On the occasion of the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France from 9 to 13 June 2025, RAOEN joins Faith in the Ocean, a declaration for multifaith call for ocean action signed by international faith-based organizations, that will be launched on 11 June as a UNOC side event.
The declaration lays out seven calls to action to ensure a healthy, sustainable, and thriving ocean in the web of life for future generations:
- spiritual practice to foster deeper spiritual connection
- realignment to right relations with the ocean
- education on ocean conservation and lifestyle changes
- community engagement for protection and defense of ocean advocates
- policy advocacy such as the BBNJ ratification
- partnerships
- an integrated approach in responding to environmental concerns
Pedro Walpole SJ, RAOEN Coordinator, joins other speakers on 11 June at the Holy Trinity Church in Nice in a panel discussion, Faith in the Ocean: A Multifaith Call to Action for Ocean Flourishing, an in-person UNOC side event that intends to showcase how faith-based organizations draw on their faith traditions to promote a healthy ocean and a revolution of consciousness that realigns humanity’s relationship with the ocean.
The Faith in the Ocean declaration launch and side event will examine how multiple faith traditions inform ocean action to meet SDG14 while conserving and living sustainably with the ocean.
Featured also are the voluntary ocean commitments of co-sponsors of Faith in the Ocean that draw attention to critical ocean issues such as ocean-climate-biodiversity interlinkages, plastic pollution, and deep-sea mining. Co-sponsors include the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Peace, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Maryknoll Sisters, Temple of Understanding, Missionary Society of Saint Columban, Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, and Fondazione PROCLADE Internazionale Onlus.
To sign the Faith in the Ocean: An International Multi Faith Sign-on Declaration, please go to this link.