Background
In anticipation of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) will convene a High-Level Retreat on Investing in Ocean Solutions: Towards a Brighter Future for the Ocean. The Retreat will be held in Incheon, Republic of Korea, from 14 to 15 January 2025 at Sheraton Hotel.
This high-level retreat will serve as a precursor to UNOC3 and aims to provide opportunities for Communities of Ocean Action (COAs) to review, reinvigorate, and reorganize their efforts by aligning priorities with the co-hosts of UNOC3 and forging coalitions with key stakeholders. The Retreat will offer an informal yet substantive platform for principals of the Communities of Ocean Action, representatives of the UNOC 3 co-hosts, and key stakeholders to Share Information on Recent Developments, Foster Interaction with Stakeholders, Practitioners and VC Holders, Brainstorm Pathways Forward and Enhance substantive preparations for the UNOC3.
The COAs, established following the 2017 UN Ocean Conference, have been instrumental in advancing the implementation of Voluntary Commitments (VCs) for concrete action to advance implementation of SDG 14. The online registry of VCs, managed by UNDESA, currently hosts over 2,100 commitments from governments, UN entities, philanthropic organizations, NGOs, and other stakeholders.
For more information, please visit: https://sdgs.un.org/topics/oceans-and-seas/coas
14 JANUARY: SETTING THE STAGE FOR UNOC3
Curtain Raiser: Live Puppetry Performance - The Shadow of the Sea by TUTOUT
Master of Ceremony: Ms. Xin Feng, Sustainable Development Officer, Natural Resources and Interlinkages Branch, Division for Sustainable Development Goals, UNDESA
Opening Session: Charting the Course for a Sustainable Ocean Future
- Welcome Address by Mr. Li Junhua, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs
- Keynote Speeches by cohosts of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, Amb. Gina Guillen, Director General for Foreign Policy, Special Presidential Envoy for the Ocean of Costa Rica&Amb. Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, Ambassador for the Poles and Maritime issues, Special Envoy of the French President for the Third United Nations Ocean Conference(virtual)
- H.E. Mr. Kang Do-Hyung, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, Republic of Korea
- Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of UNESCAP (virtual)
Panel Discussion 1: Challenges and opportunities inherent in an inter-linked agenda
• Ocean’s role in the broader inter-linked agenda: interlinkages and trade-offs between SDG14 and other SDGs, as well as ocean’s crucial role in addressing triple planetary crisis
- H.E. Ms. Tania Romualdo, Permanent Representative of Cabo Verde to the United Nation: share the co-facilitators’ vision for UNOC3 political declaration
- Amb. Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean
- Mr. Henry Gonzalez, Chief Investment Officer, Green Climate Fund (GCF)
- Mr. Manuel Barange, Assistant DG and Director of Fisheries Division, FAO (virtual)
- Moderator: - Ms. Madhushree Chatterjee, Chief of Natural Resources and Interlinkages Branch, Division for Sustainable Development Goals, UNDESA [PDF]
- Q&A
Fireside Chat: From ABAS to Nice Ocean Action Plan-Synergies and Priorities
- H.E. Mr. Walton Alfonso Webson, Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the UN [PDF]
- H.E. Mr. Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Dr Pa’olelei Luteru, (Samoa), Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)
- Mr. Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Conference SecretaryGeneral of SIDS4 and UNOC3
- Moderator: Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean
Panel Discussion 2: Innovation and Collaboration: Designing the Path Forward for COA 2.0
- Presentation by Dr. Marjo Vierros on key findings of Implementation of Voluntary Commitments and their impact [PDF]
• Discuss strategies for revitalizing COA efforts in the lead-up to the Nice Conference and transition towards COA2.0 post- Conference
- Visions of the Cohosts of UNOC3 and Ambassador Peter Thomson
- Presentation on the status of COAs and discussions with COA co-focal points and Sherpas
- Prof. Steve Widdicombe, COA on Ocean Acidification [PDF]
- Mr. Francis Staub, COA on Coral Reefs
- Ms. Kirsten Isensee, IOC UNESCO- COA on Scientific Knowledge, Research Capacity Development and Transfer of Marine Technology[PDF]
- Mr. Pepe Clarke, WWF, COA on Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Management [PDF]
- Ms. Madhushree Chatterjee, COA on Sustainable Blue Economy and Moderator
- Q&A
Panel Discussion 3: BBNJ and Plastic Treaty negotiations - Sustaining Momentum and Doubling Efforts for Ocean Governance
- Amb. Gina Guillen, Special Presential Envoy on UNOC3 of Costa Rica
- Mr. Stephen Mathias Acting Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel: the implications of the new BBNJ Agreement, its potential impacts, and next steps for implementation.
- Ms. Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution and Head of the Secretariat: An update on the ongoing negotiations for the international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution, and the challenges and opportunities ahead
- Mr. Mahesh Pradhan, UNEP COBSEA(Coordinating Body for the Seas of East Asia) Coordinator: presenting on promoting Regional Ocean Governance
- Mr. Sergio Carvalho, Oceano Azul Foundation
- Q&A
Wrap-Up of Day 1
• Summary of key takeaways from the day's sessions and an outline of the agenda for Day 2
- Ms. Madhushree Chatterjee, Chief of Natural Resources and Interlinkages Branch, Division for Sustainable Development Goals, UNDESA
15 JANUARY: DEEP DIVE INTO OCEAN SOLUTIONS
Special Session: Dialogue with Stakeholders -Voices for Action
• An inclusive dialogue session with representatives from coastal communities, indigenous peoples, NGOs, and the private sector sharing their insights and solutions.
- H.E. Ms. Tania Romualdo, Permanent Representative of Cabo Verde
- Ms. Céline Kahn, Oceano Azul Foundation
- Ms. Trina Leberer, Director for Pacific Regional Partnerships, The Nature Conservancy
- Ms. Anjali D. Boyd, Representatives from Youth [PDF]
- Ms. Naiara Costa, Senior Sustainable Development Officer, Outreach and Partnership Branch, Division for Sustainable Development Goals, UNDESA on stakeholder engagement in the preparatory process leading up to UNOC 3 and their key role towards the implementation of SDG14 [PDF]
- Interactive discussion moderated by Ms. Naiara Costa
Panel Discussion 4: Ocean-Based Solutions for Climate Change and Biodiversity
• Exploration of nature-based solutions, including blue carbon, marine protected areas, and ecosystem restoration as strategies to combat climate change and biodiversity loss.
- Prof. Steve Widdicombe, Co-chair of the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON) Executive Council
- Dr Abdulaziz Alsuwailem, Chief Conservation and Strategy Officer,General Organization for Conservation of Coral Reefs and Turtles in the Red Sea (SHAMS),co-Chair of International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) [PDF]
- Mr. Pepe Clarke, Ocean Practice Team Lead, WWF
- Prof. Hyeong-Gi Kim, Assistant Professor, Department of Marine Environmental Sciences, Chungnam National University [PDF]
- Moderator: Mr. Ganbold Baasanjav, Head of the UN ESCAP East and North-East Asia Office UNESCAP
- Q&A
Panel Discussion 5: Investing in Ocean-Based Economies- Unlocking Sustainable Investment Opportunities
• Insights into the potential of the blue economy, investment opportunities, and strategies to drive sustainable economic growth in coastal and ocean-based sectors in a way that promotes environmental conservation and social inclusion, leaving no one behind.
- Amb. Webson, Permanent Representative of Antigua & Barbuda to the UN [PDF]
- Mr. Pierre Bardoux, Director, Nature Asset Team &Global Funds for Coral Reefs (GFCR/Alternate)
- Ms. Lena Kern, Senior Marine Ecosystems Management Specialist, Green Climate Fund (GCF)
- Ms. Cynthia Barzuna, Director, Ocean Action 2030 Coalition, Ocean Program, World Resources Institute (WRI)
- Moderator: Dr. Marjo Vierros, Director of Coastal Policy and Humanities Research
- Q&A
Panel Discussion 6: Bridging Gaps: From Science to Policy to Practice
• Experts discuss how to effectively integrate scientific research, traditional knowledge, policy frameworks, and community initiatives to achieve tangible results in ocean sustainability.
- Mr. Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission UNESCO (video message)
- Rear Admiral Luigi Sinapi, Director, International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)[PDF]
- Dr. Marjo Vierros, Director of Coastal Policy and Humanities Research
- Dr. David Obura from Kenya, the chair of IPBES and a coral reef scientist [PDF]
- Moderator: Ms. Kirsten Isensee, IOC UNESCO
- Q&A
Closing Session: The Road Ahead for Nice
• Summary of key insights from the workshop with inputs from participants on Padlet : UNDESA
- Closing Remarks by Amb. Thomson
