2024 UN Ocean Decade Conference, Barcelona
In April 2024, Tara and Anna from the Blue Futures Pathways (BFP) team will be in Barcelona to attend the first, in-person Conference of the UN Ocean Decade of Science for Sustainable Development.
As part of the official satellite events, the BFP team will be leading a session called Waves of Change: A Youth-Driven Sustainable Blue Economy World Café. This dynamic event is a collaborative effort designed to showcase the passion of diverse, early-career changemakers in building a global Sustainable Blue Economy.
Below, we introduce our African, North American and Spanish partners helping us make this event so unique and valuable.
First up – OPJEB (L’Organisation panafricaine de la jeunesse pour l’économie bleue) is an organization that brings together young experts from the fifty-five member countries of the African Union as well as African diaspora committed to promoting the blue economy on the African continent. OPJEB works to support African governments in the restructuring of economic models to develop the blue economy. They also support African youth in finding jobs, business opportunities, innovation and partnerships in the blue economy sectors.
Regarding our joint satellite event in Barcelona, President and Director General Ernest Tindo says: “The partnership between the SOI Foundation and OPJEB is a symbol of commitment by global youth in the service of the blue economy”.
We are also partnering with EarthEcho International, a US-based organization that collaborates with youth worldwide to provide knowledge and develop tools resulting in meaningful environmental action to protect and restore our ocean. Reaching more than 2 million people in 146 countries, EarthEcho’s core programs are focused on fostering youth leadership, mobilizing communities, educating students and training teachers.
Chief Program Officer Stacey Rafalowski, who will be attending the conference in Barcelona, says: “EarthEcho International is proud to be a part of this dynamic, world-café style event that is not just a gathering, but a powerful response to the urgent call from youth to prioritize the blue economy… Through the session we look forward to uniting a broad array of young participants for thought-provoking discussions that we are confident can foster transformative ideas. EarthEcho is eager to work with these incredible partners to convene our young leaders to shape a brighter, bluer future for us all!”
ECOP Canada, whose advisory board Tara joined last year, will also be supporting Waves of Change in Barcelona. ECOP Canada aims to achieve intergenerational equity by strengthening the diverse voices of early career ocean professionals, which means anyone who self-identifies as having ten years or less of professional, ocean-related experience.
ECOP Steering Committee member Laura Hernandez Merlano, who will be attending the conference, says:“ECOP Canada is proud to be collaborating with Blue Future’s Pathways on our upcoming satellite event “Waves of Change” at the UN Ocean Decade Conference. This will be a great opportunity to showcase the passion of diverse, youth changemakers in building the global workforce for a Sustainable Blue Economy.”
BFP is delighted to further develop our close partnership with ECOP Canada through this event and it was in fact through the Canadian node that BFP received our UN Decade endorsement.
Our final key partner is based in the heart of Barcelona itself. Impact Hub Barcelona builds ecosystems to drive collaboration and entrepreneurship around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through local Hubs, partner networks. Their mission is to inspire, connect, and boost those willing to make a positive impact through professionalism and entrepreneurship. We are delighted to have Impact Hub Barcelona’s local knowledge and expertise on the ground.
Clara Lopez Fagiano, a Consultant at Impact hub says: “For Impact Hub Barcelona, participating as partners in the satellite event isn’t only about showcasing our expertise; it’s about engaging in a global dialogue, where our knowledge serves as a cornerstone in bridging borders.”
You can join our event in Barcelona in person or feed in remotely by signing up here.