Our Ocean Conferences
The Our Ocean Conference (OOC) was first launched under the initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the Secretary of State John Kerry in 2014, aiming to fill in the then-existing gap in global ocean governance.
In 2015, the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2012) that represents a universal plan of action for people, planet and prosperity aiming to transform our world and place it on a sustainability pathway by 2030, and especially the adoption of SDG 14 on «life below water», has been a key milestone for recognizing that healthy oceans and seas are essential to our existence and that the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources are of paramount importance for ensuring all three dimensions -environmental, social and economic – of sustainable development.
Since its launching, the OOC has gradually become an overarching forum for dialogue that brings together governments, intergovernmental organizations, academia, the private sector, and NGOs that share a common vision for the protection of the oceans and take action to support this vision.
Our Ocean Conference provides an opportunity for ocean leaders and stakeholders to discuss and address the challenges our ocean faces and to demonstrate ocean conservation leadership by making policy, science, funding, partnership, and collaboration commitments that will set us on a path to a sustainable future.
After the 4th Conference edition in Malta in 2017, the decision to bring the 9th Our Ocean Conference back to the Mediterranean holds profound significance. The Mediterranean Sea, often regarded as the cradle of civilization, a symbol of history and culture, a crossroad between three continents, traditionally connecting people and shaping co-existence, plays a central role in the Our Ocean Conference legacy and journey. Its inclusion in the Conference circuit, at this particular point in time, underscores the pressing need to address the unique challenges and opportunities presented by this environmentally and culturally unique and rich region.
The Mediterranean Sea serves as a microcosm of global maritime issues, encompassing challenges like sustainable tourism, green shipping, marine pollution, and the broader green transition.
Photo from 8th Our Ocean Conference (March 2023)
