profiles for all target countries and pilot regions. The information gathered through this baseline analysis can also support country efforts for ratification and implementation of the BBNJ Agreement.
Program Development
With the launch of the Global Ocean Forum Strategic Plan 2024-2030 in May 2024, the GOF now turns its focus towards the final step in its transition planning process, program development.
This phase of the GOF transition process will involve the formulation of projects and actions to implement the strategic plan; identifying the greatest opportunities to explore/provide leadership in each of the focal areas of the strategic plan; identifying opportunities with low risk and high return; and developing a strategic action plan for implementation. A theory of change for each focal area will be developed to demonstrate a clear pathway to the achievement of intermediate and contribution to high-level global goals. The GOF Policy Advisory Board will be invited to continue supporting the GOF in program development and will be guided by members of the GOF Board of Directors and staff.
COP29 Virtual Ocean Pavilion
The Virtual Ocean Pavilion is an online platform dedicated to raising the visibility of the ocean and showcasing why the ocean matters in climate negotiations and to all life on our planet. It aims to democratize the ocean and promote unity and inclusivity, whilst increasing knowledge, commitment, and action for the ocean-climate nexus at key events during the meetings of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP). It is also a key tool in increasing transparency and equitable access to climate discussions and information. The first Virtual Ocean Pavilion was held during the UNFCCC COP26 (Glasgow, 31 October – 12 November 2021) and continued at COP27 (Sharm El Sheik, 6 – 18 November 2022) and most recently, at COP28 (Dubai, 30 November – 12 December 2023).
To help continue to realize the ocean and climate change agenda through the Virtual Ocean Pavilion at the UNFCCC COP, the Virtual Ocean Pavilion co-organizers are now welcoming sponsors as well as additional collaborating partners for the COP29 Virtual Ocean Pavilion. The design of the COP29 Virtual Ocean Pavilion will take into consideration the cascade of ocean and climate-related events in 2023-2024, the COP29 priorities, as well as the lessons learned in the development of the platform and feedback received from the survey of COP28 Pavilion attendees.
All expressions of interest, contributions and donations to support the organization of the Virtual Ocean Pavilion are welcome. For more information on past Virtual Ocean Pavilions, please see here. For those interested in collaborating on the COP29 Virtual Ocean Pavilion, please contact sdavidson@globaloceanforum.com, mbalgos@globaloceanforum.com, or tke@pml.ac.uk.