In the framework of the European project Youth Ocean Advocacy and Leadership, Nausicaá and partner organizations brought a delegation of 12 young people from around the world to the United Nations Ocean Conference held in June in Nice, France. These 12 youth advocates, trained during the Citizen of the Ocean Summit hosted by Nausicaá in March 2025, came to UNOC to advocate for an international Citizen of the Ocean Youth Manifesto co-developed by 60 engaged young leaders during the Summit. Supported by 44 youth networks representing 1.5 million young people, the manifesto was presented to key actors in ocean governance. Here the link to support the Citizen of the Ocean Youth Manifesto.
1 – Official presentation of the Citizen of the Ocean Global Youth Manifesto
The delegation, assisted by representatives of other youth networks, handed over the manifesto to Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, and Agnès Pannier-Runacher, French Minister for the Environment.
This moment was mentioned in the official outcome document of UNOC3, Nice Commitments for the Ocean.
© Nausicaa
2 – Youth and the High Seas: advocating for the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement
In collaboration with the Office français de la biodiversité, the Global Ocean Forum and Early Career Ocean Professionals, Nausicaá co-organized two events on the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty (BBNJ):
- Youth Advocacy contest on the implementation of Marine Protected Areas in the high seas: an international youth advocacy competition
- Empowering Youth Voices to Make Waves for the BBNJ Agreement: An intergenerational roundtable on youth perspectives in BBNJ implementation
© Guillaume Lheureux, Nausicaa
3 – Side event « One Ocean, Many Voices – Youth and Indigenous Pathways to Ocean Protection »
Co-led by the youth delegation, this intercultural and intergenerational workshop brought together Indigenous leaders, scientists and youth activists around the “Citizen of the Ocean” manifesto. Through storytelling, dialogue, and a co-creation session, participants explored the connections between ancestral knowledge, science, and ocean justice.
© Guillaume Lheureux, Nausicaa