Next week, from March 1st-4th the 9th annual World Ocean Summit Virtual Week will gather more than 150 leading expert speakers, including John Kerry, US special presidential envoy for climate, and 5,000 attendees to discuss what needs to be done to achieve 2030 targets for the ocean. Attendees can join the summit from anywhere in the world, free of charge. Please visit the website for more information and register here.
Peter Thomson, the UN secretary-general’s special envoy for the ocean, may have said it best during the One Ocean Summit in February: “We must not squander the confluence of game-changing opportunities for ocean health that 2022 presents”.
The One Ocean Summit set the scene for a number of transformational ocean events that could “turn the tide” for ocean health and the blue economy this year.
The UN will also host several crucial events this year, including a critical session of the intergovernmental committee aimed at creating a Treaty for the High Seas in March, the UN Ocean Conference in June, and COP27 in November.
| Upcoming event: The 9th annual World Ocean Summit Virtual Week: Achieving 2030 targets, March 1st–4th 2022 Next week, learn from industry pioneers as they reflect on the progress that has been made and the additional actions needed to safeguard the ocean. This year’s summit will analyse six crucial industry tracks: shipping, fishing, aquaculture, energy, tourism and plastics. More than 150 speakers—including climate activists, senior government officials from Portugal, Belize, the UAE and the Maldives, representatives from the UN, industry leaders and investors—will share their knowledge and offer dynamic and practical ideas for the future. View the agenda and find out more here |
| Speakers include: • Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy secretary-general, UN and chair, UN Sustainable Development Group • John Kerry, United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate • Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, Minister of marine affairs and fisheries, Indonesia • Ana Gascon, World without waste director, Coca-Cola |
Recent highlights from the World Ocean Initiative:
| Big ocean moments: What to expect in 2022 What can higher education offer to those seeking a career in the ocean space? The future of blue education must be interdisciplinary, writes Juliette Lee, Master of Environmental Management candidate, Duke University. Read more |
| Looking back at WOS 2021: How ocean governance enables sustainability As we gear up for the 9th annual World Ocean Summit, we take a look back at the key discussions around ocean governance from WOS 2021. How can we move the conversation forward to make 2022 a “super year” for the ocean? Read more |
| Why we need to tackle the ocean funding crisis Ocean action deserves deep pockets, but there seems to be a disconnect between the value of the ocean economy and a willingness to invest in blue initiatives, says World Ocean Summit speaker, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, secretary-general of the Commonwealth. Read more |
| Podcast: How banks and insurance companies can help Nature-based Solutions Head of the World Ocean Initiative Martin Koehring joins ocean leaders to discuss financing marine and coastal conservation and restoration. Listen to episode eight of “Investing for Ocean Impact” from the Blue Natural Capital Financing Facility (BNCFF). Read more |