Gemma Parkes, Communications Lead, Ocean Action Agenda, World Economic Forum, +41 79 305 2977, gpa@weforum.org
· At the close of the Virtual Ocean Dialogues, global leaders signed the Ocean Super Year Declaration, calling for urgent action to protect the health of the ocean in a crucial year.
· This week’s high-level summit also saw the launch of the UpLink Ocean Blue Food Challenge and the Ocean Health Youth Council to promote under represented and overlooked voices
· Watch sessions on-demand here and learn more about this week’s summit
Geneva, Switzerland, 26 May 2021 – At the close of the Virtual Ocean Dialogues, global leaders called for ocean health to be fast-tracked at all environmental summits and action taken to protect the health of the ocean in a crucial year. The signing of the Ocean Super Year Declaration was one of the outcomes of the second summit hosted by the World Economic Forum, Friends of Ocean Action and the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean.
“This extraordinary group of ocean leaders is highlighting a once-in-a-generation opportunity this year, and the great responsibility that lies in the hands of decision-makers to take bold, ambitious and game-changing ocean decisions in many of the upcoming pivotal meetings and summits. This is an opportune moment for not just the Friends, but all of us, to speak in unison, and call for ocean action that is good for people and planet,” said Kristian Teleki, Director of Friends of Ocean Action.
The Virtual Ocean Dialogues also saw the launch of The Blue Food Challenge as part of UpLink Ocean. UpLink is the Forum’s crowd-engagement platform connecting entrepreneurs to the networks, resources and expertise needed to turn their ideas into actions. Unlike other accelerators, UpLink is open to anyone that has an idea to help us achieve the SDGs. The Challenge calls for solutions to support global food systems through nutritional, sustainable, ethical and economically viable blue food. Submissions are welcome from 25 May to 22 June.
The Ocean Health Youth Council, led by the Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) with Friends of Ocean Action, will create a mentoring programme for youth voices and provide opportunities for active participation in the development of Friends of Ocean Action’s impact pillars. The collaboration aims at bringing a fresh perspective from youth voices in the ocean agenda, connecting a diverse network of young stakeholders to policy, science, and business into an inclusive platform.
The 2021 Virtual Ocean Dialogues are part of a 3-day high-level virtual forum convened by the World Economic Forum, the Mission Possible Partnership and Friends of Ocean Action, together with the United Kingdom's Presidency of the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26), the UN High-Level Champions for COP26 and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean. The Climate Breakthroughs on Thursday 27 May seek to mobilize progress and sector breakthroughs to realize a 45% reduction in annual emissions by 2030 and net-zero global emissions before 2050, including a session on decarbonizing shipping with the Getting to Zero Coalition.
Friends of Ocean Action is a coalition of 65 ocean leaders who are fast-tracking solutions to the most pressing challenges facing the ocean. Its members come from business, civil society, international organizations, science and technology. It is hosted by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with the World Resources Institute.
Notes to editors:
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