One year of impact, one vision for the future: making ocean protection the norm, not the exception
Over the past year, Let’s Be Nice to the Ocean has championed the Protection Principle, an ambitious framework that shifts the burden of proof from ocean defenders to those pursuing extractive or polluting activities. With just two dedicated team members, we’ve worked tirelessly to advance this principle, seeking that it becomes a cornerstone of ocean protection efforts globally.
With the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France, just five months away, we are more committed than ever to presenting the Protection Principle to global leaders as a necessary evolution of the Rio Summit’s Precautionary Principle.
Our journey so far has been powered by partnerships, advocacy, and inclusive dialogue.
Our impact at a glance
- Three in-house publications exploring the need for stronger ocean governance:
- Let’s Be Nice to the Ocean: Thinking Outside the Box before the Third UN Ocean Conference, October 2023.
- Let’s Be Nice To The Ocean: Civil Society Approaches to Ocean Protection towards the Third UN Ocean Conference, first edition – June 2024
- Advancing the Protection Principle, October 2024
- Seven partners advancing the Protection Principle: TBA21-Academy, Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy, Tara Ocean Foundation, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, MedPAN, and the Ocean Born Foundation.
- 80 Associated Stakeholders lending expertise and voices to the movement.
- +2400 LinkedIn followers to date engaged in advocating ocean protection.
Advocating across global forums
The Let’s Be Nice to the Ocean team has brought the Protection Principle to key forums, including (links to each):
- The European Parliament
- Monaco Ocean Week
- The UN Ocean Decade Conference
- Immersed in Change Conference
- CBD COP16
- Nice Climate Week
- The SMILO Assembly, and many more.
We’ve also sought to contribute to shaping UNOC declarations and ocean panels, ensuring that civil society’s voice remains central to decision-making processes.
Looking ahead to UNOC 2025
The French and Costa Rican co-presidency of UNOC 2025 has tasked the Varda Group, alongside the Ocean & Climate Platform, with facilitating inclusive civil society participation. With only five months to go, this is a pivotal opportunity to unite ocean advocates worldwide and push for actionable commitments at the highest level.
We invite all ocean defenders—civil society organisations, scientists, Indigenous Peoples, youth leaders, and more—to join this participatory movement.
Together, we can help shape a future where ocean protection is an unquestionable global priority.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our partners, stakeholders, and supporters. As we approach UNOC 2025, we remain steadfast in our mission to make a lasting impact for the ocean, marine biodiversity, and all who depend on it.
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