Keeping the Momentum for Ocean Action Webinar Series
The 2020 United Nations Ocean Conference has been postponed, but the substantive preparations for the Conference continue. Keeping stakeholders mobilized to bring their contribution and commitment will be critical in the lead up to the event. In preparation to the Conference, UN DESA is organizing a “Keeping the Momentum for Ocean Action” webinar series to bring perspectives from stakeholders from different sectors and all regions of the world in support to SDG 14 implementation.
This series of sectorial webinars will connect, mobilize and bring new ideas from stakeholders towards the preparation and outreach of the UN Ocean Conference, including the compilation of new Commitments of Ocean Action and progress on previous commitments. Webinars are being planned to mobilize youth, local and regional governments, Asia-Pacific stakeholders and the private sector.
YOUTH WEBINAR – 14 MAY 2020
UN DESA, the Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth (OSGEY), the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN NGLS), the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY), and Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) co-hosted this event on 14 May, 2020. The webinar worked to mobilize representatives from youth, share information and collect ideas and proposals on how to keep the momentum towards Ocean Action and the engagement of youth stakeholders in the preparatory process of the 2020 UN Ocean Conference.
PRIVATE SECTOR WEBINAR – 21 MAY 2020
UN DESA, with the UN Global Compact and in collaboration with the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS), will mobilize representatives from the private sector, share information and collect ideas and proposals on how to keep the momentum towards Ocean Action and the engagement of private sector stakeholders in the preparatory process of the 2020 UN Ocean Conference.
As a new world will emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the webinar will particularly assess the role of the ocean and ocean-based industries for the world to recover better and implement the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.
The Private Sector webinar will begin with a keynote message from UNSG’s Special Envoy for the Ocean Peter Thomson, followed by a session with interventions from 2-3 key private sector stakeholders. An interactive session will follow based on the ideas and challenges presented by the speakers. DSDG will prepare summaries of all webinars and post recordings, presentations and interventions online.
ASIA-PACIFIC WEBINAR – 3 JUNE 2020 (Bangkok time)
UN DESA, with the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), will mobilize stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region, share information and collect ideas and proposals on how to keep the momentum towards Ocean Action and the engagement of stakeholders in Asia-Pacific in the preparatory process of the UN Ocean Conference.
The thematic scope of the webinar will include some of the pressing environmental challenges in the Asia-Pacific region, in particular:
- Marine Plastic pollution: Considering the large volumes of plastic production and consumption in the region, stakeholders such as the private sector and individuals have the capacity to reduce the demand for plastics and catalyze a transformation in the plastic industry by changing social norms and shifting towards a plastic-free economy.
- Ocean and Climate synergies: The discussion on the role of the ocean moderating climate change and the interlinkage between SDG14 and SDG13 embraces the active role of all stakeholders. The carbon footprint on land carries impacts on the ocean. All stakeholders, including those in landlocked countries, may mitigate this burden through changes in consumption and lifestyles in urban and rural areas on land, which would consequently benefit the ocean.
The virtual event will provide participants with an opportunity to exchange perspectives on the active role of stakeholders in advancing the 2030 Agenda and the ocean-related SDGs. The Asia-Pacific stakeholder webinar will begin with a keynote message from UNSG’s Special Envoy for the Ocean Peter Thomson, followed by a session with interventions from 2-3 key stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region. An interactive session will follow based on the ideas and challenges presented by the speakers.
