SOA to Co-Host the 2024 Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit Greece

Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) is honored to co-host the 7th annual Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit (OOYLS) in Athens, Greece from April 15-17, 2024 in cooperation with Our Ocean Greece (OOC-9) and with support from the Ministry of the Environment and Energy of Greece (MoEE).

This event marks a significant opportunity to engage and empower the next generation of global ecopreneurs and ocean leaders by bringing together their visionary ideas and solutions for the greatest challenges facing our ocean. In 2024, the Summit will be fully integrated into the main Our Ocean Conference and will embody the overall theme: ‘Our Ocean, An Ocean of Potential’. 

This year, the Summit will address the Conference's six areas of action (Climate Change, Marine Pollution, Maritime Security, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Sustainable Blue Economy, and Sustainable Fisheries) while emphasizing four key focus areas:  

• Sustainable tourism in coastal areas and islands

• Green shipping

• Reduction of marine plastic and microplastic pollution

• Green transition in the Mediterranean
  

Attending OOYLS will empower young leaders to gain valuable experience and knowledge in the ocean sector, expand their network, and develop their professional skill sets while making a positive impact on ocean health and resilience. 

RELATED | RECAP: 2023 Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit

As a platform for youth-led solutions, the Summit will address both challenges and opportunities in the ocean sector through comprehensive objectives focused on education opportunities, employability, and the sustainable blue economy to shape an informed, skilled, and passionate generation dedicated to the ocean's well-being.

Applications to participate in the Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit are now closed. Selected participants will be notified by March 1, 2024.

'Sea' you in Greece! 

If you have any other questions, please refer to the FAQ or reach out to the event organizers here.

About Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA):

Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) is a global nonprofit organization created by youth—for youth—dedicated to activating young people, developing and implementing innovative solutions, and mobilizing an ocean workforce to restore the health of the ocean in our lifetime. SOA was founded in 2014 by Daniela V. Fernandez during her first year at Georgetown University to bring youth voices and solutions to the forefront of the conversation. 

Today, SOA has grown into the world’s largest network of young ocean leaders, innovators, and policymakers. To date, we have accelerated 370+ solutions (and counting) to the greatest threats facing our ocean. These solutions include for-profit startups and community-led nonprofit projects around the world.

About the Our Ocean Conference (OOC):

The Our Ocean Conference was first launched under the initiative of the U.S. Department of State in 2014. Since then, it has gradually become a forum for dialogue that brings together governments, international organizations, academia, the private sector, and NGOs that share a common vision for the protection of the oceans and take action to support this vision.

Hosted by Greece for 2024, the 9th Our Ocean Conference (OOC-9) aspires to bring together governments, the private sector, civil society, research institutes, and local authorities to stimulate creative dialogue and demonstrate interest in identifying solutions and committing to specific actions for the sustainability of the ocean and its resources. Learn more about OOC-9 here.