“On this World Oceans Day, we celebrate the wonders of the ocean—but we also celebrate civil society, and making sure that all non-state actors have a voice.”
– Loreley Picourt, Executive Director, Ocean & Climate Platform
This vision—of a future shaped by the collective power of civil society—was the heart of our gathering in Nice. For the past two years, the Ocean & Climate Platform and The Varda Group have led an ambitious journey to mobilize civil society across the globe: from COP15 in Montreal to the shores of the Mediterranean Their mission? To amplify voices that too often go unheard in multilateral processes, and to make space for bold, creative, and justice-driven approaches to ocean governance.
As Rémi Parmentier, Director at The Varda Group and coordinator of Let’s Be Nice to the Ocean, commented during the event:
“When I started, there were no boxes—so I’ve never been boxed in. And at my age, I have nothing to win and nothing to lose. That’s how we dare to think big: with ideas like the Protection Principle and the Ministries of the Ocean.”
Together, both entities have helped spark Let’s Be Nice to the Ocean, which since its launch on November 2023 has sparked a global movement and inspired dozens of organizations to rethink how we govern, protect, and relate to the ocean. In Nice, they brought this momentum to the stage, setting the tone for an afternoon of exchange, strategy, and imagination.
Highlights from the event
In celebration of World Ocean Day, our event brought together changemakers, legal experts, and intergenerational voices to ask: How can civil society lead the charge for ocean justice and protection?
Fireside chat: An Ocean of Possibilities
“We can no longer tolerate environmental laws that protect in silos. The ocean must be treated as a rights-holder, not a resource.”
– Marine Calmet, President, Wild Legal“The gap between legal frameworks and implementation is vast. Civil society must bridge it—with pressure, creativity, and persistence.”
– Rabel Aloui, Women and Gender UNEP Major Group“A just ocean is not only healthy—it’s ethical. It’s one where exploitation is replaced with stewardship, and where civil society keeps power accountable.”
– Sian Owen, Executive Director, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition
Dialogue: Driving Transformative Change
The dialogue explored not just ideas, but how change happens—at every level, from islands to institutions.
“We often focus on the big declarations—but change comes from everyday decisions. From how we shop, how we vote, how we speak up.”
– David Obura, Chair of IPBES
David emphasized that ecosystem health is about people—about the services nature provides and the knowledge we need to safeguard them.
“We need to mainstream this daily agency. Science can guide us, but values drive action. Let’s not only protect what we know—we must also protect what we don’t yet understand.”
He urged decision-makers to lean into uncertainty with humility and ethics, and to adopt “precaution rooted in justice.”
“Islands are not just on the frontlines—they are at the forefront of solutions.”
– Cameron Diver, Vice-President, Conservation Programs, Island Conservation
Cameron championed a powerful message: the ocean is not broken—but our relationship with it is.
He called for Ocean Rights to be embedded in law and policy, and stressed the measurable impact of island restoration:
“Restored islands show what’s possible. If we’re serious about regeneration, we must invest in these nature-based, rights-based solutions.”
“Island nations are not collateral damage in someone else’s development agenda. We are leaders, scientists, advocates, and voters.”
– Angélique Pouponneau, Ocean Lead Negotiator, AOSIS
Angélique shared her journey from youth activist in Seychelles to advisor to 39 small island states: “You want influence? Speak to power—but also to the ballot box. Governments may not listen to us directly—but they listen to their own citizens. Civil society has that leverage. Use it.”
She also called for deeper integration of academic and traditional knowledge systems:
“In the halls of power, we don’t just need numbers—we need values. And civil society must keep asking: Who benefits? Who decides?”
“We cannot solve everything with one grand fix. Real transformation comes from small, connected actions—anchored in local values and driven by trust.”
– Barkha Mossaë, Regenerative Blue Economy Manager, IUCN
From the 2020 MV Wakashio oil spill response to the return of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius sovereignty in 2024, Barkha shared how grassroots efforts and long-term struggle create lasting change: “Multilateralism works when it’s values-driven. We don’t live in a world where the strong must act and the weak must endure. We live in a world where courage and collaboration change history.”
The event highlighted a growing consensus: that civil society must reclaim its critical role in shaping ocean governance frameworks that are rights-based, forward-looking, and grounded in equity.