Ten years ago, on June 8, 2014, the OCP was founded with the support of IOC-UNESCO and a group of research and civil society actors at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. At a time when, on the eve of the adoption of the Paris Agreement, the ocean was largely absent from the discussions on climate change, the goal was clear: to ensure the ocean’s voice was heard and integrated into national climate strategies.

This initial wave of mobilisation under the OCP banner, initiated by the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), the Tara Ocean Foundation, the Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute, the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI), the French Committee of IUCN, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Oceanographic Institute – Prince Albert I of Monaco Foundation, Surfrider Foundation Europe, Nausicaá, the French Maritime Cluster, the French Shipowners’ Association, and the French Institute for the Sea, proved successful. In 2015, as a result of the joint effort to push forward OCP’s first policy recommendations “for a healthy ocean and protected climate,” the ocean was finally integrated into the preamble of the Paris Agreement.

This collective achievement marked the beginning of a decade of action to protect the ocean, climate, and biodiversity. Ten years of rallying the ocean community around a common message: a healthy ocean is a source of solutions to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises. Ten years of sharing and making accessible the latest scientific knowledge on the links between the ocean, climate, and biodiversity to decision-makers and the general public. Ten years of mobilising expertise to produce recommendations and inform political decision-making at all levels, both nationally and internationally. From a group of around fifteen organisations in 2014, the OCP now gathers over 110 members, all driven by the same determination and belief: a healthy ocean is essential to our resilience, and our best ally in facing current challenges.

In celebration of this decade of collective efforts, the OCP and IOC-UNESCO have brought together this community of committed stakeholders today, July 4th, to reflect on the actions taken for the ocean, climate, and biodiversity. This event will also be an opportunity to discuss future priorities, particularly ahead of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference scheduled in 2025, and beyond, within the framework of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) implemented by IOC-UNESCO, and the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.