The first meeting of the Marine Regions Forum is taking place from 30 September \u2013 2 October, 2019 in Berlin under the overarching theme \u201cAchieving a healthy ocean \u2013 Regional ocean governance beyond 2020.\u201d<\/p>\n
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In his opening remarks to the conference, IASS Founding Director Klaus T\u00f6pfer emphasized the urgent need for international cooperation to protect the oceans and highlighted the importance of the climate strike movement and the IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate<\/a>. The time for action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal on \u201cLife Below Water\u201d (SDG 14) is now, he said. Inger Andersen<\/a>, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme UNEP, highlighted four steps that foster a healthy marine environment: fighting climate change, rethinking fisheries, putting land-based pollution into the ocean agenda, and restoring marine and coastal ecosystems.<\/p>\n Aiming to develop clear recommendations, catalyze actionable outputs, and build partnerships for stronger regional ocean governance in support of SDG 14, the Marine Regions Forum<\/a> provides a space for decision-makers, scientists, and civil society from around the world to discuss solutions for ocean health.<\/p>\n The Forum features interactive plenary and parallel dialogue sessions on the following themes:<\/p>\n\n