High-level world experts gathered on 4-5 December 2017 in Venice, Italy, to define a roadmap to advance ocean literacy at a global scale. At this occasion, UNESCO will released “Ocean Literacy for All. A toolkit”, a publication highlighting ocean literacy activities around the world and providing lesson plans and activities. More than 100 participants from 34 countries covering all regions (Africa, North and South America, Asia and Europe) met in Venice, at UNESCO Office in Venice premises, to discuss the role of ocean literacy in the implementation of SDG14 and of the whole Agenda 2030. The event, was opened by a high level panel, chaired by Peter Pissierssens, coordinator of the IOC Capacity Development Strategy, which included Gesine Meissner, Member of the European Parliament; Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy for the Ocean; and Vladimir Ryabinin, IOC Executive Secretary.
A wide variety of speakers – educators, scientists, activists, journalists, contemporary art curators and foundations joined the conference, highlighting the need of bringing together research, art and communication to spread the message. Good practices in formal and non-formal education as well as examples of successful public-private partnerships were presented to create the basis for an exchange amongst the participants.
The participants discussed and agreed on the elements of an ocean literacy roadmap that will help in ensuring that citizens and policy-makers are well equipped in their knowledge of how human and ocean well-being are tightly connected. more info from Francesca Santoro: f.santoro@unesco.org