Will 2022 be the year of the oceans?

Oceans connect the globe, are a crucial carbon sink, and home to much of the world’s biodiversity, but all over the world, their protection has been overlooked, with human pressures causing increasing harm, not only to marine ecology, but often to people too.?

Since ocean currents know no national borders, international meetings to solve the challenges are unbelievably important. EU Commissioner for Environment, Virginijus Sinkevicius, has said 2022 must be the?year of the oceans, and there is certainly a busy international schedule of meetings taking place.?

Eyes are on the UN Environment Assembly concluding this week in Nairobi, where campaigners, corporations, and governments have?stepped up calls?for a new global treaty to tackle plastic pollution.

At BEC, we are proud to be the PR Partner for the?Economist Impact’s 9th?Annual World Ocean Summit, 01-04 March, which will bring together representatives from over 100 countries, more than 150 speakers, and 8,000 attendees - from businesses to scientists, government, investors, and civil society.?

This year’s Summit will focus on six industry tracks: plastics, shipping, fishing, aquaculture, energy, and tourism. Highlights include an agenda that will see the likes of John Kerry, US special envoy for climate,??Amina J. Mohammed, United Nations deputy secretary-general and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal, address delegates from around the world.

The theme of the four-day global event, organised by Economist Impact, is “How to achieve 2030 targets”. Programming will consist of online conversations, interactive sessions, roundtables, and a virtual exhibition.

For journalists, please get in touch with us if you’re interested in meeting the leading lights of the ocean’s discussion: [email protected]

For others wanting to find out more about the World Ocean Summit and how to attend, more details are available on the event website here: events.economist.com/world-ocean-summit/