Background
The 2022 UN Ocean Conference offers a unique opportunity for cities and regions to mobilize and demonstrate leadership in taking action to protect our ocean and ensure that the ocean and its accompanying coasts are sustainably managed.
Local and regional governments, and their associations and networks, recognize that the protection of the ocean is pivotal to the conservation of common and natural resources. Ocean and maritime ecosystems are a paramount source of biodiversity, food and jobs, and represent cultural values deeply embodied by traditional communities, islands and coastal cities. The Special Event will be an opportunity to stress the presence of ‘urban-ocean linkages’, and how local and regional governments should be engaged in global efforts and decisions to protect the ocean and maritime resources, including food. The Special Event will also highlight the crucial role of multi-level governance and multi-stakeholder collaboration to strengthen the science-policy interface, as well as to improve data systems and seek innovative solutions at all levels.
This Special Event will create an opportunity for local and regional governments and their networks, national governments, and other stakeholders to exchange experiences and good practices of SDG 14 implementation at the local level. It will be a space for local and regional governments and other stakeholders to announce specific Ocean Action Commitments. Additionally, it will facilitate a discussion on opportunities and initiatives that can support sustainable adaptation for coastal cities and regions, including financing innovation and scaling up Ocean protection.
This Special Event is hosted by the co-hosts of the 2022 UN Ocean Conference, the Governments of Portugal and Kenya, together with the City of Matosinhos, and organized in collaboration with UN DESA, UN Global Compact, the Climate Champions Team and networks of local and regional governments gathered in the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments, ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability, Regions4, Ocean & Climate Platform, the OECD, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG),Resilient Cities Network and the International Association Cities & Ports (AIVP).
Statements
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Ms. Ana Paula Vitorino, President of Mobility and Transport Authority and former Minister of the Sea, Portugal (in Portuguese)
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Senator Marc. R. Pacheco, Massachusetts, United States of America
Announcements
Please check out the logistic note and the draft agenda under the "Documentation" tab!
Background notes for each session are now available on the website.
Make sure to check the "Documentation" tab on this website!
Registration for this Special Event is now closed. Registered participants will receive confirmation from the Secretariat soon.
(Please note: registering for this event does not grant you access to the main 2022 UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon)
Background Notes
Logistics Information
Concept Note
Programme
Photo: Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean, passing the "Nature's Baton" to Ms Luísa Salgueiro, Mayor of Matosinhos
This event will be hosted by the City of Matosinhos, in the northern Porto district of Portugal.
Event venue:
Porto Cruise Terminal (South Cruise Terminal).
Address:
Rua do Godinho (main entrance next to the Senhor do Padrão monument)
4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
For more information about the host city, please check here.