The 9th Our Ocean Conference to Be Held in Greece in April 2024

An official announcement was made during a high-level event at the Greek Pavilion at COP28, where Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, together with U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, confirmed that Greece will host the 9th global “Our Ocean Conference.”

The conference, scheduled for 16–17 April 2024, aims to strengthen global action for the protection of oceans and the marine environment. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou, Coordinator of the “Our Ocean Conference 2024” and Chair of the Hellenic Parliament’s Committee on Environmental Protection.

The Our Ocean Conference, first launched in 2014 as an initiative of the U.S. Department of State, seeks to bring together governments, international organizations, NGOs, academia, and the private sector to deliver concrete commitments for ocean protection. The 9th edition will focus on the impacts of climate change on the marine environment, overfishing, and marine pollution. Youth participation will also play a central role, with a dedicated Youth Summit held on 15 April.

The Conference will address six key action areas: marine protected areas, blue economy, ocean-climate nexus, maritime security, sustainable fisheries, and marine pollution. Greece will also emphasize four cross-cutting priorities: sustainable coastal and island tourism, green shipping, reduction of plastic and microplastic pollution, and the green transition of the Mediterranean.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis highlighted Greece’s priorities, stressing the importance of decarbonizing the shipping sector and protecting marine biodiversity, noting Greece’s extensive coastline and numerous islands as a responsibility for ocean stewardship.

U.S. Special Envoy John Kerry shared his personal motivation for ocean protection and emphasized the importance of green maritime corridors, green shipping, and the role of local communities and fishermen in adapting to climate and pollution challenges.

In her intervention, Dr. Avgerinopoulou noted that the launch of the Our Ocean Conference marked a milestone in global environmental governance, creating a unified platform for ocean protection and overcoming institutional fragmentation. She highlighted that previous conferences have generated over 2,160 commitments worth more than USD 130 billion, with expectations for bold new commitments at the Athens conference.