Bergen Next – from Rio to Bergen? A maritime conference in Bergen?

Photo: Augustin Diaz Gargiulo, Unsplash

The Ocean Decade is a collaborative effort to achieve the UN’s ocean goals: “The science we need for the ocean we want.” The conference will be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2027. But nowhere in the world is a more natural setting for an ocean conference than the coastal city of Bergen. Should we seize this opportunity? What can we achieve for the city and the ocean?

The world stands at a crossroads when it comes to the ocean. Through the UN Decade of the Ocean, global knowledge, innovation, and international cooperation will strengthen the foundation for a sustainable future. This program brings together leading voices, young driving forces, and key stakeholders to highlight how the Ocean Decade can shape both the world’s and Norway’s ocean initiatives—and why Bergen should host the Ocean Decade Conference 2030.

The discussion will explore:

• The city’s status as an international maritime huband how the conference can strengthen Bergen’s role as a global center for knowledge and innovation.
• The development of the port industry, with opportunities for green transition, new partnerships, and an expanded international presence.
• Research and academia, which will benefit from unique collaborations, projects, and opportunities to engage with leading global institutions.
• Policy and public administration, which can benefit from closer ties between academia, policymakers, and the business community.
• Norway’s role as a maritime nation, and how hosting the event can help showcase the nation’s maritime expertise and ambitions on the world stage.

The program highlights why the ocean matters to all of us—and why the path to 2030 should lead through Bergen.

Alison Clausen and Julian Barbiere from the Secretariat of the UN Decade of Ocean Science. They share insights into the global effort leading up to 2030 and explain why this decade is crucial for ensuring healthy oceans, resilient ecosystems, and more science-based management of the world’s most vital resource.

The One Ocean Youth Panel will then launch the new Ocean Decade Youth Strategy—a forward-looking plan that clearly outlines how young people can play an active, responsible, and influential role in marine research, innovation, and policy development. The strategy highlights young people as key partners, not merely participants.

The Ocean Decade is an international partnership for the sustainable management of the oceans. It brings together a wide range of partners from around the world to collaborate on revolutionizing marine science.

The partnership focuses on 10 key challenges:

1. Understand and combat marine pollution
2. Protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity
3. Sustainably feed the global population
4. Develop a sustainable, resilient, and equitable ocean economy
5. Unlock ocean-based solutions to climate change
6. Increase community resilience to ocean and coastal risks
7. Sustainably expand the Global Ocean Observing System
8. Create a digital representation of the ocean
9. Skills, knowledge, technology, and participation for all
10. Restore humanity’s relationship with the ocean

The partnership is bringing the world together for the Ocean Decade Conference. In 2027, it will be held in Rio de Janeiro. The goal is to bring it to the coastal city of Bergen in 2030.

From Rio to Bergen? What makes Bergen a natural host, and what could this mean for the city and the ocean? We are bringing together key international and Norwegian decision-makers.