Restoring the Mediterranean,
our lighthouse from Bizerte to Nice
The 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference, organized by France and Costa Rica, is set to be held in June 2025, on the northern European coast of the Mediterranean in Nice. Exactly nine months prior to this monumental international assembly focusing on oceanic issues, dedicated stakeholders will gather in Bizerte, on the dynamic southern African shore of the Mediterranean, for the Forum Mondial de la Mer-Bizerte on September 13, 2024.
In its 7th edition, the Bizerte Forum will set the agenda for one of the planet’s most iconic and threatened natural treasures, facing a severe crisis endangering its biodiversity and sustainability. Researchers, international organizations, local authorities, professionals, and think tanks are continually reassessing their projections based on various scientific, climatic, economic, and demographic data. The Mediterranean is on the verge of boiling over and facing a potential extinction of its vibrant ecosystems, which could have devastating consequences for the approximately 520 million people residing in its coastal countries.
Despite these challenges, there is hope. Solutions are within reach, and diverse initiatives aimed at preserving and restoring the Mediterranean in its southern regions are currently underway. New environmentally driven infrastructures, such as Tanger Med in Morocco, the first African port ranked in the top 20 globally, are emerging. Events like the second edition of the Blue Africa Summit in Tanger reflect a growing awareness of sustainable oceanic concerns. Moreover, numerous startups, researchers, and young civil society members are daily devising solutions in Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, and Egypt to combat erosion, pollution, biodiversity loss, overfishing, and climate change.
The European Union will play a central role in this edition of the Forum. Aligned with the Green Deal, the EU’s Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” aims to eradicate pollution, to restore ecosystems and biodiversity and to accelerate zero carbon emissions and circular blue economy in four marine and river basins “lighthouses” through regional engagement and cooperation. In collaboration with La Saison Bleue, the Blue Mission Med, a crucial program supporting the EU’s Mediterranean mission, has opted to host its annual meeting during the 7th edition of the Forum Mondial de la Mer-Bizerte.
As the United Nations celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Mediterranean Action Plan, now the Barcelona Convention, during UNOC 3 in Nice, it is imperative for the Mediterranean to set the tone for this pivotal conference. Join us in Bizerte on September 13, 2024, to script a chapter of this ever-renewing odyssey!
Established in 2018 under the leadership of Pascal Lamy and regional actors, the Forum Mondial de la Mer-Bizerte, along with the Blue Africa Summit in Tanger, stands among the few international gatherings dedicated to maritime challenges on the southern Mediterranean coast. Over the years, it has evolved into a platform representing the collective commitment of Mediterranean nations and the African continent to preserving this invaluable ecosystem. The forum has given rise to OCÉAN 2050, an innovative think tank playing a significant role in the preparation of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (Nice, June 2025).
The Mediterranean, one of the planet’s most iconic natural treasures, is facing a severe crisis that jeopardizes its biodiversity and sustainability. Researchers, users, international organizations, local authorities, think tanks constantly reevaluate their projections in light of various scientific, climatic, economic, and demographic data. The Mediterranean is clearly on the verge of boiling, and its living organisms are in danger of extinction, which could have devastating consequences for the approximately 520 million people living in its coastal countries.
La Saison Bleue
