2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) successfully concluded on June 13 in Nice, France. During the event, the thematic side event “Generation Blue: Educating and Empowering Youth for Ocean Conservation”, led by Global Youth Philanthropy (GYP) and co-hosted with multiple Chinese and international institutions, was held in a hybrid (online-offline) format, connecting participants from around the globe. The event focused on the pivotal role of youth in enhancing ocean literacy. One of its core highlights was the official launch of a bilingual (Chinese-English) book compiled from dialogues between 24 youth journalists across three continents and top global marine scientists.
The side event was organised by Global Youth Philanthropy Leader (US), Global Youth Philanthropy (China), Global Youth Philanthropy Leader (Canada), China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association, Decade Collaborative Center on Ocean-Climate Nexus and Coordination amongst Decade Implementing Partners in P.R. China (DCC-OCC), Peaceland Foundation, APEC Marine Sustainable Development Center, CMA CGM Group (France), Mangrove Conservation Foundation, Southern University of Science and Technology and the Preparatory Office for Shenzhen Ocean University (UN Ocean Decade Implementing Partner), Common Seas (UK), ECOP, and Wordwise (China).
UNOC is a global gathering on ocean issues with many of the world's top policy makers and decision makers present. Together, they aim to catalyse action to conserve and sustainably use ocean, seas and marine resources. This third conference embraces the ambitious goal of protecting 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030.
Hence, against this backdrop, social organizations, marine scientists, and policymakers converged with the shared goal of marine conservation, engaging in cross-sectoral exchanges under the Conference's side event mechanism. From June 4 to 13, UN-approved organizers hosted 71 independently planned side events worldwide and in marine regions, widely mobilizing diverse sectors to participate in the thematic meetings.
The side event opened with the debut of “Tides of Tomorrow”, an original philanthropic song created by Melody Bridge, a youth-led music initiative founded by teenagers from China, the USA and Canada, with the support of Global Youth Philanthropy.
On June 8, the thematic side event “Generation Blue” was held in a hybrid online-offline format, with the offline venue set at the Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park Resort Hotel, connecting thousands of participants worldwide in real time. The event opened with a stunning performance of Tides of Tomorrow, a symphonic composition created by Melody Bridge-a youth-led philanthropic association incubated under the guidance of Global Youth Philanthropy and initiated by teenagers from China, the U.S., the U.K., and Canada. Echoing the call of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the song uses music to convey the urgency and hope surrounding marine conservation. Through heartfelt lyrics such as “Our hearts will never hide from the sea”, the performance brought forward the voices of youth across borders, calling for global unity in protecting the ocean and setting the tone for the day, highlighting youth voices, creativity and their emotional connection to the ocean.
In Shanghai for "Generation Blue", the opening remarks, themed “Youth as Partners in Achieving the 2030 Agenda,” were hosted by Qiu Lili, Founder and President of the Peaceland Foundation. Professor Vladimir Ryabinin, former Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO; and Qiao Fangli, Deputy Director and Chief Engineer of the First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources; then went on to underscore the urgency of ocean conservation and the critical role of youth in advancing sustainable ocean development.
Their speeches were followed by Valentina Lovat, Ocean Literacy Specialist with UNESCO’s Ocean Literacy With All initiative, who emphasised the importance of integrating ocean literacy into national education systems. Lin Jian, internationally renowned geophysicist, member of Academia Europaea and European Academy of Sciences and Chair Professor of Southern University of Science and Technology delivered remarks on “Deep-Sea Resource Exploitation and Environmental Protection: Achieving a Sustainable Balance”, while also announcing that very morning's formation of the Ocean Literacy Global Alliance in Primary and Secondary Education. Academician Lin said, "In sort, what we are doing is connecting a high school in Shenzhen with a high school in Spain, or another high school in Brazil, or another high school in Australia. We hope this global alliance will be greater for everyone, because you can learn so much from other cultures, learn so much from other languages, but also speak the common language of our oceans".
Liu Feng, Vice Chairman of the China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association, and Xie Yuanyan, Founder and Chairman of Global Youth Philanthropy, also contributed to the opening session, calling for stronger intergenerational collaboration and innovation in ocean action.
With Sustainable Development Goals 14.1 and 14.2, namely reducing marine pollution and protecting marine ecosystems, as their guiding lights, the many youth journalists were an event highlight, presenting their work entitled, “Dreaming the Deep: Youth Journalists Dialogue with Ocean Scientists”, that features intergenerational dialogues between marine scientists and youth, with an on-site introduction by the book's Chief Editor Tang Zhihan.
Their efforts were then recognised through a series of speeches following the book launch, headed by William E.N. Austin with the Scottish Oceans Institute and the University of St Andrews. He spoke highly of his interview experience with the youth journalists, while referencing the Blue Carbon Hub in China with which he is involved, describing it as "a very exciting development for us", and going on to close by saying, "We [the scientific community] need to stand up for nature; we need to protect nature”. Professor with Sun Yat-sen University Yu Weidong then stood up to echo his call.
Three youth representatives then made appearances at the side event via pre-recorded videos. Therein, Eliya Wang from Canada revealed the results of her interviews with some leading oceanologists, Ricarda Xu from the USA shared her research among students at her school as to their thoughts on the importance of protecting our oceans, and Julia Tapilatu from Indonesia spoke of her H200 Heirs to the Ocean initiative which is helping youth to become involved in policy making.
Four of the youth journalists responsible for the work "Dreaming the Deep" then sat down for a panel discussion, moderated by multi international award-winning journalist Frank Hossack, whereby Isabella Gates, Jiao Zijian, Fang Beini and Xu Minyuan posed their questions to Professor with Sun Yat-sen University Yu Weidong, Chairman of Guangzhou Ocean Turtle Specialised Marine Company Cai Meijiang, Professor at the Second Institute of Oceanography Han Xiqiu and Distinguished Professor at Shanghai Ocean University Fang Jiasong.
The book was just one of four major voluntary commitments which will be officially registered in the UN Voluntary Ocean Commitments Database to encourage global participation. "Dreaming the Deep" is joined first by an expansion to the Ocean Literacy curriculum led by Common Seas, whereby the scalable, youth-led approach to reducing plastic pollution for our oceans, our health and our future was discussed by Head of Education Sarah Duffy, Project Manager for Global Education Marina Grissin, and School Engagement Officer Jiawei Liu.
There thus followed Associate Researcher of the First Oceanic Research Institute of the Ministry of Natural Resources of China Guan Song, who presented the Annual Report of the Decade Collaborative Centre on Ocean Climate (DCC-OCC) and elaborated further on the Literacy Alliance for Schools announced earlier in the session.
These volunteer commitments, together with the establishing of a UN Ocean Decade schools alliance, fostered youth-driven education programs highlighting ocean stewardship; bringing together schools, educators, students, institutions and organisations dedicated to promoting ocean literacy; and strengthening a global ocean-heritage education driven by youth participation in conservation through collaborative platforms.
The UN Side Event therein also embraced the programs that are Marine Ecosystem Conservation and Blue Citizen Engagement, whereby Researcher of Third Institute Oceanography Liu Zhenghua; and Deputy Secretary General of Mangrove Conservation Foundation Zhai Liu shared their experiences. The two were subsequently joined by Lecturer at the School of Management in Guangdong Ocean University Li Shenghui for ECOP: Asian Ocean Literacy Centre-Youth Leadership.
As this UNOC Side Event closed out with the announcement of the Global Youth Ocean-themed Essay and Painting Competition, attendees on and offline found key takeaways through the transformative education models presented that are empowering the next generation to lead our ocean-protection effort.
Inspiring youth leadership in China and with the world as its stakeholder, such youthful ambition and drive is turning curiosity into action and questions into the forces that move our ocean's tides, paving the way for increased international cooperation to protect our most vulnerable habitats.
As a champion of youth-led change, GYP remains steadfast in its conviction; the collaborative ingenuity of young people constitutes the vital force for addressing planetary challenges. Moving forward, we will intensify our efforts to build cross-sector bridges, empowering more youth to become architects of transformation, turning their visions into measurable impact and collectively forging a more inclusive, sustainable future.
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