World Ocean Summit Europe

Economist Impact’s World Ocean Initiative is convening a high-level European summit to build on key outcomes from the third UN Ocean Conference, and bring a regional perspective to this year’s World Ocean Summit which took place in Tokyo in March. Continuing the association with Portugal from the 2023 and 2024 summits, the regional summit will take place in Cascais on September 9th. 

This focused gathering will drive actionable ocean policies, addressing Europe’s most pressing marine challenges. The summit will provide a vital platform for implementing ocean-action plans and fostering dialogue on priority issues, including coastal resilience, deep-sea mining, national security and defence, marine biodiversity and ocean technology.

The programme will feature panel discussions, interviews and presentations, along with action-focused “how to” workshops, roundtable discussions and strategy sessions designed to equip stakeholders with practical solutions. Off-site activities such as tours of an aquaculture farm and marine renewable energy site, a maritime heritage walk and a beach cleanup, will further connect participants with real-world ocean initiatives, and encourage informal networking opportunities.

This summit marks an important step in strengthening our European engagement. By bringing together key policymakers, industry experts, investors, NGOs, scientists and community leaders, the World Ocean Summit Europe aims to reinforce the region’s role in shaping the future of ocean governance and a sustainable blue economy.