The ocean plays a key role in human existence; it is essential for our survival, well-being and prosperity. It provides food, regulates our climate, and generates most of the oxygen we breathe. It also serves much of the world’s economy, supporting sectors from tourism to fisheries and to international shipping while it is connected to our culture and is a major source of inspiration. However, the health of seas and the ocean, and of marine ecosystems in particular, is threatened by unsustainable practices such as discharges of wastewater and marine litter, unregulated and unreported fishing, unsustainable shipping and tourism activities. To mitigate the negative impacts from human interventions and improve the current state of our oceans, it is essential to join efforts on a global scale.
Collaboration among nations, NGOs, private entities, academia, professional groups, civil society organizations and more, is of paramount importance for implementing effective solutions, fostering sustainable practices, and safeguarding the delicate equilibrium of our oceans.
Greece will host the 9th Our Ocean Conference in 2024 in Athens, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, on the 16th and 17th of April. The Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit will be held parallel to the main conference, starting the day before, on the 15th of April.
By hosting the 9th Our Ocean Conference, Greece reaffirms its commitment to transition to a “Blue economy” to harness the advantages of a new balance between economic development (growth), social cohesion, and sustainability as well as addressing some key challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change, unsustainable fishing, marine pollution especially from plastics, and unsustainable maritime transport.
Attendance to the conference is by invitation only and is extended exclusively to representatives from countries, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, academia, philanthropists, and the private sector, with a dedicated commitment to the protection of the ocean. If your organization aligns with this focus, we welcome you to submit a detailed description of your organization, along with information about the delegation and the delegate’s position within the organization.