The United Nations Ocean Conference is a pivotal moment to drive international cooperation and collaboration in order to protect our ocean from the many compounding threats it faces today. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water provides a valuable framework for how we can achieve a sustainable ocean and this year’s conference will provide a forum for countries to jointly work towards that goal.

Not only is our ocean a place of irreplaceable biodiversity and natural wonder, it’s also an economic engine, source of food and the planet’s largest carbon sink. We are all ocean people in one way or another and that’s why Ocean Conservancy is excited to be a part of the UN Ocean Conference and build momentum for further ocean action particularly in these key areas: plastic pollution, marine debris, sustainable ocean planning, climate change and shipping.

As we continue to work towards a sustainable future we must continue to elevate and include the voices of those communities that have been historically marginalized and experienced the worst of the effects of climate change, plastic pollution, air pollution and other environmental crises facing our ocean and planet. Achieving a sustainable future and ensuring a healthy ocean will help provide new economic opportunities, cleaner air and water, and improve the resilience of communities around the world.