An update on the contribution of the “Our Ocean Conference 2024” to the global political dialogue on Ocean resilience and the Blue Economy was given on March 18th by the Greek Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, and Our Ocean Conference 2024 Coordinator, Dr Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou, during a panel speech at the Monaco Blue Initiative. The high-level event is to be hosted in Athens, Greece (16-17 of April), and it is expected to count on hundreds of participants from governments, NGOs, academia, and international institutions.
Dr. Avgerinopoulou spoke on the topics that Greece is going to highlight Green Shipping, MPAs, Plastic Pollution, Transition of the Mediterranean, and Sustainable Coastal Tourism- and called for more active cooperation on sustainable development and ocean protection. The OOC-9 Coordinator had the opportunity to meet with H.E. Prince Albert of Monaco and with representatives of the Monaco Blue Initiative. She also held talks with Ms. Mahlet Mesfin, deputy assistant secretary for ocean, fisheries, and polar affairs, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. She also met with members of the Greek community who organized an event on alien species invading the Mediterranean due to climate change.
The Greek envoy also met with representatives of international organizations, civil society, NGOs, the private sector, the scientific community, and the media discussing synergies for the protection of the marine environment and the development of a truly sustainable blue economy and how Our Ocean Conference plans to get them to announce concrete commitments on new projects and policies.
The Monaco Blue initiative is a unique platform for debate that brings together major players in ocean conservation and governance to reflect on the key challenges facing our ocean, in a concrete and forward-looking way. The Monaco Blue Initiative was launched in 2010 by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and is co-organized by the Oceanographic Institute – Prince Albert I of Monaco Foundation, and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.