PANEL 2: Regional Collaboration and Ocean Literacy
My name is Ira Ponedelnik, I represent Green Network (Belarus, in exile) and am a board member of Climate Action Network EECCA.
It is important to emphasize that Ocean Literacy matters for all of us—including landlocked countries. I personally also love the ocean, even though I come from Belarus, a country with no coastline. I was fortunate to implement a project through the Sustainable Ocean Alliance and even tried to create an Ocean Hub in Belarus. But the reality is, access to funding and partnerships for landlocked countries remains extremely limited.
One of the key barriers to developing ocean literacy in the EECCA region is language. Many teachers and educators simply do not speak English and are unable to use the valuable materials created by international colleagues. If we want ocean literacy to be truly inclusive and global, we need more localized, translated, and accessible resources.
So my question is: how can we ensure that landlocked countries are meaningfully included in ocean-related funding, programming, and data initiatives under SDG 14?
In the EECCA region, some governments often claim that SDG 14 is not relevant. It means that these governments do not collect important data or share unreliable data. But landlocked countries contribute to ocean degradation—through plastic and microplastic waste, and industrial pollution. Ignoring SDG 14 is a missed opportunity. Localizing the SDGs means adapting—not excluding—goals that seem “distant.” All countries impact ocean health.
I welcome that today’s discussion on the ocean follows last year's climate—because they are deeply interconnected. Oceans are dying from climate change. I follow CSOs recommendation from last year that we urgently need funding not only for mitigation and adaptation in coastal areas, but also continued support through initiatives like EU4Climate and EU4Water. We urge the EU to keep engaging Eastern Partnership and Central Asia countries in those initiatives.
We also need to strengthen civil society and expert engagement in water and ocean governance, especially in the EECCA region. The UNECE Water Convention is a key framework for transboundary cooperation. In Moldova and Ukraine, civil society has a seat at the table in the Dniester River Commission. We need more such examples in Central Asia and the Caucasus, where civic space is shrinking under laws like the foreign agent legislation.
Following my colleague's speech about plastic pollution, it is important to talk about pollution from military and armed conflict activities. The ongoing war is devastating the Black Sea ecosystem—underwater mines have killed thousands of marine species, while chemical and hydrocarbon pollution is escalating. We urgently call for a ceasefire, accountability, and a fund for Black Sea restoration.
Looking ahead to the next global agenda beyond 2030, we must go further: recognize the rights of nature and consider non-human actors in decision-making. The Mar Menor lagoon in Spain is now a legal entity—this is not symbolic, but a practical step toward safeguarding ecosystems and future generations.
Finally, I urge Member States to protect civic space. Civil society is not a threat—it is essential to achieving both climate and ocean goals.
Thank you.
My name is Ira Ponedelnik, I represent Green Network (Belarus, in exile) and am a board member of Climate Action Network EECCA.
It is important to emphasize that Ocean Literacy matters for all of us—including landlocked countries. I personally also love the ocean, even though I come from Belarus, a country with no coastline. I was fortunate to implement a project through the Sustainable Ocean Alliance and even tried to create an Ocean Hub in Belarus. But the reality is, access to funding and partnerships for landlocked countries remains extremely limited.
One of the key barriers to developing ocean literacy in the EECCA region is language. Many teachers and educators simply do not speak English and are unable to use the valuable materials created by international colleagues. If we want ocean literacy to be truly inclusive and global, we need more localized, translated, and accessible resources.
So my question is: how can we ensure that landlocked countries are meaningfully included in ocean-related funding, programming, and data initiatives under SDG 14?
In the EECCA region, some governments often claim that SDG 14 is not relevant. It means that these governments do not collect important data or share unreliable data. But landlocked countries contribute to ocean degradation—through plastic and microplastic waste, and industrial pollution. Ignoring SDG 14 is a missed opportunity. Localizing the SDGs means adapting—not excluding—goals that seem “distant.” All countries impact ocean health.
I welcome that today’s discussion on the ocean follows last year's climate—because they are deeply interconnected. Oceans are dying from climate change. I follow CSOs recommendation from last year that we urgently need funding not only for mitigation and adaptation in coastal areas, but also continued support through initiatives like EU4Climate and EU4Water. We urge the EU to keep engaging Eastern Partnership and Central Asia countries in those initiatives.
We also need to strengthen civil society and expert engagement in water and ocean governance, especially in the EECCA region. The UNECE Water Convention is a key framework for transboundary cooperation. In Moldova and Ukraine, civil society has a seat at the table in the Dniester River Commission. We need more such examples in Central Asia and the Caucasus, where civic space is shrinking under laws like the foreign agent legislation.
Following my colleague's speech about plastic pollution, it is important to talk about pollution from military and armed conflict activities. The ongoing war is devastating the Black Sea ecosystem—underwater mines have killed thousands of marine species, while chemical and hydrocarbon pollution is escalating. We urgently call for a ceasefire, accountability, and a fund for Black Sea restoration.
Looking ahead to the next global agenda beyond 2030, we must go further: recognize the rights of nature and consider non-human actors in decision-making. The Mar Menor lagoon in Spain is now a legal entity—this is not symbolic, but a practical step toward safeguarding ecosystems and future generations.
Finally, I urge Member States to protect civic space. Civil society is not a threat—it is essential to achieving both climate and ocean goals.
Thank you.