DUBAI, 10th June, 2024 (WAM) – Goumbook, the leading social enterprise promoting sustainability and climate action across the region, is hosting its 2nd Annual MENA Oceans Summit at Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi.
The event will host a diverse range of stakeholders to discuss ocean health under 4 key pillars: Blue Economy, Blue Governance, Blue Science and Blue Collective to foster dialogue and collaborative action.
This is a milestone event in the lead up to UNOC 2025, gathering regional perspectives; building on outcomes from the 2023 MENA Oceans summit and COP28.
Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion, COP28 and IUCN President highlights, “By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the MENA Oceans Summit serves as a unique platform that helps advance our collective understanding and foster regional collaboration to address the key marine issues pertinent to the MENA region. It's a crucial gathering that supports our ongoing environmental commitments and acknowledges the sea's integral role in the cultural and economic fabric of our region.”
MENA Oceans Summit 2024 is under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Marwan Abdulla Alzaabi, Assistant Undersecretary, Regions Sector, UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, stated, “Marine ecosystems are integral to the social, cultural, and environmental tapestry of the UAE and continue to play a vital role in the nation’s economic development. The fisheries industry and aquaculture are important pillars of our economy, as well as a source of livelihood, biodiversity and food security. Therefore, conserving and protecting the seas is of paramount importance to us."
He said, “The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment is committed to driving action to tackle climate change and preserve ocean health. We are working to boost the regulatory, legislative, and financial frameworks to foster sustainable marine ecosystems and driving the nation’s blue economy.
“The MENA Oceans Summit is a key platform for forging dialogue and facilitating collaboration among sectors, stakeholders, and policymakers. Sharing regional perspectives, experiences and best practices will contribute to discussions at the UN Ocean Conference next year and help forge meaningful action on a global level.”
Tatiana Antonelli Abella, Founder of Goumbook and Chair of MENA Oceans Summit, highlights “As a society, we must recognise our profound dependence on nature, which generously provides the resources essential for our survival, well-being, and prosperity. At the heart of this interconnected web lies the ocean—the cradle of life. Collaborating with nature and safeguarding our oceans is not just an option; it’s an imperative for the benefit of future generations. Responsible stewardship and collective action are urgent. Without a thriving ocean, humanity’s existence, health, and prosperity would be imperilled. As stewards of this precious resource, it is our duty to protect and preserve it. The ocean’s paramount importance underscores our shared responsibility in ensuring its health.”
The MENA Oceans Summit has two pivotal goals designed to reshape our engagement with ocean health on a global stage, Forging Cross-Border Collaboration for Targeted Solutions: Recognising the intricate tapestry of challenges facing our oceans, MEAN Oceans Summit is committed to breaking down barriers and building bridges across geopolitical boundaries and sectoral silos. The event serves as a dynamic platform for fostering collaboration and sharing knowledge among nations, industries, academia, and non-profits within the region. Through this concerted effort, we aim to co-create and implement solutions that are not only innovative but also deeply relevant to the regional context.
At the heart of the Summit is the ambition to unify and amplify the voices of diverse stakeholder groups across the region. By fostering a strong, collective regional presence, the initiative aims to significantly enhance our influence and participation in international efforts dedicated to ocean conservation. This strategic alignment of regional perspectives seeks not only to assert our stance but also to ensure that our unique insights and needs are adequately represented in the global dialogue on ocean health.
A key feature of the summit will be industry deep dives, round table strategic discussions with key stakeholders across industry value chains. These deep dives will identify challenges, innovations and opportunities that could turn the tide for the sector's impact on ocean ecosystems.
Insights and the outcome papers will capture key insights from across Summit and deep dive sessions to feed into discussion with key partners in the lead up to UNOC 2025.
This Summit marks the beginning of the next phase in which the MENA Oceans Network will be activated, leveraging the momentum accumulated since the 2023 SUmmit and action for Oceans at COP28.
The MENA Oceans Initiative, network, and summit stand out for their regional focus, interdisciplinary approach, emphasis on innovation and technology, community engagement, policy advocacy, education and awareness, and commitment to partnerships and collaboration. This comprehensive approach enables the initiative to address complex ocean challenges and drive positive change in the MENA region and beyond.