| Location: | Hybrid (United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok / Zoom) |
| Date/Time: | 30 November 2022, 1400 – 1630 (Bangkok time, verify local times here) |
BACKGROUND
In line with resolution ESCAP/RES/76/1 on “Strengthening cooperation to promote the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific,” the Fifth Asia-Pacific Day for the Ocean will provide a platform for member States, and key stakeholders, for systematic and inclusive dialogue on priority areas and challenges in our region.
OBJECTIVE
This “super year” for the ocean has brought the One Ocean Summit (Brest), Our Ocean Conference (Palau), the Second UN Ocean Conference (Lisbon), the review of SDG14 during the High-level Political Forum and the 9th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development. As we approach the end of the year, the Day for the Ocean will provide an opportunity to reflect on the outcomes of these major developments, and to discuss accelerated action in the Asia-Pacific region to meet the targets of SDG14 by 2030.
This year, ESCAP will host the Seventh Session of the Committee on Environment and Development at ministerial level, with a focus on “Protecting our Planet through Regional Cooperation and Solidarity in Asia and the Pacific” from 29 November to 1 December 2022. On this occasion, the outcomes of the discussions held during the Day for the Ocean will feed into a Ministerial Roundtable to take place on 1 December 2022, which will serve as a Regional dialogue on the future of our Ocean in Asia-Pacific. At the end of the Day for the Ocean, a designated rapporteur will summarize the key messages to be reported the following day
Participants may leverage this platform to showcase ocean initiatives that may align with the Ocean Decade, and potentially benefit from additional support from other sectoral groups. Furthermore, stakeholders may report progress made on voluntary commitments, and new initiatives.
In anticipation for the event, a campaign will be launched, inviting participants to register nominees for the award of “Asia-Pacific Ocean Youth Champion”. During the event, ESCAP will announce the winner of the 2022 Ocean Youth Champion award, as a result of this campaign.
PROGRAMME
The Fifth Asia-Pacific Day for the Ocean will take place on 30 November 2022 in a hybrid modality. With the support of partner organizations, the program will offer a plenary opening, including a keynote speech from a high-level speaker who will discuss the main challenges and opportunities for the protection and sustainable development of the ocean in Asia-Pacific. This will be followed by a selection of thematic interactive dialogues, which will focus on:
- Ocean Governance
- Maritime Connectivity
- Ocean Data and Statistics
- Ocean and climate synergies
After the interactive dialogues, participants will return to the plenary session, which will offer a space to collect feedback from each interactive dialogue, and to share sectoral developments.
TARGET AUDIENCE/PARTICIPANTS
- Civil Society Organizations (including the youth and ocean protection NGOs)
- Private sector companies
- Students and staff of educational and academic entities
- Scientific community
- Intergovernmental bodies and regional organizations
- Local and national governments
Register here (Zoom connection details will be sent to registered participants 48 hours before the event).
