The first in-person UN Ocean Decade Conference took place in Barcelona on 10-12 of April 2024, bringing together the Ocean Decade community and partners to celebrate achievements and establish shared priorities. The central aims of the Conference were showcasing accomplishments, fostering dialogue, and catalyzing new collaborations for sustainable development by 2030.

In a significant step towards this vision, Alice Guittard from BRIDGE-BS participated in the “Science and Solutions for a Sustainable and Resilient Ocean Economy” session at the UN Ocean Decade Conference. During her presentation, Guittard spotlighted BRIDGE-BS’s innovative endeavors, emphasizing their pivotal role in advancing the Ocean Decade’s 2030 vision. Notably, she highlighted the Living Labs in the Black Sea region, wherein BRIDGE-BS facilitates dynamic hubs to tackle local and regional Black Sea challenges through stakeholder collaboration.

The contributions of BRIDGE-BS and the insights shared at the UN Ocean Decade conference underscore the critical importance of collaboration in fostering a sustainable ocean economy.