The 20222 UN Ocean Conference, co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal was held in Lisbon Portugal from 27 June to 1 July. Liu Zhenmin, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, served as the Secretary-General of the Conference, and Miguel de Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, served as the Special Adviser to the Presidents of the Ocean Conference on the ocean and legal matters. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General attended the opening ceremony and delivered the keynote speech.

The theme of the Conference, “Scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation for the implementation of Goal 14: stocktaking, partnerships and solutions” in line with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, stresses the critical need for scientific knowledge and marine technology to build ocean resilience. To mobilize action, the Conference will seek to propel much needed science-based innovative solutions aimed at starting a new chapter of global ocean action. Solutions for a sustainably managed ocean involve green technology and innovative uses of marine resources. They also include addressing the threats to health, ecology, economy and governance of the ocean - acidification, marine litter and pollution, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and the loss of habitats and biodiversity.

“Sadly, we have taken the ocean for granted, and today we face what I would call an “Ocean Emergency”, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told delegates at the opening of the Conference. “We must turn the tide. A healthy and productive ocean is vital to our shared future.”

Human activities are placing the health of the ocean in peril. According to the World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Global Climate in 2021 Report, sea level rise, ocean heat, ocean acidification and greenhouse gas concentrations set new records in 2021. Additionally, marine pollution is increasing at an alarming rate, and if current trends continue, more than half of the world’s marine species may be all but extinct by 2100.

More than 20 Heads of State and Government together with thousands of young people, business leaders, scientists and civil society representatives, presented fresh, bold and innovative solutions to ignite transformational change to effectively address the challenges the ocean is facing.

In addition to the plenary sessions, there were eight Interactive Dialogues, which deep dived into salient areas such as addressing marine pollution, minimizing and addressing ocean acidification, deoxygenation and ocean warming and promoting and strengthening sustainable ocean-based economies, in particular for Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries. 

There were four Special Events and more than 250 side events. These special events focused on youth-led innovation, the sustainable blue economy, fresh- and saltwater interlinkages and ocean action at the local and regional level.

Amongst the outputs of the conference, countries have agreed on an action plan that calls for a collective global response to addressing the ocean’s degradation. The final draft of the Political Declaration, to be adopted at the closing plenary, sets out specific science-based and innovative actions, taking into account the capacity challenges of developing countries, in particular Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries.

Text and photo sources: un.org