The One Ocean Science Congress and UN Ocean Conference III
Researchers of Ocean Justice and the Blue Economy Project, Dr Celine Germond-Duret (PI) and Dr Senia Febrica will be present at the One Ocean Science Congress and the UN Ocean Conference III.
One Ocean Science Congress
The One Ocean Science Congress is a UN Ocean Conference III Special Event dedicated to science, and to provide Heads of State, Government, and the broader society, with comprehensive scientific insights on the Ocean’s health and future trajectory.
As part of the Congress Dr Celine Germond-Duret will deliver an oral presentation titled ‘Co-creating a just and inclusive blue economy: an analysis of ocean justice in academic literature, policy and legislation’ in One Ocean Science Congress in-person session ‘T10-8 – Voices of local actors, public awareness and education’.
Date : Wednesday, 4 June 2025
Time : 14:10 Central European Summer Time.
Venue : Room 3, Quai Infernet at Port Lympia, Nice, France.
UN Ocean Conference III
The high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (the 2025 UN Ocean Conference) will be co-hosted by France and Costa Rica and held in Nice, France, from 9 – 13 June 2025.
You are warmly welcome to join our side-events during the Conference!
Ocean justice: Championing fair and inclusive blue economy
When: Monday, 9 June 2025, 13:00-14:30 in Nice
Venue: NEO – art & culture lab x Vogel ART
VogelART LAB SARL
6 bis rue Lascaris, 06300, Nice, France
Register here to attend the side-event.
As discussion around sustainable use of the ocean expands, it is critical to deepen our understanding about justice within new developments in the marine environment (Germond-Duret et al., 2023). Little attention has been given to the lived experience of ocean-dependent communities who are particularly at risk of social injustice and dispossession, and to their very definition and understanding of the notion of ocean justice (Bennett et al, 2023). This solution-focused event will explore how different speakers and participants understand ocean justice and the obstacles to achieve inclusive blue economy. The meeting will provide an avenue for participants to share their innovation and best practices that could serve as viable routes to ocean justice.
Chair:
Senia Febrica, Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion, Lancaster University
Speakers:
- E. Arief Havas Oegroseno, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (keynote speaker)
- Dr Francois Bailet, United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of The Sea (UNDOALOS)
- Dr Celine Germond-Duret, Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion, Lancaster University
- A representative of the Government of Fiji (tbc)
- Lysa Wini, Sky Islands, Niatero Foundation, Solomon Islands (tbc)
- Emilie McGlone, Peace Boat US
- Dr Alexandra R. Harrington, Chair of the IUCN WCEL Agreement on Plastic Pollution Task Force, Lancaster University
- Alison Clausen, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) UNESCO (tbc)
Mobilizing Youth for Ocean and Climate Action – Harnessing Citizen Science and Capacity-Building
When: Tuesday, 10 June 2025, from 12:15-13:30
Venue: Room 1, Blue Zone, UN Ocean Conference Port Lympia in Nice
The side event led by the Government of Kiribati in collaboration with the Governments of Palau and Chile along with various NGO partners will highlight the importance of mobilizing youth to accelerate ocean action through capacity-building and citizen science, with a focus on SIDS youth on the front lines of the climate and ocean crises. It will showcase the power of youth representation in shaping ocean governance and the blue economy. Featuring initiatives like Peace Boat’s global voyages and the Africa-Europe Youth Ambassador Programme, the event will emphasize cross-sector partnerships for youth engagement in research, policy, and outreach. Speakers will come from diverse regions and sectors and include youth leaders, the Permanent Representative of Palau to the UN/AOSIS Chair, representatives from Kiribati, the Government of Chile, the Africa-Europe Foundation, the Indian Ocean Commission, Civil society organizations and academia.
Partners include:
Peace Boat
Permanent Mission of Kiribati to the United Nations
Permanent Mission of Palau to the United Nations
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Chile
Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Center
Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation
Ocean Rescue Alliance International (ORAI)
Indian Ocean Commission
Africa Europe Foundation
PROTEUS Ocean Group
PangeaSeed Foundation
EarthEcho International
Blue Planet Alliance
One Ocean Hub
Oceanic Global
Lonely Whale
CORDAP
Coral Vita
Reefline
Lancaster University
Bridging Local Wisdom and Innovation for Coastal Communities Resilience
Virtual event led by UNDP AIS
10 June 2025 (time tbc)
According to the IPCC, around 680 million people currently live in low-lying coastal zones—a number expected to rise to one billion by 2050. Of these, 65 million reside in Small Island Developing States, all of whom are particularly vulnerable due to the intensification of climate-related hazards such as sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and extreme weather events.
Embedded within these communities are rich traditional ecological knowledge systems, passed down through generations, passed down through generations, that have long informed how people could live and adapt to the environmental dynamics of their environment. This local knowledge is not only culturally significant, but also deeply practical – from managing potential risk of disaster, supporting sustainable use of the marine resources, and protecting marine biodiversity.
At the same time, these communities must also leverage scientific advancements and technological innovations in climate adaptation. The integration of modern science, digital tools, and engineering solutions—ranging from early warning systems and nature-based solutions to climate-resilient infrastructure—presents new opportunities for building coastal resilience. Yet despite their vast potential, these innovations often overlook or underutilize the deep-rooted knowledge that local communities possess.
This side event will explore how bridging local and traditional knowledge with scientific and technological innovation can strengthen climate resilience in coastal and island communities—while advancing sustainable ocean-based livelihoods and inclusive development.
Researchers working on adaptation strategies in Fiji, Vanuatu, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Indonesia will share findings on traditional knowledge systems, multidimensional adaptation tools, and community-driven resilience frameworks. By fostering scientific cooperation and knowledge exchange, this dialogue aims to advance inclusive, locally grounded, and scalable solutions that reinforce the science-policy interface for coastal communities resilience—a key priority of SDG 14 and the UNOC 2025 agenda.
Partners include:
- Government of Indonesia
- Lancaster University
- University of Fiji
If you would like to explore collaboration with us before and during the Congress and the Conference, please do not hesitate to reach out to Senia (s.febrica@lancaster.ac.uk).