News
Mobilizing Youth and ECOPs: Showcasing Initiatives for Ocean Action
Peace Boat is proud to partner with the Permanent Mission of Kiribati to co-organize a side event at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice. We invite you to join us at this important event.
Title: Mobilizing Youth and ECOPs: Showcasing Initiatives for Ocean Action
Date: Tuesday, 10 June 2025
Time: 12:15–13:30 CEST
Location: Room 1, Blue Zone, UN Ocean Conference, Port Lympia, Nice, France (*attendees must be registered for the conference for access to the Blue Zone)
Format: Opening keynotes, coalition launch, two moderated panels, and closing
Event Description
This high-level side event will showcase initiatives that mobilize youth for ocean action and demonstrate multi-stakeholder collaboration, including across civil society and national governments. Initiatives include programs for SIDS youth, in collaboration with Peace Boat, Kiribati, AOSIS, Chile, and a broad network of NGO partners.
The Coalition of Emerging Ocean Leaders (CEOL), consisting of youth and early-career networks engaged for the ocean will be presented, with support from the Greek and Dominican Republic governments. The coalition aims to accelerate inclusive ocean governance by strengthening youth capacity and advancing policy engagement, particularly for young leaders from underrepresented communities who are on the frontlines of the ocean, biodiversity, and climate crises.
The event will feature intergenerational dialogue, highlighting successful models for youth participation in shaping a sustainable and equitable blue economy and ocean science-policy interfaces. Keynote speeches from government representatives, cross-sectoral partners, and CEOL will frame the discussion, while two dynamic panels will explore how youth-led networks and collaborations can drive ocean innovation, equity, and resilience.
From Peace Boat’s global voyages to the Africa-Europe Youth Ambassador Programme, regional ECOP initiatives, and CEOL, the event will amplify tangible pathways for youth engagement, identify remaining barriers, and invite new commitments to scale collective action.
Program
Keynote Speakers:
-
Hon. Ribanataake Tiwau, Minister for Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MFOR), Government of Kiribati
-
H.E. Ambassador Ilana Seid (Permanent Mission of Palau to the UN, AOSIS Chair)
-
Minister Maisa Rojas, Ministry of Environment, Government of Chile
-
Dr Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou, MP, Greek Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for the Ocean
-
Pascal Lamy, Former Director-General at the World Trade Organization
Announcements of the Coalition of Emerging Ocean Leaders and Coalition Goals and the Announcement of Voluntary Ocean Commitments of CEOL:
Guillaume Lheureux (Youth4Ocean), Peter Teye Busumprah (Ocean Rock Base), and Jessica Newfield (Sustainable Ocean Alliance)
Panel 1: Youth in Ocean Governance: Inclusion pathways, accessibility barriers, and success stories from youth in policy and science spaces
Moderator: Pedro Dantas, CEOL
-
Carla Laurenco, CORDAP
-
Kneyone Murray, Blue Planet Alliance
-
Raj Mohabeer, Indian Ocean Commission
-
Ximena Caminos, The ReefLine
-
Shelby Thomas, Ocean Rescue Alliance International
-
Marie Touchon, CEOL, Global Youth Biodiversity Network
Panel 2: Youth in Ocean Networks Multidisciplinary collaboration, capacity-building, and co-developed solutions through ECOP networks
Closing:
Yoshioka Tatsuya, Peace Boat Founder
Jonathan Delance, Ministry of Environment, Dominican Republic
Moderators:
Emilie McGlone (Peace Boat US),
Electra Delavogia (CEOL)