📅 6 – 8 April 2022
Online / Geneva, Switzerland
The ocean’s resources sustain the livelihoods of about 3 billion people worldwide, the vast majority of whom live in developing countries. But those livelihoods are under threat, as the ocean and its ability to sustain life are in grave danger due to human activities, such as pollution and overfishing.
Every year, an estimated 5 to 12 million metric tonnes of plastic flow into the ocean, which represents 95% of our planet’s biosphere. And due to overfishing, the percentage of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels fell from 90% in 1990 to less than 66% in 2017.
The 4th Oceans Forum, to be held from 6 to 8 April 2022, is a unique platform to identify ways to change course. It’s an opportunity to find solutions for using trade as a tool to protect the ocean and its resources, accelerating the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14’s trade-related targets.
Topics
The high-level opening of the Oceans Forum will tackle challenges and opportunities for the ocean economy to contribute to a sustainable and resilient post-COVID-19 recovery for all countries.
During three days, the forum will convene experts and representatives from United Nations agencies, regional bodies, governments, civil society organizations, and research and scientific institutions to address the following topics:
- Emerging sustainable ocean economy sectors, such as seaweed production
- Transparency and fish subsidies support mechanisms
- Ocean economy markets and non-tariff measures reform
- Social sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture value chains
- Sustainable and resilient maritime supply chains
- Trade-related aspects of marine litter and plastic pollution