UN Ocean Conference Side Event on Innovations
Date:
29 June 2022, 16:04 - 17:15 PM WET
Venue:

Committee Room, Altice Arena, Lisbon with Livestream
Portugal

Website:
Highlights from the RO Korea/UNDP/UNOSD UNOC2022 side event

 

 

Highlights from the side event (PDF file)

 

 

Background

Despite some progress, the world’s oceans continue to face multidimensional crises driven by overfishing, pollution, habitat loss, invasive species & climate change. Much needs to be done to achieve the 2030 Ocean Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. The challenge remains that among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), SDG 14 is estimated to receive the lowest level of investment, only averaging $1.3 billion per year.  

The governments of Kenya and Portugal are co-hosting the 2022 Ocean Conference from 27 June to 1 July 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal to identify ways and means to support the implementation of SDG 14 (Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development) under the backdrop of “the Ocean Decade 2021-2030”.   

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD), and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) of the Republic of Korea (ROK) join forces to co-organize a side event with a focus on finding solutions to marine plastic and other pollution issues at the global and national level. 

UNDP logoUNOSD logoMinistry of Oceans and Fisheries, Republic of Korea

 

This event took place in-person in Lisbon at the Conference venue (Altice Arena) with Livestream on Livecast. 

 

Objectives

Stop the source of pollution

This high-level event aims to: 

  • share up-to-date scientific findings on marine plastic pollution and increase understanding of the status and the impacts of plastic on the ocean; 

  • present examples of science-based solutions to combat marine plastic problems as well as innovative, entrepreneurial and creative approaches and technologies in action; 

  • discuss transformative approaches to addressing marine plastic pollution at the global and national level; and 

  • inspire and encourage individuals, organizations, the public and business sectors as well as industries to put forward and cultivate new ideas and incubate and invest in disruptive technologies and innovative solutions.  

 

 

Programme
 

Chair: Dr. Andrew Hudson, Head, UNDP Water and Ocean Governance Programme 

HIGH-LEVEL OPENING SESSION 

1600 – 1616(16 mins) 
Opening remarks 

 

  • H.E. Anders Grönvall,  State Secretary to Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Sweden  

  • Mr. Sang-Keun Song, Vice Minister, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Republic of Korea 

  • Dr. Ibrahim Abdul Latif Al Muslimani, Assistant Undersecretary of Protection and Natural Reserves, Qatar 

  • Mr. Haoliang Xu, UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of Bureau for Policy and Programme Support 

1616 – 1628 (12 mins) 

Setting the stage 

 

 

 

Addressing SDG 14 from UN Organizations Perspective 

  • Dr. Andrew Hudson, Head of UNDP Water and Ocean Governance Programme 

  • Mr. Chun Kyoo Park, Head of Office, UNOSD 

Death by marine plastic debris  

  • Prof. Youngran Lee, Professor, Osan University 

1629 – 1640 (12 mins) 

Solutions to Pollution 

 

 

 

  • Ms. Yukyung Jang, Deputy Director, Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries, ROK  

  • Mr. Yuvan Beejadhur, Senior Advisor to the Director-General, World Trade Organization 

  • Ms. Kristin Hughes, Director, Global Plastic Action Partnership, Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum  

  • Mr. Sefanaia Nawadra, Director General of SPREP (South Pacific Regional Environment Programme) 

 

PANEL DISCUSSION 

1641 – 1710 (30 mins) 

UNDP Ocean Innovation Challenge – Applied Solutions 

 

  

Panel Moderator: Dr. Mary Matthews, UNDP Ocean Advisor 

Panel: OIC first cohort innovators on Marine Pollution Reduction/SDG14.1 

  • Global Plastics Policy Database – Dr. John Virdin, Nicholas Institute Duke University, USA 

  • Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme in the Maldives – Mr. Paolo Facco, Adelphi Consult GmbH, Germany/Maldives 

  • Promoting Laws to Protect Our Oceans with the Support of Civil Society and Coastal Communities – Atty. Eduardo Leiton, Fundacion OneSea, Costa Rica 

  • Reducing microfiber pollution from the fashion industry – Ms. Ariel Muller, Forum for the Future, Singapore 

  • PhosValue: Sustainable Solutions for Nutrient Recycling in Cape Verde – Dr. Jorge Santos, AquaInSilico, Portugal 

  • Nutri-algae: Novel Sustainable Algae Based Fertilizers in Mexico and Morocco – Mr. Luis Lombana, Ficosterra, Spain 

  • Fortuna Coconut Coolers – Ms. Tamara Mekler, Fortuna Cools, US and Philippines 

CLOSING 

1701 - 1705  

Concluding Remarks 

 

Ms. Minna Epps, IUCN, Director Marine and Polar Program