Riyadh Blue Talk: A dialogue in support of the 2022 UN Ocean Conference

Click here for the Programme Agenda.

“Riyadh Blue Talk” was organised by the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, the Embassy of Portugal, and the Embassy of Kenya in Riyadh with the objective to raise awareness on Oceans in light of the upcoming 2022 UN Ocean Conference that will be held in Lisbon, Portugal from 27 June to 1 July 2022. The Conference is organised by the United Nations and co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal (link: https://www.un.org/en/conferences/ocean2022).

Under the theme “Scaling up the ocean action based on science and innovation for the implementation of Goal 14: stocktaking, partnerships and solutions”, the 2022 UN Ocean Conference will seek to propel a much-needed science-based innovative solutions aimed at starting a new chapter of global ocean action. Solutions for a sustainably managed ocean involve green technology and innovative uses of marine resources. They also include addressing the threats to health, ecology, economy, and governance of the ocean - acidification, marine litter and pollution, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and the loss of habitats and biodiversity.

Considering the valuable contributions and efforts that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the conservation of marine environment at the national, regional and global levels, the Riyadh Blue Talk was an opportunity for the national stakeholders to exchange knowledge and solutions to solve pressing challenges. The event was conducted in a Panel format with audience from the government institutions, academia, the private sector and other relevant stakeholders. The organisation of the event has been supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Riyadh Blue Talk was organised into two sessions of Panel discussions. The overall debate centred around two Dialogue Streams of the 2022 UN Ocean Conference, namely:

• Managing, Protecting, Conserving and Restoring Marine and Coastal Ecosystems
• Increasing Scientific Knowledge and Developing Research Capacity and Transfer of Marine Technology

Participation was open for government institutions, the academia, private sector, regional and international organisations.