Policymakers, ocean scientists, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, and philanthropists from nearly 90 countries – as well as viewers from around the world – joined Secretary of State John Kerry for the June 16-17, 2014, Our Ocean Conference

Participants announced new partnerships and initiatives valued at over $1.8 billion as well as new commitments on the protection of more than 3 million square kilometers of the ocean, an area roughly the size of India.

More than 500 participants, including 11 ministers, from over 50 countries, as well as representatives of NGOs, academia, research and charitable institutions, and industry met in Valparaiso, Chile, for the second Our Ocean Conference October 5-6, 2015. Participants announced over 80 new initiatives on marine conservation and protection valued at more than US$2.1 billion, as well as new commitments on the protection of more than 1.9 million square kilometers of the ocean.

Participants in the third Our Ocean conference, held September 15-16 in Washington, D.C., announced over 136 new initiatives on marine conservation and protection valued at more than $5.24 billion, as well as new commitments on the protection of almost four million square kilometers (over 1.5 million square miles) of the ocean.

To date, the three Our Ocean conferences have generated commitments valued at over $9.2 billion to protect our ocean and committed to protect over 9.9 million square kilometers (3.8 million square miles) of ocean – an area the size of the United States. The commitments focus on the key ocean issues of our time: marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, marine pollution, and climate-related impacts on the ocean.

Over recent decades, our marine environments have undergone widespread deterioration. To turn this tide, the world must commit to sustainable action and invest in innovative solutions.

Organised since 2014, the Our Ocean conferences are all about driving these commitments. The 2017 edition of Our Ocean hosted by the European Union in Malta generated an unprecedented level of ambition:

• 437 tangible and measurable commitments
• EUR 7.2 billion in financial pledges
• 2.5 million square kilometres of additional Marine Protected Areas

With 100 commitments from the corporate sector, the 2017 conference for the first time mobilised at scale the business community in ocean conservation. The EU's 36 commitments alone amounted to over EUR 550 million, and together with its Member States and the European Investment Bank, the total EU pledge exceeded EUR 2.8 billion. Other countries, NGOs, foundations, research institutes and international organisations tabled nearly 300 commitments in a truly global show of determination to act. Altogether, this almost doubled the amount pledged since 2014, substantially increasing the world's marine protected areas and launching impactful action in all corners of our ocean.

The vision of the 2019 Our Ocean conference in Oslo was to ‘learn, share and act for a clean, healthy and productive ocean’. The conference agenda focused on the importance of scientific knowledge as the basis for actions and policies to ensure sustainability. Knowledge-based stewardship of ocean resources is essential for ensuring both protection and sustainable use in the future.

Of the more than 600 delegates, approximately half represented business, civil society and research organisations, while the other half represented governments from a total of 86 countries. In all, the conference participants came from 100 countries, making Our Ocean 2019 truly global.

Building on the momentum created by previous conferences, Our Ocean 2019 mobilised 374 new commitments to concrete action on challenges relating to climate change, marine pollution, sustainable fisheries, marine protected areas and a sustainable ocean economy.

The total value of the commitments is at least USD 63 billion. Of this, 80 % is funding for action relating to climate change.
More than 20 side events and associated activities took place in connection with the conference. The Youth Leadership Summit, with some 100 participants from 60 countries, continued the tradition of engaging young people in the Our Ocean conferences and in developing solutions to ocean-related problems. Moreover, in the lead-up to the conference, Norad and the Alliance of Small Island States organised the seminar Ocean management: Opportunities, challenges and experiences.

Our Ocean 2019 addressed the challenges facing the oceans, the opportunities the oceans offer, and the issue of ocean stewardship. In discussing these three themes, the conference addressed challenges relating to climate change, pollution and fisheries governance, explored opportunities relating to food and the shaping of a sustainable ocean economy, and considered options for improving ocean protection.

The seventh Our Ocean Conference—co-hosted by the Republic of Palau and the United States in Koror, Palau—focused on six thematic areas: climate change, sustainable fisheries, sustainable blue economies, marine protected areas, maritime security, and marine pollution. The importance of ocean-based climate solutions and the importance of a healthy ocean to Small Island Developing States and all communities where the ocean is a primary source of sustenance were cross-cutting themes.

This was the first Our Ocean Conference to be held in a Small Island Developing State. Titled “Our Ocean, Our People, Our Prosperity,” the conference brought together governments and non-state actors to make concrete commitments to protect ocean health and security. The conference closed with more than 410 commitments worth approximately $16.35 billion. Since the Our Ocean Conferences began in 2014, they have now resulted in more than 1,800 commitments worth nearly $108 billion.

The eighth Our Ocean Conference—hosted by the government of Panama, in Panama City, on March 2nd and 3rd of 2023—continued to focus on six thematic areas: climate change, sustainable fisheries, sustainable blue economies, marine protected areas, maritime security, and marine pollution.

Like other Our Ocean conferences, Our Ocean Panama’s ambition was to call on global leaders for more commitments to protect the ocean, both in terms of money and legal protections, but also commitments to technology and science, and sustainability for the people who rely on the ocean for their livelihoods.

As the first Our Ocean Conference to be held in Central America, the conference focused on exploring the success Our Ocean is having in meeting past commitments to bring transparency and accountability to the commitments made, understand and share models of best practices, and learn lessons across the Our Ocean Community.

Bringing together governments and non-state actors to make concrete commitments to protect ocean health and security, the conference closed with more than 360 commitments worth USD 22 billion across the six issue areas of the conference. Since 2014, the Our Ocean Conference has now mobilized more than 2,160 commitments worth approximately USD 130 billion

Greece successfully hosted the 9th Our Ocean Conference (OOC-9) at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre in Athens, on April 16-17, 2024. This landmark event witnessed unprecedented participation, with over 3,500 attendees from 130 countries and international organizations. Coinciding with the Conference, the Youth Leadership Summit was held on April 15th, gathering participants from more than 60 countries and actively involving youth in shaping the future of our ocean.

This significant gathering was distinguished by high-level participation and political leadership, offering a platform for meaningful discussions and commitments to urgent actions on major ocean related challenges, such as climate change, marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, sustainable blue economy, maritime security, and marine pollution. Greece also focused on specific key focus areas of particular interest, namely sustainable tourism, green shipping, marine plastic and microplastic pollution, and the green transition in the Mediterranean.

In parallel with the Conference, 76 important side-events and more than 180 bilateral meetings took place, boosting cooperation among participants and advancing discussions on critical ocean issues. These side events encouraged collaboration and brought forth insights crucial for addressing the environmental concerns of our vital marine ecosystem.

This OOC edition marked a significant milestone with more than 470 new commitments amounting to over USD 11.3 billion, demonstrating a renewed pledge by the international community to addressing pressing ocean issues. Greece’s leadership in environmental stewardship was evident through its ambitious 21 commitments announced during the Conference. From the creation of new marine protected areas to the reduction of marine pollution and decarbonization efforts, Greece pledged comprehensive measures totaling more than USD 800 million.

Policymakers, ocean scientists, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, and philanthropists from nearly 90 countries – as well as viewers from around the world – joined Secretary of State John Kerry for the June 16-17, 2014, Our Ocean Conference

Participants announced new partnerships and initiatives valued at over $1.8 billion as well as new commitments on the protection of more than 3 million square kilometers of the ocean, an area roughly the size of India.

More than 500 participants, including 11 ministers, from over 50 countries, as well as representatives of NGOs, academia, research and charitable institutions, and industry met in Valparaiso, Chile, for the second Our Ocean Conference October 5-6, 2015. Participants announced over 80 new initiatives on marine conservation and protection valued at more than US$2.1 billion, as well as new commitments on the protection of more than 1.9 million square kilometers of the ocean.

Participants in the third Our Ocean conference, held September 15-16 in Washington, D.C., announced over 136 new initiatives on marine conservation and protection valued at more than $5.24 billion, as well as new commitments on the protection of almost four million square kilometers (over 1.5 million square miles) of the ocean.

To date, the three Our Ocean conferences have generated commitments valued at over $9.2 billion to protect our ocean and committed to protect over 9.9 million square kilometers (3.8 million square miles) of ocean – an area the size of the United States. The commitments focus on the key ocean issues of our time: marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, marine pollution, and climate-related impacts on the ocean.

Over recent decades, our marine environments have undergone widespread deterioration. To turn this tide, the world must commit to sustainable action and invest in innovative solutions.

Organised since 2014, the Our Ocean conferences are all about driving these commitments. The 2017 edition of Our Ocean hosted by the European Union in Malta generated an unprecedented level of ambition:

• 437 tangible and measurable commitments
• EUR 7.2 billion in financial pledges
• 2.5 million square kilometres of additional Marine Protected Areas

With 100 commitments from the corporate sector, the 2017 conference for the first time mobilised at scale the business community in ocean conservation. The EU's 36 commitments alone amounted to over EUR 550 million, and together with its Member States and the European Investment Bank, the total EU pledge exceeded EUR 2.8 billion. Other countries, NGOs, foundations, research institutes and international organisations tabled nearly 300 commitments in a truly global show of determination to act. Altogether, this almost doubled the amount pledged since 2014, substantially increasing the world's marine protected areas and launching impactful action in all corners of our ocean.

The vision of the 2019 Our Ocean conference in Oslo was to ‘learn, share and act for a clean, healthy and productive ocean’. The conference agenda focused on the importance of scientific knowledge as the basis for actions and policies to ensure sustainability. Knowledge-based stewardship of ocean resources is essential for ensuring both protection and sustainable use in the future.

Of the more than 600 delegates, approximately half represented business, civil society and research organisations, while the other half represented governments from a total of 86 countries. In all, the conference participants came from 100 countries, making Our Ocean 2019 truly global.

Building on the momentum created by previous conferences, Our Ocean 2019 mobilised 374 new commitments to concrete action on challenges relating to climate change, marine pollution, sustainable fisheries, marine protected areas and a sustainable ocean economy.

The total value of the commitments is at least USD 63 billion. Of this, 80 % is funding for action relating to climate change.
More than 20 side events and associated activities took place in connection with the conference. The Youth Leadership Summit, with some 100 participants from 60 countries, continued the tradition of engaging young people in the Our Ocean conferences and in developing solutions to ocean-related problems. Moreover, in the lead-up to the conference, Norad and the Alliance of Small Island States organised the seminar Ocean management: Opportunities, challenges and experiences.

Our Ocean 2019 addressed the challenges facing the oceans, the opportunities the oceans offer, and the issue of ocean stewardship. In discussing these three themes, the conference addressed challenges relating to climate change, pollution and fisheries governance, explored opportunities relating to food and the shaping of a sustainable ocean economy, and considered options for improving ocean protection.

The seventh Our Ocean Conference—co-hosted by the Republic of Palau and the United States in Koror, Palau—focused on six thematic areas: climate change, sustainable fisheries, sustainable blue economies, marine protected areas, maritime security, and marine pollution. The importance of ocean-based climate solutions and the importance of a healthy ocean to Small Island Developing States and all communities where the ocean is a primary source of sustenance were cross-cutting themes.

This was the first Our Ocean Conference to be held in a Small Island Developing State. Titled “Our Ocean, Our People, Our Prosperity,” the conference brought together governments and non-state actors to make concrete commitments to protect ocean health and security. The conference closed with more than 410 commitments worth approximately $16.35 billion. Since the Our Ocean Conferences began in 2014, they have now resulted in more than 1,800 commitments worth nearly $108 billion.

The eighth Our Ocean Conference—hosted by the government of Panama, in Panama City, on March 2nd and 3rd of 2023—continued to focus on six thematic areas: climate change, sustainable fisheries, sustainable blue economies, marine protected areas, maritime security, and marine pollution.

Like other Our Ocean conferences, Our Ocean Panama’s ambition was to call on global leaders for more commitments to protect the ocean, both in terms of money and legal protections, but also commitments to technology and science, and sustainability for the people who rely on the ocean for their livelihoods.

As the first Our Ocean Conference to be held in Central America, the conference focused on exploring the success Our Ocean is having in meeting past commitments to bring transparency and accountability to the commitments made, understand and share models of best practices, and learn lessons across the Our Ocean Community.

Bringing together governments and non-state actors to make concrete commitments to protect ocean health and security, the conference closed with more than 360 commitments worth USD 22 billion across the six issue areas of the conference. Since 2014, the Our Ocean Conference has now mobilized more than 2,160 commitments worth approximately USD 130 billion

Greece successfully hosted the 9th Our Ocean Conference (OOC-9) at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre in Athens, on April 16-17, 2024. This landmark event witnessed unprecedented participation, with over 3,500 attendees from 130 countries and international organizations. Coinciding with the Conference, the Youth Leadership Summit was held on April 15th, gathering participants from more than 60 countries and actively involving youth in shaping the future of our ocean.

This significant gathering was distinguished by high-level participation and political leadership, offering a platform for meaningful discussions and commitments to urgent actions on major ocean related challenges, such as climate change, marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, sustainable blue economy, maritime security, and marine pollution. Greece also focused on specific key focus areas of particular interest, namely sustainable tourism, green shipping, marine plastic and microplastic pollution, and the green transition in the Mediterranean.

In parallel with the Conference, 76 important side-events and more than 180 bilateral meetings took place, boosting cooperation among participants and advancing discussions on critical ocean issues. These side events encouraged collaboration and brought forth insights crucial for addressing the environmental concerns of our vital marine ecosystem.

This OOC edition marked a significant milestone with more than 470 new commitments amounting to over USD 11.3 billion, demonstrating a renewed pledge by the international community to addressing pressing ocean issues. Greece’s leadership in environmental stewardship was evident through its ambitious 21 commitments announced during the Conference. From the creation of new marine protected areas to the reduction of marine pollution and decarbonization efforts, Greece pledged comprehensive measures totaling more than USD 800 million.