The United Nations Ocean Conference is a pivotal moment to drive international cooperation and collaboration 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.

Ocean Conservancy Delegation

• Janis Searles Jones – Chief Executive Officer
• Felipe Victoria – Senior Manager, Multilateral Affairs, International Government Relations
• Kacky Andrews – Chief Conservation Officer
• Anna-Marie Laura – Senior Director, Climate Policy
• Chris Dorsett – Vice President, Conservation
• Barbara ‘Wáahlaal Gidaag Blake – Vice President, Arctic and Northern Waters
• Hannah Pragnell-Raasch – Global Policy Lead, Global Ghost Gear Initiative
• Roya Fox – Senior Manager, Communications
• Alex Shahbazi – Senior Manager, Arctic Programs
• Henry Huntington – Director, Arctic Science
• Becca Robbins Gisclair – Senior Director, Arctic Programs
• Scott Highleyman – Senior Advisor, Ocean Conservancy Conservation

EVENTS

Blue Zone Events

Making Waves from Paris to Belém: Accelerating Ocean-Climate Action
Monday, June 9 | 2:00-3:15 PM (CEST)
Blue Zone, Room 2
This high-level event will celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. It will take stock of a decade of ocean-climate progress and explore ways to accelerate meaningful action, particularly through means of implementation.

Preventing and Significantly Reducing Marine Pollution of all Kinds, in Particular from Land-Based Activities
Tuesday, June 10 | 3:00-6:00 PM (CEST)
Blue Zone, Ocean Action Panel Plenary Room

Protecting the Ocean Twilight Zone: Driving Global Action for Biodiversity, Climate Stability and a Sustainable, Healthy Ocean
Friday, June 13 | 2:00-3:15 PM (CEST)
Blue Zone, Room 5

The Ocean Twilight Zone (OTZ) species play a critical role in regulating our climate and supporting healthy ecosystems. Ensuring that these species continue to thrive is essential to addressing the interconnected impacts of the triple planetary crisis: climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. This event will showcase the OTZ’s dazzling biodiversity and its role in carbon sequestration. It will also highlight the threats posed by marine pollution and the desire to develop new sources of fishmeal and fish oil. With high-level participation from the UN Secretary General Special Envoy for the Ocean Peter Thomson and the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity Astrid Shomaker, we will present a commitment to the conservation of the OTZ that addresses the global challenges facing our ocean.

Green Zone Events

Strengthening Coherence: Aligning Action on Ocean Governance, Plastic Pollution and Marine Biodiversity
Thursday, June 12 | 12:00-1:00 PM (CEST)
Green Zone, Costa Rica Pavilion

As the international community advances multiple global processes to safeguard the ocean, such as adopting the High Seas (BBNJ) Agreement, fishing subsidies reform, regulation of activities in the deep-sea and the negotiation of a plastic pollution treaty, it is imperative to ensure that these efforts are coherent, mutually reinforcing and ambitious enough to meet the scale of the challenges faced.

With the expected conclusion of the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution in mind, this side event will explore how to achieve ocean-related treaties fit for purpose in the era of the triple planetary crisis and shrinking planetary boundaries. It will highlight the interlinkages between emerging and existing multilateral agreements, with a particular focus on integrating ocean-related measures into the plastics treaty to ensure the effective ocean governance.

Other Events in Nice

Mobilizing Concrete Actions to Address the Triple Planetary Crisis
Tuesday, June 10 | 6:30-8:30 (CEST)
Hotel Le Saint Paul Nice, Salon Chagall

An evening reception hosted by Ocean Conservancy, Global Ghost Gear Initiative, Environmental Defense Fund, Marine Conservation Institute and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution focused on advancing concrete policy actions and tangible solutions for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14. The event will highlight efforts to address ghost gear—the most harmful form of marine plastic pollution—as well as strategies to safeguard the ocean’s biological carbon pump and deep-sea biodiversity. These interconnected issues are essential to maintaining healthy marine ecosystems and supporting the well-being of coastal communities around the world.

The Catch Live Podcast with Foreign Policy Magazine
Wednesday, June 11 | 1:30-3:00 PM (CEST)
Hotel Le Saint Paul Nice, Salon Matisse

This event featuring former Secretary of State and Special Presidential Envoy for Climate of the United States John F. Kerry, the UN Secretary General Special Envoy for the Ocean Peter Thomson, and our CEO Janis Searles Jones, will focus on the near term and long term actions needed to address some of the most important threats facing the ocean, including IUU fishing, climate change, and weak global governance that leaves local fishers vulnerable; the treaties and enforcement the international community can help advance to protect vulnerable nations; and, the new technologies that can lead to a more sustainable oceans.

Celebrate the Heart of the Arctic: A Reception to Raise Awareness of the Central Arctic Ocean
Wednesday, June 11 | 6:30-8:30 PM
Hotel Negresco, 7 Promenade Des Anglais

Ocean Conservancy, Oceans North, Tara Ocean Foundation and the Government of Canada are co-sponsoring this high-level reception focused on the Central Arctic Ocean. Highlighted during the reception will be remarks from leading Arctic and marine coastal states and prominent Arctic scientists launching a 1,000-plus strong open letter regarding the Central Arctic Ocean. Alongside high-level remarks, a special premiere of a short film regarding Indigenous Knowledge and science in the Central Arctic Ocean and never-before-seen 360-degree virtual reality footage of the Arctic Ocean will be highlighted.