NOVA School of Law at the United Nations Ocean Conference

Lisbon, 27th June to July 1st 2022

Portugal will host the second United Nations Ocean Conference, co-organized by the governments of Portugal and Kenya, which will bring together at Parque das Nações, Lisbon, heads of state and representatives from more than 140 countries, as well as from hundreds of organizations and institutions, in order to discuss and present solutions to save the oceans and the future of the Planet.

Given the commitment of NOVA School of Law to SDG 14 to Protect Marine Life, and of our vocation of studying issues related to the governance of the sea through the Master’s in Law and Economics of the Sea – Ocean Governance – one of the best in the world in the area, according to Eduniversal – and the NOVA Ocean knowledge centre, we are participating at this international mega-event with NOVA University Lisbon, which seeks to drive much needed innovative science-based solutions, designed to start a new chapter in global action for the oceans.

Meet the Ocean NOW.

June 30th | 9h00- 11h55

Throughout the event, NOVA University Lisbon will be presenting various activities at our stand, located below the Portuguese Pavilion, where participants can find out about our courses. On June 30th, we will promote the side event, Meet the Ocean Now, which provides the opportunity for discussion and reflection on issues involving the oceans, but this is also the ideal opportunity to promote the book «Mar e Direito em Contexto» – which showcases the work developed mainly by students of our Master’s Degree in Law and Economics of the Sea – Governance of the Sea – and to share a great announcement: the Ocean undergraduate programme of NOVA University Lisbon dedicated to the Ocean.

Bachelor’s of the Ocean

The current decade represents a major challenge for the entire international community regarding the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Such a challenge asks for concrete and immediate action. In support of the implementation of the UN SDGs, especially SDG 4 (Quality Education) and 14 (Life Bellow Water), NOVA University Lisbon is launching the
Bachelor’s of the Ocean, a pioneer degree that will provide its students with multidisciplinary knowledge to research and work with matters related to the Ocean.

Bachelor’s of the Ocean engages the participation of seven different faculties of two Portuguese universities, namely, NOVA School of Law, NOVA School of Business and Economics, NOVA Faculty of Science and Technology, NOVA Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, and Information Management School, from NOVA University Lisbon; and Faculty of Science and Technology and Faculty of Economics from the University of Algarve.

Sustainability is the foundation of this course, upon which five pillars of law intersect: Law; Economy and Management; Biology, Engineering and Technology; History, Geopolitics and Culture; Information and Data Systems. The intersection between these areas will provide a fertile environment to identify and create opportunities and solutions and to overcome obstacles through a wide, holistic approach to the Ocean. The Bachelor’s of the Ocean aims to promote that bridge, through an overall understanding of the opportunities and threats confronting the sea at a global level and providing an entrepreneurial and differentiating positioning at local level.

Programme

Plenary Session - «Bachelor’s of the Ocean – Meet the Ocean now!»

9h00-9h45

Location: One Sustainable Ocean Auditorium

Through the official launch of the Bachelor’s of the Ocean, this event is designed to announce the commitment of these partnering institutions to the development of Ocean education, which is essential to guaranteeing the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda, particularly, the SGD 4 and 14. Representatives of different sectors related to the blue economy will also be present to provide a brief statement on the theme.

Opening

9h00-9h15

  • Isabel Rocha, Vice-Rector NOVA University Lisbon
  • Paulo Águas, Rector of the University of Algarve
Session

9h15 -9h35

Bachelor’s of the Ocean: goals and architecture

  • Assunção Cristas, NOVA School of Law

Declarations:

  • Maria Damanaki, Former EU Ocean Commissioner
  • António Nogueira Leite, Fórum Oceano
  • Tiago Pitta e Cunha, Fundação Oceano Azul
  • CEMA-AMN Almirante Gouveia e Melo, the Portuguese Navy
Closing

9h35h-9h45h

António Costa Silva, Minister of Economy and Maritime Affairs

Break : 9h45h-10h05

Workshop 1 - «Maritime Spatial Planning: tool for sustainable and inclusive economic development»

10h05-11h00

Location: Workshop Room

Maritime Spatial Planning is a critical tool for the full implementation of sustainable development goals, namely SGD 14. Thus, the main aim of this event is to promote interdisciplinary discussion and to show the interactions of different scientific fields in solving common problems.

The debate is focused on legal, biological, and economic perspective on the topic and brings together three different institutions from three different countries: Portugal, Norway and Greece.

Moderator:Antonieta Cunha e Sá, NOVA School of Business and Economics (SBE)

Panellists:

  • Phoebe Koundouri, Centre for Research on the Environment and the Economy
  • Ingvild Jakobsen, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway – Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea
  • Renato Rosa, NOVA School of Business and Economics
  • Lia Vasconcelos, NOVA School of Science and Technology
  • Assunção Cristas, NOVA School of Law – NOVA Ocean
Break : 11h00-11h10

Workshop 2 - «Coastal Management for a sustainable development»

11h10-11h55

Location: Workshop Room

This panel aims to promote interdisciplinary debate and to highlight interactions between different fields and how they analyse and promote solutions to similar issues.

The debate focuses on sustainable management of the countries’ coasts, presenting both theoretical and practical perspectives. It will present perspectives from economic and the natural sciences, bringing together four different institutions from four different countries: Portugal, Scotland, Norway and Brazil.

Moderator: Duarte Bué Alves, Consul General of Portugal in Manchester; author of the book “Blue Economy” and “Blue Diplomacy”

Panellists:

  • Maria Madalena das Neves, UiT The Arctic University of Norway – Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea
  • Karen Diele, Edinburgh Napier University
    Mark Huxham, Edinburgh Napier University
  • José Carlos Ferreira School of Science and Technology

Final Remarks

11:50h-11:55h

Mariana França Gouveia, Dean of NOVA School of Law

Registration

Participation in the event is free of charge, but it requires prior registration (mandatory)

In case you wish to participate, please register here.