UN platform secretariat lands in Qingdao

Qingdao West Coast New Area (Qingdao WCNA) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO have signed a memorandum of cooperation to base the Cities with the Ocean Platform secretariat for the United Nations (UN) Ocean Decade at the Ocean Decade International Cooperation Center in Qingdao WCNA.

The 2025 UN Ocean Conference with the theme "Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean" is currently underway in Nice, France, from June 9 to 13. A delegation from Qingdao WCNA attended the conference.

This conference aims to promote the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 (conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources). It includes an opening ceremony, 10 plenary sessions, 10 ocean action group meetings, and a closing ceremony.

It has attracted participation from a variety of groups, including governments, the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, and non-governmental organizations.

Discussions revolve around core topics such as the protection and sustainable use of oceans, marine resources, and maritime areas, as well as supporting the implementation of UN SDG 14. The conference explores relevant implementation pathways and measures.

The conference featured three special events: the One Ocean Science Congress, the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Coalition Summit and the Blue Economy and Finance Forum. During the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Coalition Summit, Qingdao signed the membership documents to join the coalition.

The alliance will provide broader and deeper support for coastal areas worldwide, helping to achieve a sustainable future for the oceans.

During the conference, it was announced that the Cities with the Ocean Platform secretariat would be based in Qingdao WCNA. As one of the core programs under the framework of the UN Ocean Decade, this platform will focus on promoting marine ecological conservation, blue economic development, and innovative ocean governance through the cooperation of global coastal cities.

Furthermore, the delegation from Qingdao WCNA also participated in several important side events, including the Enlightening the Ocean: Innovative Science Leads Efforts to Promote a Sustainable Future and Bridge Ocean Science and End-users Through Toolkit side events, where people shared experiences and explored new cooperation opportunities.