OCEAN LITERACY for BLUE CITIZENSHIP
Photo credit: Will Van Wingerde / Unsplash
The Project
Table of Contents
The project focuses on delivering capacity-building initiatives and mentorship to enhance Early Career Ocean Professionals’ (ECOPs) understanding of policy processes, enabling them to communicate scientific information persuasively and advocate for sustainable ocean policies. It empowers ECOPs and youth through hands-on policy engagement training and facilitates direct interactions with policymakers to apply their skills in real-world scenarios. The ECOP Programme and Global Ocean Literacy Task Team will support networking, showcasing ideas, and fostering synergies, thus enhancing professional development and nurturing a global community of informed and engaged blue citizens.
Background
Ocean literacy is essential for developing informed and engaged blue citizens capable of advocating for sustainable ocean management and influencing policies. Despite ongoing efforts, a gap persists in adequately preparing Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) for this role. This project aims to bridge that gap by enhancing Ocean Literacy for Blue Citizenship, fostering a sustainable, ocean-literate workforce that connects sciences, society, and policy. By involving ECOPs in decision-making processes and empowering them to become new leaders, the project equips them with the necessary skills for effective policy engagement and creates opportunities for interaction with policymakers.
Framework
Aligned with the EU Green Deal, Mission Ocean objectives, Ocean Literacy Principles, and the Venice Declaration, this initiative emphasizes ocean literacy and cognitive equity to address UN Decade Challenge 10. It focuses on bridging gaps in understanding and encouraging action to protect marine ecosystems and support a sustainable blue economy. By fostering equitable access to ocean knowledge, it empowers communities to engage in informed and impactful ocean stewardship.
Objectives
1. To enhance knowledge about policies and how the engagement of blue citizens can influence the policy change for a more sustainable blue economy, strong measures to protect/restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity.
2. To provide knowledge and encourage co-creation on strategic campaigns and coordinate actions from bottom-up to influence the revision of the International Ocean Governance agenda.
Components of the project
Training course
Awareness campaigns
Policy Engagement Opportunities
Training course
Awareness campaigns
We plan to develop awareness campaigns to address the gap in understanding among ECOPs and youth regarding their role in policy engagement. These campaigns will clarify the responsibilities of blue citizens in the policymaking process, focusing on active participation with policymakers and amplifying the voices of society, especially those from neglected communities. By highlighting the importance of political engagement as a means to promote environmental justice, uphold human rights, and ensure the health of the ocean—intrinsically linked to human well-being—the campaigns aim to engage both those already interested in the topic and those who may not have previously considered their potential contributions to more equitable policies and laws.
Policy Engagement Opportunities
Through various partnerships, we aim to empower ECOPs and youth with training opportunities (online, in-person and hands-on), direct interaction with policymakers, and mentorship to enhance their understanding of policy processes, enabling effective advocacy for sustainable ocean policies.
Resources
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Focal points
Partners
Sponsors
