As part of the upcoming UN Ocean Conference, which will take place in Nice from 9 to 13 June, significant importance will be given to the numerous side events organized by the UN system, intergovernmental organizations, and accredited non-governmental stakeholders.
The side events will be an opportunity for all participants to share knowledge and solutions to accelerate the implementation of SDG 14, identify new and emerging issues, exchange national and local experiences and practices, and showcase voluntary commitments under the Voluntary Ocean Commitments.
The side events will be closely aligned with the main theme of the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference: “Accelerating action and mobilizing all stakeholders to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.”
At this important event, UNEP/MAP and its partners will organize several significant side events.
The first, in chronological order, is titled “Our Ocean, Our Future, Our Responsibility: Accelerating Adaptation and Enhancing Resilience from the Mediterranean Lands to the Sea”, scheduled for 9 June.
This event, organized by the Ministry of Environment and Green Transition of the Republic of Croatia, PAP/RAC, UNEP/MAP, Plan Bleu, and SPA/RAC, will focus on understanding the ocean as the final recipient of all waters, connecting landscapes, communities, and ecosystems in an unbreakable cycle.
As the Mediterranean region faces increasing climate challenges – rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and compound flooding – our collective responsibility is to accelerate adaptation and build resilience from the land to the sea.
On 11 June, the side event titled “African Mediterranean Europe Cooperation” will take place, focusing on cooperation for sustainable ocean governance bringing together Africa, the Mediterranean, and Europe.
Organized by La Saison Bleue, Institut Océanographique Paul Ricard, Institut Jacques Delors, the EU Mission, BlueMissionMed, Blue Africa Summit, MedPAN, UFM, UNEP/MAP, Goumbook (MENA Ocean Summit), IRD, and the African Union, with participants including Pascal Lamy and Abdeljalil Lahjomri, this side event aims for the following results:
- Strengthened collaboration among participating countries
- Fruitful exchanges on best practices in ocean governance, marine protected areas, aquaculture practices, etc.
- A strong network of committed actors for sustainable ocean management
- Progress toward a more ambitious and structured Africa-Europe ocean partnership
- Attraction of investments for underfunded SDGs related to the blue economy
Finally, also on 11 June, the side event titled “Sharing Effective Lessons Learned and Case Studies in the Mediterranean Towards a Future-Ready Sea Basin: From the Regional to the Global Context” will take place, dedicated to highlighting the Mediterranean’s role in advancing the global ocean agenda through innovation, regional cooperation, and knowledge sharing.
This meeting, organized by the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, the Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR), REMPEC – UNEP/MAP, INFO/RAC – UNEP/MAP, BlueMissionMed CSA, and the European Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP), will highlight the strategic role of the Mediterranean in advancing a sustainable and resilient ocean economy.
It will describe how regional cooperation can effectively contribute to the global ocean agenda and promote an integrated approach to transformation and sustainable development through:
- Effective case studies in renewable energy, sustainable maritime transport, eco-tourism, and marine conservation and restoration
- Regional leadership and knowledge-sharing, particularly in the context of the Barcelona Convention and contributions to achieving SDG 14
- Systemic innovation, supported by both EU and non-EU partners, leveraging initiatives such as the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP) and BlueMissionMed, part of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters”
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1. Our Ocean, Our Future, Our Responsibility: Accelerating Adaptation and Enhancing Resilience from the Mediterranean Lands to the Sea
9 June 2025 – Nice, France
17:30 – 18:45
Room 3, Blue Zone
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2. African–Mediterranean–Europe Cooperation: Cooperation for Sustainable Ocean Governance
Wednesday, 11 June 2025 – Nice, France
12:15 – 13:30
Room 1, Blue Zone
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3. Sharing Effective Lessons Learned and Case Studies in the Mediterranean Towards a Future-Ready Sea Basin: From the Regional to the Global Context
Wednesday, 11 June 2025 – Nice, France
15:45 – 17:00 CEST
Room (TBD), Blue Zone
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