Ocean Base Camp: an open space for civil society during the UN Ocean Conference

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During the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), civil society organisations will have their own dedicated space: Ocean Base Camp. Organised by the Oceano Azul Foundation, Sciaena and Seas at Risk, it will be a space for national and international organisations to network, share their work, think about the solutions needed to protect the ocean and relax.  

As the UNOC brings together thousands of organisations in a unique moment for ocean conservation, the Ocean Base Camp – located in the Marina building at the Parque das Nações – will be reserved for civil society organisations.Throughout the week, its door will be open for all members of civil society who wish to discuss the challenges and solutions to protect the ocean and to contribute actively to the fight against the climate and biodiversity crises. In addition to conservation organisations, the space will welcome participants such as artists, fishers, country delegates, private sector representatives and youth leaders.

Ocean Base Camp will open on 27 June at 10:30 am (GMT+1), with a welcome session and an interactive tour, allowing participating organisations to interact and connect. This session will feature live music from The Trash Traveler, as well as the launch of the Message in a Bottle project’s pollution tracker to gather data on the movement of plastic pollution in the ocean.

From the afternoon of 27 June onwards, Ocean Base Camp will host a series of sessions dedicated to different ocean conservation issues, from Marine Protected Areas and deep seabed mining, to fisheries, marine litter and more. Led and facilitated by conservation organisations from all over the world, the sessions will be designed to generate engaging and constructive conversations. 

In addition to the featured sessions, people can simply enjoy the Ocean Base Camp space and the opportunities it provides, whether attending film, music and artistic events, or mixing with like-minded individuals and organisations. Two major networking activities are planned: the first, on the afternoon of Wednesday 29 June, will focus on preparing the Blue Climate March, and the second, on the evening of Thursday 30 June, will see Ocean Base Camp host an Ocean party, with food, drinks and music.

On Friday 1 July, as the UNOC winds down, so too will the Ocean Base Camp, with morning sessions on mindfulness and engaging different stakeholders in ocean conservation. In the afternoon, participants will be invited to collect their thoughts and ambitions for the necessary changes ahead of the next UNOC in a book that will be delivered to the UN Secretary General.

The UNOC is a unique opportunity to address the structural transformations and common solutions that must happen in the next 10 years if we are to restore our oceans to health after decades of steep decline. The Ocean Base Camp will contribute to this broader goal by empowering and enabling civil society to continue its crucial role and by encouraging citizens to remain positive and engaged in the changes to come. Everyone is welcome to join!

 

More information at www.oceanbasecamp.org 

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