President William Ruto has announced that Kenya will host the 11th Our Ocean Conference in 2026. This comes after a phone conversation with former US Secretary of State John Kerry, a founder of the conference.
The conference addresses major ocean-related challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and food security. Ruto said Kenya was chosen due to its strong global leadership on ocean and environmental matters and its pioneering policies on marine pollution.
He highlighted that the event will give Kenya a chance to promote its blue economy agenda and advocate for Africa’s role in ocean-related climate action, especially in the Indian Ocean region.
The Our Ocean Conference, launched in 2014, has raised over $140 billion through 2,600 commitments from governments, NGOs, academia, and the private sector. It focuses on practical, science-based solutions and collaboration for ocean conservation.
The 2025 conference will be hosted in Busan, South Korea, from April 28 to 30, under the theme “Our Ocean, Our Action.” It will emphasize innovation, inclusivity, and governance to shift from an “ocean in crisis” to an “ocean of hope.” A key theme will be “Digital Oceans,” integrating marine and digital tech to speed up sustainable ocean solutions.
