Barcelona is preparing to host an event of global importance: the UN Decade of the Ocean Conference.
The Barcelona International Convention Center (CCIB) will be the venue for this meeting, which will bring together governments, experts, scientists and representatives of civil society from April 10 to 12, 2024.
The main objective of this conference will be to seek solutions for the protection of the oceans and to establish joint priorities for their future.
The Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development, which began in 2021 and runs through 2030, was created by the UN as a response to the deteriorating health of the oceans.
Its objective is to ensure ocean science support to all countries to achieve sustainable development of the oceans.
According to Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary of UNESCO, this conference will provide a unique opportunity to reflect on the use of science and knowledge in sustainable ocean management, paving the way for the future of the Decade.
UN Decade of the Ocean Conference 2024
Nearly 1,000 attendees from around the world are expected to participate in the three-day event.
During the conference, the results of the first three years of the Decade of the Ocean will be reviewed and a roadmap towards 2030 will be established.
The focus will be on finding scientific solutions to address challenges such as climate change, food security, biodiversity conservation, sustainable ocean economy, pollution and natural hazards.
The conference program will be based on the ten challenges identified for the Decade of the Ocean.
The event will begin with an opening session featuring state leaders, UN agency representatives and industry members.
In addition to the plenary sessions, some parts of the conference will be conducted telematically.
An event of international stature
Marc Rodríguez, general director of the Barcelona International Convention Center, expressed his honor to host this event of international relevance.
He stressed that the CCIB, with its world-class facilities and the city of Barcelona, known for its knowledge, innovation and talent, offer the ideal space to bring together experts from around the world to seek solutions to the present and future challenges facing our oceans.
The Barcelona Nautical Capital Foundation, the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Barcelona City Council and the Spanish Committee of the National Oceanic Decade led by the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), will manage the event.
Ocean Decade Week will include workshops, symposiums, dinners and art exhibitions that will take place in various locations in Barcelona starting April 8.
