Julian Barbière, the UN’s lead coordinator for United Nations Ocean Decade, will deliver the opening address at the One Ocean Summit on Monday, April 20, in Bergen.
Barbière is the Global Coordinator for United Nations Ocean Decade Head of Marine Policy and Regional Coordination at the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. He has nearly 25 years of experience in ocean governance, policy development, and international cooperation. He has also been a key driving force in the effort to realize the Ocean Decade’s vision: “The science we need for the ocean we want.”
Theme of the Week
Throughout the week, Barbière will highlight how strengthened global partnerships and targeted investments in marine knowledge can accelerate progress in the remaining years ofUnited Nations Ocean Decade for Sustainable Development. He will also meet with the One Ocean Youth Panel to discuss issues related to ocean conservation—a fact that underscores that real change depends on the voices of the future having an impact and influence.
Looking ahead to Rio 2027
Preparations are already underway for the next major conference of United Nations Ocean Decade, to be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2027. The conference will serve as a key milestone for the decade, following the previous global gathering in Barcelona in 2024. Barbière is expected to outline the priorities leading up to Rio, with a particular focus on scientific collaboration, capacity building, and broad inclusion—from local stakeholders to international institutions.
As One Ocean Week unfolds, Bergen’s institutions and partners will use this opportunity to demonstrate why the city is a strong candidate to host the closing conference of the UN Decade of the Ocean in 2030. A decision in their favor would place Bergen at the center of global efforts to protect and sustainably manage the oceans in the years to come.
