Project summary:

As Viet Nam will assume the role of a non-permanent member at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2020-2021 term and will chair the ASEAN network in 2020, as part of its commitment in ASEAN, Viet Nam will convene an international conference on sustainable ocean economy and climate change adaptation. The Government of Norway will provide financial support and UNDP will provide technical support to the Government of Viet Nam.

This high-level conference aims to bring leaders, decision-makers, practitioners, scientists, experts to discuss the key opportunities to promote sustainable utilization of ocean resources, and key challenges posed climate change and environmental pollution, and identify opportunities to accelerate climate actions.

The 400 participants expected to attend this conference will come from countries that are members of Vulnerable Country Forum with sea borders, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and ASEAN, and some developed countries (68 countries).

Project Objectives:

This high-level conference on Sustainable Ocean Economy and Climate Change Adaptation aims to bring leaders, decision-makers, practitioners, scientists, experts, and communities together during a two-day conference in Viet Nam, to:

1. Discuss the key opportunities to promote sustainable utilization of ocean resources, and key challenges posed climate change and environmental pollution, and identify opportunities to accelerate actions to protect the ocean ecosystems for economic development and enhance the adaptation and resilience of vulnerable countries and communities.
2. Share experiences, best practices and research results to enhance knowledge of successful sustainable ocean economy and climate change adaptation strategies and actions.
3. Encourage networking for South-South and North-South collaboration, foster cooperation and develop synergies between initiatives.

Expected Results:

• The most important expected outcome of the Conference is a joint statement on direction and key actions to sustain the growth of a sustainable ocean economy and enhance resilience of vulnerable countries and communities.
• The discussions and outputs and outcomes from the conference will serve as inputs for Viet Nam to include these global issues of climate change and sustainable ocean economy in the main agendas of UNSC and ASEAN in 2020 and 2021.