Dear Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer (France),
Dear Minister Vahinala Raharinirina (Madagascar),
Dear Stefania Giannini, representing UNESCO,
Ladies and Gentleman,
Let me start by congratulating the French Presidency for organising this event that marks an important milestone for Europe.
I thank you for letting me share some reflections on the challenges we have ahead of us to care for our Oceans.
From the air we breathe to temperature regulation or biodiversity, Oceans play a key role in reaching the necessary equilibria to become more sustainable.
Our citizens care about sustainability of our Oceans. Yet, the willingness to improve our environment does not always translate in a deeper understanding nor motivates collaboration for action.
We can support the development of greater awareness and knowledge by three main lines:
- Through Education towards ocean literacy.
- Investing in Research to push the boundaries of the possible – and adding to what each of us can learn.
- Thirdly, by active participation of all, creating opportunities to put new knowledge into practice.
Starting with education, we created the EU4Ocean coalition to bring together different partners and share knowledge to improve Oceans literacy.
It supports the Network of European Blue Schools developing projects with and for our schools.
It connects young people through the Youth for Ocean Forum. It has launched the #MakeEUBlue campaign, pooling together pledges towards real, meaningful change. Let me take this opportunity to invite you all here to join in and pledge!
We have just published a proposal for a Council Recommendation on learning for environmental sustainability, with the new European competence framework on sustainability.
We want to support Member States to equip learners with the understanding and skills towards creating a socially just and sustainable future.
In what concerns research, we have launched the Mission Oceans within the Horizon Europe programme. It will address the science and technology we need to offload the pressure on our Oceans and Waters ecosystems.
Cutting-edge research like the work of the FutureMARES project, will help conserve and restore marine ecosystems across the globe.
This kind of research will inform effective policy solutions and help us heal ecosystems and adapt to climate change supporting habitat-forming species like, for example, mangrove trees.
The Mission will launch four lighthouses in major European river and sea basins, from the Mediterranean to the North Sea, the Baltic, the Atlantic and the Arctic.
We will fund the Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters with a half billion Euros in the next three years, mainly through Horizon Europe complemented by other funds such as the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and InvestEU.
The Mission will deliver break-through innovation and will promote cooperation and convene communities of practice at sea and river basin levels. I want to emphasise that fighting climate change requires the new forms of participation, with dedicated citizen assemblies that the Mission will provide.
The lighthouses are guiding spots for our European citizens, counting on them to engage and participate, interact with researchers, co-creating solutions to protect our Oceans and Rivers.
The ambitious Digital Twin Ocean that will be developed can be used for educational purposes in our schools, going beyond our specialised laboratories.
Let me conclude with the third aspect related with opportunities for participation.
2022 is the European Year of the Youth and in that context we are launching a European Climate Solidarity Corps, as part of the broader framework.
We want to empower young people to act directly to protect their planet, building a greener, bluer future for Europe.
We are rolling out other initiatives for direct action. For example, the Plastic Pirates citizen science initiative will bring students and scientists together to tackle the difficult issue of plastic pollution.
To conclude, dear friends,
Caring for our oceans and rivers is a huge task, and requires a multiplicity of efforts, of our collective efforts.
Help us disseminating and raise awareness. Bring your voice to the podcast #IfOceansCouldSpeak, from the EU4Ocean coalition.
And remember, Europe cannot be alone in this epochal effort.
I very much welcome the international collaboration embedded in the Mission Oceans and in particular the collaboration with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO on Ocean Literacy.
I wish you good winds and good discussion in this event.
Thank you for your attention!
Fonte : press corner European Commission https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner.
Foto : European Commission
