Since its inaugural meeting in 2014, the Our Ocean Conference (OOC) has mobilized $160 billion.
Press Consultant
The 10th Our Ocean Conference, held in Busan, South Korea, from April 28 to 30, resulted in 277 new commitments focused on sustainable ocean action, amounting to $9.1 billion.
In particular, this tenth conference has addressed the "Digital Oceans" theme, combining the ocean industry with digital technology to achieve a sustainable ocean more efficiently and rapidly.
Since its inaugural meeting in 2014, the Our Ocean Conference (OOC) has mobilized $160 billion, making it a key platform for governments, businesses, and civil society committed to marine conservation and a sustainable blue economy.
As confirmed by the organization, nearly 10% of the commitments made addressed the digital action area, ranging from the use of artificial intelligence to monitor fisheries and marine protected areas to enhancing satellite and drone imagery. Additionally, emphasis was placed on eDNA techniques to better catalogue marine biodiversity.
Moreover, the sustainable blue economy has generated the highest financial commitment of any action area to date, with $4.5 billion, and the second-highest total number of commitments (59). The projects range from supporting ocean entrepreneurship to promoting sustainable small-scale fisheries and aquaculture.
Next, research and development areas received the highest level of investment, with 30 commitments focused on funding research for the ocean-climate nexus, polar regions, fisheries, emerging technologies, and more.
Lastly, during the 10th OOC, nearly $150 million was announced to finance marine climate solutions focused on the restoration and enhancement of coastal blue carbon ecosystems, such as kelp forests.
The Our Ocean Conference gathers approximately 1,000 global leaders from various sectors, including heads of state and high-level government officials from over 100 countries, and representatives from more than 400 international and non-profit organizations. Together, they discuss diverse and concrete actions for a sustainable ocean.
Since the inaugural Our Ocean Conference in the United States in 2014, over 2,600 voluntary commitments have been announced at subsequent conferences held in Chile, the European Union, Indonesia, Norway, Palau, and Greece.
