Tuesday 21 June 2022, 14:00 – 16:00 CEST
Online Event
Co-hosted by MEP Catherine Chabaud &
MEP Maria da Graça Carvalho
Co-Chairs of the ‘Ocean Governance’ Working Group of the
European Parliament Intergroup on ‘Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development‘
The UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon will catalyze action towards the implementation of SDG 14 on ‘Life Below Water’. A number of pressing issues will be at the centre of the debate, including marine pollution, healthy ecosystems, climate change, sustainable fisheries, biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, blue economy, scientific knowledge and interlinkages between SDG14 and the Agenda 2030. At the same time, the debate will also touch upon the many negotiating processes that are currently ongoing, such as the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, the UN High Seas Treaty, and the UN Climate Conference, to name just a few. The key challenge that is common to all these elements is innovation, either it being technological, social, or institutional. Therefore, ground-breaking solutions need to be rapidly identified and scaled up, from innovative fuels to new management approaches to new initiatives aimed at attracting the young generations in ocean-based sectors. Starting from the European context, this event will shed light on what innovation can do to help achieve healthy, resilient and productive oceans for people and nature, thus paving the way to Lisbon.
FINAL AGENDA
14:00 – 14:05: Welcome remarks by MEP Maria da Graça Carvalho
14:05 – 14:15: Keynote speech by Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean
14:15 – 14:25: Opening speeches by MEPs (5’ per speaker):
- MEP Catherine Chabaud
- MEP Peter van Dalen (video-message)
14:25 – 14:30: Intervention of Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner on Environment, Oceans and Fisheries (video-message)
14:30 – 14:45: Presentation of innovative solutions (7’ per speaker):
- Gavin Allwright, Secretary General, International Windship Association (video-message)
- Georges Canal, Industrial Director, Fil&Fab
14:45 – 15:30: Panel discussion with the participation of:
- Andreea Strachinescu, Head of A1 Unit on “Maritime Innovation, Marine Knowledge and Investment”, DG MARE, European Commission
- Jorge Manuel dos Santos Gonçalves, Senior Researcher, Centre of Marine Sciences of Algarve (CCMAR)
- Minna Epps, Head of Ocean Team, IUCN
- Franck Jesus, Senior Department Climate Adviser, European Investment Bank (EIB)
- Kathryn Gavira-O’Neill, Director of Science & Sustainability, Satlink
15:30 – 15:55: Q&A session with the audience
15:55 – 16:00: Closing remarks by MEP Catherine Chabaud