Last week, renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle and Polynesian Voyaging Society CEO Nainoa Thompson joined global leaders in Paris for “SOS Ocean,” a high-level gathering held March 30-31 at the Musée National de la Marine.
Under the leadership of French President Emmanuel Macron and in collaboration with the Oceano Azul Foundation, the event convened policymakers, scientists and advocates to confront urgent ocean challenges as France and Costa Rica prepare to host the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3) in Nice in two months.
The SOS Ocean convening aimed to shape the “Nice Ocean Action Plan,” a five-year agenda which will be negotiated during UNOC and is designed to prioritize ocean protection and restoration and support implementation of sustainable development goal SDG14: Life Below Water. Presentations at the convening highlighted the accelerating consequences of the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse—underscoring the need for immediate, science-backed solutions.
