The impact of climate change on the oceans poses a major threat for the marine ecosystem. To meet what is probably the greatest environmental challenge of this century, Belgium will be organizing the ‘Climate Change and Oceans Preservation’ conference, an international event that will take place on Tuesday 19 February 2019 at the Egmont Palace in Brussels. This conference is an initiative of Marie Christine Marghem, Belgian Minister for Energy, the Environment and Sustainable Development and Philippe De Backer, Belgian Minister for the North Sea.

This conference will focus on the consequences of climate change, with a particular focus on the threat to marine biodiversity, the need to reduce ship emissions and the potential for offshore energy production.

This high-level meeting will also review the latest initiatives taken by international organizations, States, business and NGOs.

Belgium, represented by its Prime Minister and the ministers of the Environment and the North Sea, will welcome Prince Albert of Monaco, the ministers of countries directly concerned (Marshall Islands, Netherlands) as well as senior officials of international organizations dealing with this challenge at political and scientific level (UNFCCC, UNESCO, IMO, European institutions). Young people and their representatives have also been invited to express their concerns about climate change and its impact on their future.

During the event, it will be proposed to the States, sectors of activity and organizations present to sign the Brussels Climate Change & Oceans Declaration, thus reaffirming their commitment to future generations.

The detailed programme is available at www.climateoceans.eu.

Information for press and media

  • Registration is compulsory for security reasons. Only registered journalists will be admitted to the Egmont Palace. Accreditation can be requested at the following address:  climateoceans.press@health.fgov.be or by using the media registration button on www.climateoceans.eu. Registration will be closed on 13 February.
  • A press kit will be available under embargo a few days before the event on  www.health.belgium.be
  • Journalists are advised to arrive at 8 am as the official group photo will be taken at 8.45 am. Those pictures will be available free of charge on www.belgaimage.be. A live webcast will be available on www.climateoceans.eu during the event.
  • The dedicated hashtag is #BEclimateoceans.
  • A teaser is available on https://youtu.be/wDA7k7lXJKI.
  • For all your practical questions and requests (e.g. press kit), please use our dedicated press e-mail address: climateoceans.press@health.fgov.be.
     
  • Contact person at the Belgian federal public service Health, Food chain safety and Environment : Vinciane Charlier – Spokeswoman : + 32 (0) 475 939 271