The Republic of Palau will host the seventh Our Ocean Conference on 13 and 14 April 2022*. This marks the first time that the Our Ocean Conference will be hosted by a small island developing state.

The theme of next year's conference is "Our Ocean, Our People, Our Prosperity," which will draw on Palau's rich tradition as an ocean society and focus on islander perspectives and approaches to ensuring the health of our ocean. The 7th Our Ocean Conference will be a key moment for countries, civil society, industry, and youth to commit to concrete and significant actions to protect the ocean.

Recognising that the connection to our ocean must be nurtured with each generation, Our Ocean 2022 will highlight the contributions of young leaders who are innovating and advocating to protect our oceans. If you are aged 18 – 30 and making an impact for our ocean, the Republic of Palau welcomes you to apply to participate in Our Ocean 2022.

*Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governments of the Republic of Palau and the United States have postponed the seventh Our Ocean Conference. The conference has now been rescheduled for April 13 and 14, 2022. 

• Delegate participation in the Our Ocean Conference 2022 from 13 – 14 April 2022.

• Return air travel to the Republic of Palau.

• Hotel accommodation in Palau from 10 – 17 April.

This opportunity is seeking bold young leaders who:

• Are aged 18 – 30.

• Are making a positive impact in at least one of the following action areas:

  • Advancing Marine Protected Areas for Communities, Ecosystems & Climate: Well-designed and effectively managed Marine Protected Areas are well known tools for biodiversity conservation and management. But they are also increasingly being recognised for their contribution to other dimensions of sustainable development, including climate action and food security.

  • Tackling Marine Pollution: ‘Floating garbage patches’ and ocean dead zones have seized the world’s attention as signs of humankind’s impacts on nature. Marine pollution, including from plastics, undermines food security, human health and marine biodiversity.

  • Confronting the Ocean-Climate Crisis: Climate stress on our ocean is becoming more and more apparent. The contribution of our ocean to both mitigating and adapting to climate change is being increasingly recognised.

  • Creating Sustainable Blue Economies: For too long our ocean has been treated as an inexhaustible resource. But like all resources, failures to allow regeneration are failures of planning and management, and a failure to properly account for the economic and social value of the resource.

  • Advancing Sustainable Fisheries: Humanity will rely increasingly on our ocean as a source of healthy food, but a third of all targeted fish stocks are overfished. Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing pose continuing threats to fish sustainability, livelihoods and safety.

  • Achieving a Safe & Secure Ocean: Our ocean is all too often an unsafe place, where human rights and security are elusive. Achieving a safe and secure ocean will protect the communities that are the most vulnerable and reliant on it, through the engagement of people from all dimensions of society.

Submit the short application linked below before 8:00pm GMT on 16 January 2022