The General Assembly through resolution 73/292 decided to convene the 2020 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. The overarching theme of the Conference is "Scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation for the implementation of Goal 14: stocktaking, partnerships and solutions".

Resolution 73/292 establish that the Conference shall:

(a) Build on existing successful partnerships and stimulate innovative and concrete new partnerships to advance the implementation of Goal 14;

(b) Support further action to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, giving due consideration to the call made in the declaration entitled “Our ocean, our future: call for action”;

(c) Identify further ways and means to support the implementation of Goal 14;

(d) Involve all relevant stakeholders, bringing together Governments, the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, other interested international bodies, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector, philanthropic organizations and other actors to assess challenges and opportunities relating to, as well as actions taken towards, the implementation of Goal 14;

(e) Share the experiences gained at the national, regional and international levels in the implementation of Goal 14;

(f) Identify possible challenges and obstacles relating to the achievement of all the targets under Goal 14, as well as opportunities and innovative ways and means to support their implementation;

(g) Invite Member States and other relevant stakeholders to provide an update on the implementation of the voluntary commitments made in the context of the United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, and invite new voluntary commitments in support of Goal 14, as well as support the sharing of experiences and lessons learned on their implementation;

(h) Share ongoing efforts, successes and challenges between relevant ocean-related initiatives and processes with a view to promoting collaboration, cooperation and coordination, as well as preventing the unnecessary duplication of efforts, to ensure further efficiency and effectiveness in support of Goal 14;

(i) Contribute to the follow-up and review process of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by providing an input to the high-level political forum on sustainable development, in accordance with resolutions 67/290 of 9 July 2013, 70/1, and 70/299 of 29 July 2016, unless otherwise agreed in line with the aforementioned resolutions, on the implementation of Goal 14, including on opportunities to strengthen progress in the future.

The Governments of Kenya and Portugal will co-host and assume all costs of the Conference to be held in Lisbon, Portugal, from 2 – 6 June 2020.

Download the programme here

Resolutions

• A/RES/73/292 - 2020 United Nations Conference to Support Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
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Letters

• President of the General Assembly announces the dates for the preparatory meeting of the 2020 UN Ocean Conference

Other documents

• Background note (Advance unedited version)
• Specially Accredited organizations to attend the 2020 UN Ocean Conference and Preparatory Meeting – First Round

PARTICIPATION

In accordance with paragraphs 26-28 of General Assembly resolution 73/292 of 9 May 2019, entitled “2020 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”, the following participants may attend or be represented at the preparatory meeting and the Conference: all States Members of the United Nations, members of the specialized agencies and parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions and other international bodies; associate members of the regional commissions; organizations and bodies of the United Nations; and non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector and philanthropic organizations.

In accordance with the established practice, the media may also register to cover the preparatory meeting and the Conference.

STATES MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS, MEMBERS OF THE SPECIALIZED AGENCIES AND PARTIES TO UNCLOS

Registration to the preparatory meeting (4-5 February 2020, UNHQ, New York, USA) and the Conference (2-6 June 2020, Lisbon, Portugal):

Participating States, through their Permanent Missions to the United Nations in New York, and the European Union, through its Delegation to the United Nations in New York, should notify the United Nations Protocol and Liaison Service of their participation in the preparatory meeting and the Conference. A letter signed by the head of chancery or an authorizing official with an official seal containing the names and functional titles of the delegation should be addressed to:

Ms. Beatrix Kania
Chief of Protocol
UN Protocol and Liaison Service
Att. Ms. Wai Tak Chua 
Room S-0201 
United Nations 
New York, NY 10017 
Fax + 1 (212) 963 1921 
Email: unprotocol@un.org

A copy should also be sent to:

General Assembly Affairs Branch
Department for General Assembly and Conference Management
Secretariat of the Conference and the preparatory meeting
Att. Ms. Radhika Ochalik
Email: ochalik@un.org

United Nations grounds pass

To obtain UN grounds pass, Permanent Missions and the Delegation of the European Union in New York may submit their requests via the online registration system “eRegistration” at http://delegate.un.int. Information regarding the “eRegistration” system can be found at http://protocol.un.org.

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INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (IGOS), INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL BODIES

Registration to the preparatory meeting and the Conference

The preparatory meeting and the Conference will be open to participation by the following accredited IGOs, international financial institutions and other international bodies:

• Those with observer status with the General Assembly
• Those that were previously accredited to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)
• Those that were previously accredited to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)
• Those that were previously accredited to the high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of
Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
• Those that were previously accredited to the intergovernmental conference on an internationally legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction
• Those that were previously accredited to the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (Samoa)
• Those that were previously accredited to the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (Mauritius)
• Those that were previously accredited to Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (Barbados)

Please click here to download a complete list of the IGOs that can participate in the preparatory meeting and the Conference.

IGOS, INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL BODIES ALREADY ACCREDITED

(A) Those organizations that fall within one of the categories listed above and are already enrolled in the online registration system “eRegistration” may follow the same procedure for States. A letter stamped and signed by the head of the organization with an official seal containing the names and functional titles of the delegation should be sent to the Protocol and Liaison Service mentioned above.

(B) Those organizations that fall within one of the categories listed above and that have not enrolled in the online registration system “eRegistration” should follow the procedure below:

1. Submit a letter to the Chief of Protocol, stamped/sealed and signed by the head of the organization, with the names and functional titles of the delegation attending the meeting. In addition, the letter must include a name and an email address of the focal point of the organization handling the request. A copy of this letter should also be sent to the General Assembly Affairs Branch, Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (Secretariat of the Conference, Att. Ms. Radhika Ochalik, email: ochalik@un.org).
2. Attach an SG.6 form for each member of the delegation; (the SG.6 form can be found at http://www.un.int/protocol, under “Registration Process → Forms”)
3. Send both (1) and (2) to the Protocol and Liaison Service by fax to 1-212-963-1921 or by email to unprotocol@un.org.

The focal point will be notified of the registration approval(s) via email. The email is the actual approval notification, a hard copy of which must be presented together with a valid passport or government photo ID to the United Nations Pass and ID unit for the issuance of a UN grounds pass. The focal point must ensure that copies of the approval notifications be given to the participants before leaving for New York.

NON-ACCREDITED IGOS

Other IGOs interested in obtaining an ad hoc accreditation for the high-level 2020 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainable use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (2 to 6 June 2020) and its preparatory meeting (February 2020) can submit an application addressed to the President of the General Assembly.

Interested IGOs are invited to send a letter from the head of the organization on official letterhead (with the original signature) addressed to the President of the General Assembly requesting for ad hoc accreditation to the Conference and/or its preparatory meeting and describing the work of the organization related to the Conference objectives; provide copies of the treaty establishing the organization; information concerning the date of entry into force of the treaty and those States that are parties to the treaty; provide information on the membership of the organization; and submit the latest annual report.

Upon review of the applications by the Secretariat, the applications will be forwarded to the General Assembly for its consideration.

The letter addressed to the President of the General Assembly should be sent to:

Secretariat of the Conference 
Ms. Radhika Ochalik 
Email: ochalik@un.org

Only after the approval by the General Assembly, the representatives of the newly accredited IGO will be issued a UN-ID Pass for the preparatory meeting and/or the Conference pass in accordance with the same procedures highlighted in para (B) for IGOs not enrolled in the “eRegistration” system.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS OF THE REGIONAL COMMISSIONS

Representatives of associate members of regional commissions (American Samoa, Anguilla, Aruba, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Curaçao, French Polynesia, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, Turks and Caicos Islands, and United States Virgin Islands) are required to follow the same accreditation procedure highlighted in para (B) for IGOs not enrolled in the “eRegistration” system, for issuance of UN-ID for the preparatory meeting and/or the Conference pass.

UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM:

Registration to the preparatory meeting and the Conference

Specialized agencies and related organizations: The registration of the representatives of the Specialized agencies and related organizations of the UN system for both the preparatory meeting and the Conference (ILO, FAO, UNESCO, ICAO, WHO, World Bank, IMF, UPU, ITU, WMO, IMO, WIPO, IFAD, UNIDO, UNWTO, IAEA, WTO, CTBTO Preparatory Commission, ICC, OPCW, ISA, ITLOS and IOM) follows the same procedures as for States and IGOs.

United Nations funds, programmes, regional commissions and other entities

The registration for the preparatory meeting (4-5 February 2020) is open until 17 January 2020. Please use the following link to register for the event: https://indico.un.org/event/32803/registration/

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS, ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY, THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS

Relevant stakeholders, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector and philanthropic organizations, whose work is relevant to the 2020 UN Ocean Conference, accredited in accordance with the provisions set forth in Annex II of A/RES/73/292 can request registration to participate as observers in the Conference and its preparatory meeting.

Note: Pre-registration of non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector and philanthropic organizations to the preparatory meeting, to be held on 4-5 February 2020, at the United Nations Headquarters, New York is now closed.

The organizations listed below will be able to request pre-registration to attend the 2020 UN Ocean Conference.

• ECOSOC (Special, General or Roster consultative status);
• The World Summit on Sustainable Development;
• The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development;
• The 2017 high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development;
• The intergovernmental conference on an internationally legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction;
• Previous United Nations conferences on sustainable development of small island developing States, held in Barbados, Mauritius and Samoa.
• Organizations that have received special accreditation by Member States to participate in the 2020 UN Conference and the preparatory meeting. First list of organizations specially accredited can be found here.

Interested organizations not included on the lists above may request special accreditation. Please, see below for more information.

For Private Sector Organizations and Philanthropic Institutions: Please email unocean@unglobalcompact.org in case of specific queries.

For any additional question, please contact us at: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/contact .

SPECIAL ACCREDITATION (ONLY FOR NON-ECOSOC ACCREDITED ORGANIZATIONS OR THOSE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ACCREDITED TO SELECTED UN CONFERENCES)

SPECIAL ACCREDITATION (ONLY for Non-ECOSOC accredited organizations or those that have not been accredited to the UN Conferences listed above)

Non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions and the scientific community that are not currently accredited by ECOSOC, or that have not been accredited to participate in the Conferences listed above must submit special accreditation requests through a dedicated platform in order to be able to pre-register to the 2020 UN Ocean Conference.

Do you want to request special accreditation to the 2020 United Nations Ocean Conference?

STEP BY STEP:

If your organization is not currently accredited by ECOSOC or have not been accredited to attend the Conferences listed above, please, fill the form below before 10 March 2020.

Request Special Accreditation to attend the 2020 UN Ocean Conference here:

Step 1: Only accredited organizations can pursue registration for the Conference. The list of applicants seeking accreditation will be circulated in a note by the Secretary-General for a formal decision by the General Assembly.

Step 2: Registration for the 2020 UN Ocean Conference: Accredited entities will be able to request registration which will open in February 2020.

Important: 1. Accreditation requests must be made ONLY on behalf of organizations or institutions and NOT as individuals. 2. Applying for accreditation requires important information on organizations that apply – such as an annual report, proof of legal status and motivation letter – please allow enough time to provide all these. 3. Non-governmental organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC, or that have received special accreditation to participate in the Conferences listed above do not need to apply for special accreditation.

FOR THOSE SEEKING ACCREDITATION:

You will be asked to submit documents in order to establish legitimacy of your entity.

1) LEGAL STATUS
Examples:

• Proof of incorporation
• 501 (c)(3) filing status

2) ANNUAL REPORT / ACTIVITY REPORT

• If your entity has an annual report, please upload it here.
• If your entity does not have an annual report, please provide evidence of your activity in areas relevant to the 2020 UN Ocean Conference within the last 12 months (e.g., projects, programs, research, etc.).

3) LETTER OF ASSIGNMENT
Please submit a letter on official letterhead, signed by the head of the entity, requesting accreditation for the 2020 UN Ocean Conference. Examples to include:

• Background and vision of the entity
• Relevant work to the 2020 UN Ocean Conference
• Motivation/interest in attending the 2020 UN Ocean Conference.

4) APPROVAL + NOTIFICATION In accordance with General Assembly resolution 72/307, a note by the Secretary-General will be circulated containing the list of applicants to approval by the General Assembly. Following approval, the accredited organizations will be notified.

The first round of Special accreditations was opened from 15 September to 15 November 2019. Please, check the final list of specially accredited organizations for this first round here.

MEDIA ACCREDITATION AND SERVICES:

Registration to the preparatory meeting (4-5 February 2020, UNHQ, New York, USA) and the Conference (2-6 June 2020, Lisbon, Portugal):

Media accreditation is strictly reserved for members of the press: print, photo, radio, television, film, news agencies, and online media who represent a bona fide media organization.

Representative of the media can apply for accreditation online by following the instructions at https://www.un.org/en/media/accreditation/accreditation.shtml

Missions and organizations enrolled in the “eRegistration” system at http://delegate.un.intmay submit requests for media, including journalists in the delegation and official photo and video (please select Media from the Capacity pull down menu).

Please note, separate applications are required for the preparatory meeting and the Conference.

Questions on media accreditation should be referred to malu@un.orgor 212-963-6934.