Now that the drought is beginning to make its emergency felt, the city is preparing to host a conference that will debate another of the many victims of climate change, the oceans. Barcelona will host the Ocean Decade Conference 2024, a global forum that will bring together governments, universities, companies, NGOs, and civil society from different countries. The initiative is promoted by the United Nations (UN) with the aim of reversing the deterioration of the oceans and finding solutions for their preservation.
"Barcelona's history has always been closely linked to its Mediterranean identity, especially at an economic and commercial level," said the Deputy Mayor for Economy, Finance, Economic Promotion, and Tourism, Jordi Valls, at the presentation of the summit, held this Friday at the headquarters of the Fundació Barcelona Capital Nàutica. "In the current situation of climate emergency, we cannot overlook the immensely important role of water: incorporating the sea as a key element of urban resilience is crucial," Valls added.
From Wednesday, April 10, to Friday, April 12, the ocean community will meet at the Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona (CCIB). An attendance of 1,500 people and the participation of more than 40 international speakers are expected. Under the title, The science we need for the ocean we want, the conference will be structured into four thematic sessions based on the 10 challenges of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), also known as the Ocean Decade. Topics such as marine pollution, the connection with climate, food, emergency alert systems, and ocean literacy will be discussed.
The conference will be the culmination of a week of events that will take place in the city starting Monday, April 8. A hundred parallel activities will be scheduled, many of which will be open to the public, with debates, presentations, workshops, and dialogues. Oral presentations on scientific solutions for the oceans will also be held at the CCIB to complement the main sessions, and a new foundation will be created to strengthen the sustainable management of the oceans.