The European Ocean Coalition (EU4Ocean) launched on 8 June 2020 (World Oceans Day). The initiative connects organizations, projects and people that contribute to ocean literacy and to the sustainable management of the ocean. Supported by the European Commission, the initiative, which was launched on World Ocean Day, aims at boosting public awareness and advocacy for a healthy ocean across the European Union.
The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the global ocean that humanity depends on for the air we breathe, the food we eat and countless other ecosystem services. As the largest of the semi-enclosed seas in the European space, Mare Nostrum hugs the southern border of the European Union—one of the 22 Contracting parties to the Barcelona Convention.
The UNEP/MAP—Barcelona Convention Secretariat is a founding member of the EU4Ocean Platform : a hub for organizations and initiatives to connect, collaborate and mobilize efforts on ocean literacy. By joining the platform, members can share ideas, build partnerships and collaborate to ensure a more coordinated approach to ocean literary activities in Europe.
In addition to the platform, the EU4Ocean initiative has launched two additional communities, namely the European Youth Forum for the Ocean and the The Network of European Blue Schools.The Youth Forum will harness the creativity and energy of young inquisitive minds and help them network with leading experts, stakeholders and decision-makers within the contexts of marine pollution, food security and the climate crisis. Aimed at a younger audience, the Network of European Blue Schools aims to help students discover the ocean and its value “with a little help” from their teachers. By accepting the “Find the Blue” challenge, students can select an ocean topic and create a plan around it or identify a local marine related problem and try to solve it. Successful projects will earn their school the European Blue School certification.
In September 2020 EU4Ocean will inaugurate activities across Europe, including a series of webinars that will present the three EU4Ocean communities. UNEP/MAP will support these activities, notably as part of the observance of Mediterranean Coast Day on 25 September.
Lean more:
UNEP/MAP Coordinator’s message on World Oceans Day 2020
