Greece, signifying its commitment to contribute to global challenges actively and to support the legacy of commitments for ocean protection, is hosting the 9th "Our Ocean Conference" (OOC-9), which will be held on April 16-17, 2024, in Athens at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.
An integral part of this international conference is the "Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit," which will be held on April 15, 2024, aiming to awaken the new generation to ocean sustainability.
The OOC Conference was launched by the U.S. State Department and former Secretary of State John Kerry in 2014. Since then, it has evolved into an international event where governments, international organizations, private sector representatives, NGOs, and the academic community collaborate to protect the oceans.
The Conference’s ultimate goal is to elicit tangible commitments from participants for ocean conservation, responsible management of marine resources, and sustainable economic growth. It is noteworthy that by 2023, the Conference had secured over 2,161 commitments, valued at approximately 130 billion U.S. dollars for ocean protection.
Greece, a country with an extensive coastline of over 20,000 kilometers and more than 29,000 islands and islets, with a long maritime tradition, acknowledging the urgency for marine environmental protection, is leading initiatives in this direction. Notable examples include the establishment of Marine Protected Areas and the ambitious project of decarbonizing the islands.
By hosting OOC-9, Greece reaffirms its shift towards a sustainable "blue" economy and seeks to highlight international challenges for sustainable fishery, marine ecosystem protection, the combat against marine pollution -particularly by plastics-, as well as the interconnection between the climate and oceans.
Oceans are the foundation of life on our planet and the natural habitat of a rich marine biodiversity, essential for food security and sustainable development. Their role is crucial in climate regulation, functioning as "carbon traps" and as the primary source of the oxygen we breathe. Simultaneously, they encompass some of the most vulnerable and burdened ecosystems.
It is true that ocean health contributes to the overall health of our planet, and it is our duty to maintain the ecological balance of marine ecosystems, ensuring their health and resilience. The United Nations Climate Change Conference is increasingly acknowledging the dynamic interaction between climate and oceans, as a stable climate maintains the health of marine ecosystems and the undisturbed functioning of the oceans limits the impacts of climate change.
Oceans, apart from their ecological value, have a significant economic dimension, contributing substantially to the global economy. From tourism to fishing and shipping, economies at all levels rely heavily on the ecological balance and vitality of marine ecosystems. Emerging industries, such as new forms of offshore Renewable Energy Sources (e.g. offshore wind farms), marine biotechnology, and the gradual transition and integration of shipping into the circular economy, strongly indicate that our common future is based on a blue, sustainable, and inclusive economy grounded in the oceans.
The "Our Ocean Conference" aspires to promote cooperation between governments and stakeholders from around the world, aiming to mobilize, showcase prospects and innovative ideas, and undertake commitments for ocean sustainability. Emphasis will be placed on the shared responsibility to ensure that our oceans continue to meet the needs of today and future generations.
Simultaneously, the participation of young people in the "Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit" (April 15) seeks to harness innovative ideas to contribute to substantial progress for ocean protection and sustainability. This year's youth session will delve into four aspects: 1. Education, 2. Career Orientation, 3. Lifelong Learning, and 4. Innovation, accompanied by a technology innovation competition among participants. The same day (April 15) will also mark the launch of the 1st Our Ocean Film Festival.
It should be noted that each OOC Conference focuses on six areas of action:
§ Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): Their establishment ensures effective management through targeted protective measures that take into account the pressure on marine ecosystems from activities such as tourism, shipping, and fishing.
§ Sustainable blue economy: It serves as a key tool for the sustainable use of marine resources, contributing to the sustainable development of ocean-based activities, like sustainable tourism, green shipping, and sustainable offshore wind energy.
§ Addressing climate change: Enhancing the interaction between climate and oceans, as well as taking holistic actions with the ocean's role as a climate regulator in mind, and the need to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the oceans.
§ Maritime security: This section highlights aspects such as combating piracy, illicit trafficking of goods and people, illegal fishing, and pollution.
§ Sustainable fishing: Promoting efficient fishing practices, monitoring bans and restrictions, and other holistic solutions to reduce overfishing and protect fish stocks.
§ Marine pollution, caused by the discharge of nutrients, chemicals, and waste from land-based or maritime activities: The challenge is to reduce it and protect the marine environment effectively.
Additionally, Greece will place particular emphasis on four cross-cutting sectors that run through the six thematic areas mentioned above at the OOC Conference:
§ Sustainable tourism in coastal areas and islands to achieve the optimal balance between tourism development, marine environment protection, and the prosperity of local communities. Sustainable tourism can also be a key lever for resilience against the challenges of climate change.
§ Green shipping, within which a broad range of environmentally friendly actions for pollution control, promotion of decarbonization, and transition to sustainable management practices aimed at reducing the impact of shipping on the marine environment will be encouraged.
§ Reduction of marine pollution from plastics and microplastics. Greece will undertake initiatives in this direction, as this specific form of pollution represents one of the most serious threats to marine ecosystems and human health - through the food chain.
§ Green transition in the Mediterranean - a sea connecting three continents and serving as a crossroad of cultures and people - addressing the challenge of transitioning to a sustainable future in the Mediterranean and "unlocking" benefits for marine ecosystems.
It is worth noting that the 9th OOC Conference will be the first Conference following the adoption of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, under the UN Law of the Sea Convention, known as the BBNJ Treaty, covering more than two-thirds of the oceans.
With the 9th OOC Conference, ocean issues remain at the top of the global agenda, while significant synergies are expected with upcoming high-level ocean-related events at the United Nations level.
In particular, the OOC-9 Conference aims to contribute to the high-level preparatory phase of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), to be held in Costa Rica in June 2024, and to the 3rd UNOC itself, which will take place in Nice, France, in June 2025. Thus, it paves the way for more coordinated action that will strengthen mechanisms and implementation means for the protection and sustainable management of oceans at a global level, actively supporting Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14).
Greece seeks substantial solutions for strengthening policies, governance, technology, and financing, with targeted actions for clean and healthy oceans. Recognizing the importance of extensive mobilization of all stakeholders, the 9th OOC Conference aims to continue its very successful trajectory and to leverage active participation with concrete, voluntary commitments from countries, entities, economic and social partners from around the world. This mobilization is expected to play a decisive role in finding innovative solutions and supporting science and financing for the oceans, which will be key components of the 3rd UNOC.
Greece, through global cooperation, aspires to contribute to a future where oceans are resilient and vibrant ecosystems, capable of ensuring prosperity for the present and the future.
The global community recognizes the serious and multiple threats and pressures our oceans face, as well as the need for immediate and effective actions. The 9th "Our Ocean Conference" in Greece leads the way in creating the dynamics for the effectiveness of these actions.
April 5, 2024