#Résilience #Montserrat

Publié le 22/08/2025, mis à jour le 22/08/2025

From the islands to the rest of the world: the voice of a youth committed to the Ocean - episode 6/6 (Mauricia Barzey)

  •           In June 2025, the city of Nice hosted the 3rd edition of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3). Building on its commitment to the environmental and ecological resilience of European and British Overseas Countries and Territories, the Green Overseas Programme was involved in a long-term and far-reaching effort to make its participation in this international event an unforgettable episode.
              From the outset, the Programme team set about putting together a delegation of ten young people from the OCTs benefiting from the Program: these 10 young people, representing a total of 8 OCTs (New Caledonia, Bermuda, French Polynesia, Ascension Island, Montserrat, Sint Maarten, Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, and Aruba) carried the voice and colors of the Green Overseas Program through a series of workshops, exchanges and conversations, whose reflections are recounted through the testimonies of each of them.

  •           "Man needs the sea. When he destroys it, he destroys himself." These words by Jacques-Yves Cousteau set the tone for what was to become an intense, passionate and deeply engaging experience at the United Nations Ocean Conference 2025 (UNOC) in Nice, France.
              Representing Montserrat as part of the New Legacy Youth Group, and thanks to an invitation from the Green Overseas Programme, I joined world leaders, researchers, young activists and policy-makers in a shared commitment to ocean protection. This edition of the conference went far beyond political discussions: bold, uncompromising and resolutely focused on action.

  •           From urgent debates on climate resilience and marine biodiversity to powerful pleas for gender equality in fishing, no topic was left unaddressed. The voices of women, in sectors historically dominated by men, resonated powerfully through the panels, demanding equal rights, access and recognition. A powerful reminder that ocean justice must also rhyme with social justice.
              Of particular significance was the presence of small island developing states (SIDS), including member countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Conversations with OECS representatives emphasized regional collaboration, sustainable blue economies, and youth leadership in shaping a resilient future for our coasts and communities.
              The conference wasn ot simply about problems — it was about solutions. Innovations in ocean technology, indigenous knowledge systems, and community-led conservation were front and center. Each session reinforced a clear message: the ocean is not an infinite resource, and protecting it requires urgent, united global action.
             For Montserrat, this conference marked not only representation, but meaningful participation. It was an opportunity to contribute to a global dialogue, share our realities, and build partnerships that extend far beyond the conference hall. The ocean is our past, our present, and our future — and we must rise to defend it.

    The ocean is our past, our present and our future - and we must stand up to defend it.

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