Intergenerational Equity in Ocean Governance: Securing the Rights of Future Generations
This event is jointly organised by the World’s Youth for Climate Justice (WYCJ) and the African Young Leaders Foundation (AYLF), and has been officially approved by the United Nations Ocean Conference Secretariat in Nice, France. It will explore the growing relevance of intergenerational equity in ocean governance, featuring a dynamic, intergenerational panel of legal experts, policymakers, and grassroots advocates. The discussion will centre on youth-driven approaches to safeguarding the rights.2024 marked a pivotal year for climate justice, with major cases before the ICJ, IAtHR, and ITLOS, bringing states’ climate responsibilities to sharp focus. As youth voices gain prominence in advisory opinion proceedings, the rights and role of future generations need to be further examined. This event thus seeks to stimulate youth-centered discourse on intergenerational equity in ocean governance, promoting SDG 14. The panel will therefore balance legal and policy experts with voices from grassroots and community perspectives, ensuring a multi-sectoral and intergenerational conversation. The speakers will explore how intergenerational equity has been addressed in the advisory opinion proceedings and share insights on how the principle can be better integrated in ocean governance.
The side event resonates with the Voluntary Ocean Commitments database. It also connects to the commitment of “Sustaining Coastal and Marine Ecosystems through Pollution Reduction and Sustainable Blue Economy Initiatives”. According to the ITLOS Advisory Opinion, States Parties to UNCLOS are obligated to protect and preserve the marine environment, which entails due diligence duties and taking a precautionary approach regarding GHG emissions. Even when the marine environment is already degraded, States have the obligation to restore ecosystems and marine habitats. This side event will highlight how youth can drive implementation through legal innovation, community action, and future-focused governance. It will culminate in a youth-led declaration outlining priorities for integrating intergenerational equity into ocean law and policy.
Before we arrived at this event, the African Young Leaders Foundation (AYLF) has officially been granted Special Accreditation to participate in the upcoming 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference, scheduled to take place from June 9 – 13, 2025, in Nice, France, and co-hosted by France and Costa Rica.
This year’s conference will convene under the theme: “Accelerating Action on Mobilizing All Actors to Conserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean” and will focus on supporting the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14.
Interested in participating in this virtual side event, please fill out this form - UNOC3 Virtual Side Event Registration Form
