The President of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, will participate in the 3rd United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III), which will take place in New York, United States, between May 29 and June 10. His intervention is part of the archipelago’s recognition as a global leader in the implementation of marine conservation policies, grounded in scientific knowledge, community engagement, and sustained political commitment.

The presence of the President of the Government at this high-level summit, which brings together world leaders and experts from different geographies, is an unequivocal sign of the determination of the Autonomous Region of the Azores to actively contribute to the fulfillment of global ocean protection goals, namely the 30×30 goal – to protect at least 30% of the planet’s marine areas by 2030.

Among the speeches planned, the leader of the regional executive will take part in the session “Leading by Doing – Three Years of Progress and Meaningful Action Towards 30×30”, where he will present the Azores’ journey in setting up the Network of Marine Protected Areas (RAMPA), the largest in the North Atlantic, internationally recognized as an example of concrete action in pursuing the commitments made under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The President of the Government will also host the event “Blue Azores: Driving Momentum for 30×30”, a joint initiative of the Regional Government of the Azores, the Oceano Azul Foundation, and the Waitt Institute. This moment of celebration and international projection of the regional marine conservation policy will bring together government representatives and civil society organizations to promote the adoption of similar commitments in other regions of the world.

José Manuel Bolieiro is also scheduled to speak at the official reception, “An Ocean Odyssey,” organized by the Blue Nature Alliance. This event will bring together institutional representatives from leading regions in ocean conservation, including the Azores, French Polynesia, and New Caledonia, to share experiences and strengthen cooperation networks.

The participation of the President of the Government is part of a wider representation of the Regional Executive at UNOC3, which will feature interventions in various thematic panels on marine protected areas, maritime spatial planning, ocean accounts and scientific expeditions, among other strategic topics. This presence demonstrates the Government of the Azores’ commitment to ensuring an active and qualified voice in international forums where paths to ocean sustainability are defined.

From Press Release

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.