After the success of the first edition in 2023, Prométhée Earth Intelligence, CNES, and the Monaco Office of Space Affairs organized the second edition of the Ocean Space Forum on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in the prestigious setting of the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco.
The program featured captivating panel discussions that explored, through the lens of space, essential topics such as the preservation of marine ecosystems, the development of the blue economy, the fight against climate change and its impacts on the oceans, and the conservation of marine resources.
« Je suis heureux de vous savoir réunis aujourd’hui dans cette enceinte emblématique qu’est le Musée océanographique (…). Le programme de la journée permettra d’illustrer – j’en suis persuadé – à quel point les données spatiales peuvent être un instrument précieux au service de la santé et de la durabilité de l’océan ». Le Souverain a souligné dans ce sens le « nouvel essor des technologies spatiales. Elles nous permettent de mieux connaître et comprendre notre océan à l’échelle mondiale, et ceci désormais en temps réel (…). Ces données n’ont jamais été aussi avancées, précises et disponibles, et méritent d’être pleinement utilisées pour atteindre nos ambitieux objectifs environnementaux » et de conclure « Cette deuxième édition de l’Ocean Space Forum se fonde sur le succès de sa première édition, en 2023, mais s’inscrit déjà dans la perspective de l’événement qui sera organisé l’année prochaine, à Nice, en marge de la troisième Conférence des Nations Unies sur l’Océan (…). Je suis convaincu que le spatial a beaucoup à offrir en réponse aux enjeux de cet événement multilatéral particulièrement important ».
More than ever, the ocean needs space. Space technology is shaping our understanding and management of the ocean. The data collected enables scientists and policymakers to make informed decisions on the best ways to protect it. Sustainable management of seas and oceans requires concerted global efforts: the floor is now given to international organizations.
Although all countries face climate change, some are more vulnerable than others. This panel discussion, featuring four countries from different continents, provided a perspective on various climate challenges and highlighted the key role of NewSpace.
Coastal cities are increasingly exposed to rising sea levels. In response to this phenomenon, space technologies provide a means to anticipate and implement protective measures for their populations.
By offering the ability to monitor vast ocean areas in real time, space imaging allows for the surveillance of sensitive marine zones worldwide and the identification of potential illicit activities. Whether for the preservation of resources, territorial integrity, or aiding decision-making, space technology serves the security and sovereignty at sea.
Space technology contributes to the development of a blue economy. The sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth and the management of livelihoods, while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem, is becoming a reality.
This session was dedicated to the protection of biodiversity, actions in support of Marine Protected Areas, and the monitoring of blue carbon sequestration capacities. Space data provides essential information for the global and sustainable observation of coastal ecosystems that capture blue carbon, primarily through coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, and salt marshes.
This legal discussion addressed the original and current connections between the legal frameworks of the two vast international domains: the sea and outer space.
Space technology enhances our understanding of the oceans. When combined with data from other sensors (including in situ), space data provides a more comprehensive view of the ocean’s condition.
This session highlighted the challenges of the UNOC in 2025 and the importance of scientific research in preserving marine ecosystems.
*This event is endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development as a Decade Activity. The use of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development logo by an entity outside the United Nations does not imply that the United Nations endorses that entity, its products or services, or the activities it plans to undertake. For more information, please visit: https://forum.oceandecade.org/page/disclaimer
