Ocean Panel representatives visit the Elysée in Paris

PARIS (16 May, 2024) – The Ocean Panel Sherpa group, representing 18 member countries, and 50% of global coastlines, convened at the office of the French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss key priorities for the UN Ocean Conference in 2025.

The UN Ocean Conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, in Nice, June 2025 comes at a critical midway point in the Ocean Decade and an important moment for the Ocean Panel, where founding member countries are set to complete their Sustainable Ocean Plans. The Panel’s key priorities for the sustainable ocean economy and Sustainable Ocean Plans will feature prominently at the Conference next year.

Ocean Panel representatives gathered in Paris from 14-16 May for their 35th meeting, held in-person in the UNESCO building, home to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. Over the three days, discussions co-chaired by Norway and Palau, advanced the Ocean Panel’s work, including towards the next UN Ocean Conference in 2025, and how to accelerate and advance the implementation of 100% sustainable ocean management with other nations around the world.

On the first day, Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, Co-chair of the Ocean Panel, joined the meeting to address Sherpas on the uniting power of the ocean. The Prime Minister emphasised the continued relevance of the Panel and the 100% approach and noted that the Panel will be instrumental in advancing ambition and action towards the UN Ocean Conference next year.

France joined the Ocean Panel in February 2022, committing to sustainably manage 100% of its ocean area under national jurisdiction within five years of beginning membership. At the time of joining, President Emmanuel Macron said: “By joining the other members of the Panel, France is committed to ensure the treaties already existing to protect our ocean are implemented. We need to pave the way for the future, bringing together public and private sector stakeholders”.

À propos du Groupe de haut niveau pour une économie océanique durable

The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel) is a unique global initiative of serving world leaders of 18 nations, together representing 50% of the world’s coastlines, 45% of global EEZs, 26% of the world’s fisheries, 20% of the world’s shipping fleet. Co-chaired by Norway and Palau, the Ocean Panel includes Australia, Canada, Chile, Fiji, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Namibia, Norway, Palau, Portugal, Seychelles the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The Ocean Panel is supported by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean. Based on the shared understanding of the need to improve the state of the ocean, the countries in the Ocean Panel are committed to producing national sustainable ocean plans with the aim of sustainably managing 100% of the ocean area under national jurisdiction. Learn more at oceanpanel.org.

For additional inquiries contact: john.lyons@wri.org