It begins at the Busan Exhibition and Conventions Center (Bexco), in the Republic of Korea, the 10th Conference Our Ocean (Our Ocean ConferenceOoc). A space where world leaders, political leaders, scientists, defenders of indigenous peoples, youth leaders and civil society representatives around the world meet in favor of a meeting in favor of the Ocean and climate leadership
This year’s appointment will take place under the motto “Our ocean, our action” and will serve as Unique platform to evaluate the progress made in the field of ocean protection, as well as to replicate success models and generate new commitments to continue maintaining such care of marine natural spaces.
And it is not something trivial. It is of the utmost importance Coordinate worldwide efforts Given the urgent need to care for and protect this ecosystem. Let us remember that the ocean It covers more than 70% of the earth’s surface and supports life on our planet. Among its benefits is the climate, absorbing more than 90% of excess heat retained by greenhouse gases, supporting world food systems and Promote the blue economy.
The Conference “Our Ocean” starts
World leaders, political leaders, interested parties, scientists, defenders of indigenous peoples, youth leaders and civil society representatives around the world will congregate yesterday at the Busan Exhibition and Conventions Center (Bexco), in the Republic of Korea to start the beginning of the 10th Conference Our Ocean (Our Ocean ConferenceOOC), a crucial moment for action in favor of the ocean and climate leadership.
Under the motto «Our ocean, our action», The 10th anniversary of the conference will provide a unique platform to evaluate the progress made, replicate success models and generate new commitments for ocean protection.
«The tenth conference will focus mainly on the achievements and success stories of the last 10 years, while setting the course of international cooperation for the next decade. The conference will be a significant moment for international cooperation and will lay the foundations for our collective efforts to fight for our common future“He said DO-HYUNG KANG, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea.
The benefits of taking care of the ocean
He had never been so urgent and necessary before Coordinate worldwide efforts. He ocean It covers more than 70% of the earth’s surface and supports life on our planet. Regulates the climate, absorbing more than 90% of the excess heat retained by greenhouse gases, supports world food systems and drives the blue economy.
And yet unprecedented threat. The combined effects of heating and water acidification, as well as non -sustainable anthropogenic activities, are degrading marine ecosystems and accelerating the loss of biodiversity, with enormous consequences for coastal communities, food security and ocean -based economies.
The Conference Our Ocean has become the world leading platform for voluntary action of great impact in favor of the ocean. Has generated More than 2,600 commitmentshas contributed to the creation of Protected marine areas (AMP), has promoted the ratification of key agreements such as High seas And he has advanced the Sustainable Blue Economy. Almost half of the protected marine areas created worldwide were first announced at the our Ocean conference.
For the first time in its history, Conference 2025 will make a public a Detailed evaluation of the commitments contracted since the first edition. The report, prepared by the World Resources Institute (World Resources InstituteWRI), shows that, of the 160,000 million USD promised to date through the our ocean conference, More than 133,000 million USD of financing have already been disbursed or are in the process of mobilization. This includes financing efforts, among others, to protect marine biodiversity and combat illegal fishing, although a significant part of funds has been used for projects on the oceanic climate that use ocean -based solutions to achieve a reduction in emissions and adaptation to climate change.
These voluntary commitments are increasingly relevant because they complement recent international agreements and multilateral ambitions related to the ocean.
Only only one month ago, the Republic of Korea became the 21st nation that ratified the Treaty about the high seas. Although the treaty requires the approval of 60 countries to enter into force, Busan’s impulse is expected to remain until the United Nations Conference on the Ocean, that will be held next June in the French town of Nice, and There is an increasing conviction that the treaty will soon enter into force.
Looking at the future of the ocean: of the possibility to the impact
With adequate financial support, ocean -based solutions could provide up to 35% of the necessary emission reductions from here to 2050 to achieve climatic objectives. However, unlocking that potential will require an investment of 2 billion USD throughout the next two decades.
Taking advantage of the fact that leaders and experts gather for the 10th Conference Our Ocean, let’s ensure that the event not only serves to celebrate a decade of action, but also constitutes a call to accelerate the passage and incorporate more regions and more voices to the World Work Agenda on the Ocean, especially from Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and South Asia.
«We have already shown that multilateral cooperation is possible, we must now provide it with ambition, speed and magnitude. The health of our ocean is not just an environmental issue, it also has deep consequences for human health, economic stability and world security. The decisions we make today will determine if our ocean can continue supporting us tomorrow“He said Tom Pickerell, World Director of the Ocean program of the Institute of World Resources (WRI).
The conference “Our Ocean”
The Conference Our Ocean brings together approximately 1000 global leaders from various sectors, including heads of state and high -level government officials of more than 100 countries, and representatives of more than 400 international and non -profit organizations. Together, they analyze diverse and concrete actions for Achieve a sustainable ocean.
From the inauguration of the conference our ocean in the United States in 2014, More than 2600 voluntary commitments were announced in subsequent conferences made in Chile, the European Union, Indonesia, Norway, Palaos and Greece. Today, the conference serves as a leading platform to establish global oceanic standards.
OOC’s key achievements include expanding protected marine areas, reducing marine plastics pollution, eradicating illegal fishing, not informed and not regulated (IUU), reducing the lost and discarded fishing equipment, ratifying the high seas treaty, Support the research, science and technology of the ocean, and address the impact of climate change on the ocean.