About the Conference
Palau and the United States will co-host the 7th Our Ocean Conference on April 13 and 14 of 2022
The Republic of Palau is the first small island developing state (SIDS) to host the Our Ocean Conference. The conference’s theme is “Our Ocean, Our People, Our Prosperity,” which draws on Palau’s rich tradition as an ocean society and focuses on islander perspectives and approaches to ensuring the health of our ocean. The 7th Our Ocean Conference will be a key moment for countries, civil society, and industry to commit to concrete and significant actions to protect the ocean.
6 Action Areas
Each panel discussion at Our Ocean Conference 2022 will reflect the broader theme to amplify traditional ocean conservation knowledge and highlight vulnerable ocean communities. Threats to our ocean directly impact ocean ecosystems and threaten peoples’ livelihoods around the globe. Impacts can be especially devastating to places like Palau and other small island developing states, where the ocean is a primary source of sustenance.
Protecting our ocean, our people, and our prosperity for today and future generations.
Throughout the six previous conferences, participants have made 1,400 commitments worth US$91.4 billion and protected at least five million square miles of ocean. Because commitments are only as meaningful as their implementation, tracking progress and celebrating completion are important elements of the conference and complement its focus on significant new commitments.
Building Generation Ocean
The ocean is deeply rooted in the cultures, identities, and histories of ocean people. But this connection to our ocean must be nurtured with each generation to ensure that we protect life in our ocean.
Our Ocean 2020 will highlight the contributions of youth to resetting humanity’s relationship with our ocean, and showcase youth-led entrepreneurial and innovative ideas for ocean action. The beginning of the UN Decade for Ocean Science in 2021 also promises to ensure that ocean action is guided by the best science.
As we learn even more about our ocean, we understand that we need to combine conservation with sustainable use, and that action today safeguards our ocean for tomorrow.
