The Arctic and northern regions will be at the forefront of Canada’s maritime priorities as the country prepares to host a crucial global summit on the future of the oceans.
Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson announced that Canada will host the 12th Our Ocean Conference, scheduled for spring 2027 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
“As a country bordered by three oceans and home to the world’s longest coastline, Canada holds a deep connection to the oceans and has a duty to protect them and the livelihoods of our coastal communities,” the Fisheries Minister stated.
The North at the Forefront of Marine Stewardship
In the face of mounting environmental challenges, the Canadian government aims to showcase an approach rooted in “indigenous knowledge passed down from generation to generation, alongside world-class science and a strong track record of multilateral collaboration.”
As the host of the Our Ocean 2027 conference, Canada will work with international partners to accelerate the implementation of commitments, strengthen ocean governance, and turn international ambitions into concrete results, according to a press release from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
“From the Atlantic to the Pacific and across the Arctic, our oceans sustain our communities, power our economy, and shape our relationship with the natural world,” explained Nathalie Provost, State Secretary (Nature).
This conference will provide an opportunity for Canada and its international partners to accelerate efforts to protect the North and all of its coastlines, with the ultimate goal of conserving up to 30% of marine areas by 2030.
A Global Summit
Launched in 2014, the Our Ocean Conference is a major international platform that brings together governments, Indigenous peoples, industry, civil society, and academia.
According to Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, this summit will drive active climate action and pollution reduction through concrete, measurable actions, ensuring the resilience of coastal communities from coast to coast to coast.
To date, more than 2,900 commitments have been made globally, worth an estimated $228 billion CAD.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Polar oceans growing more chaotic as planet warms, with impacts for undersea life: study, Eye on the Arctic
United States: How the Arctic has been ‘pushed & triggered’ into climate extremes: paper, Eye on the Arctic
Greenland: Greenland accedes to UN treaty against mercury pollution
