That’s the question that must be asked now. Our oceans are critical for life. They provide food and livelihoods, stabilize the climate, and contribute millions of jobs and at least $1.5 trillion annually to the global economy.

Join distinguished leaders from coastal states, Small Island Developing States, members of the Vulnerable Country Forum (CVF/V20) and developed countries, as well as representatives of international organisations and finance institutions, experts from international and national research institutions, think tanks and global centres of excellence, and civil society and non-governmental organisations to: 

• Discuss opportunities to promote sustainable use of ocean resources and the challenges posed by climate change and environmental pollution
• Identify opportunities to accelerate actions to protect ocean ecosystems for economic development while enhancing the resilience of vulnerable countries and communities
• Share experiences, best practices and research results to inspire successful sustainable ocean economies and climate change adaptation strategies and actions
• Build networks for cooperation, collaboration and develop synergies between initiatives