The European Digital Ocean Pavilion officially opened today at the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) in Nice, offering a glimpse into the European Union’s advancements in ocean knowledge and monitoring.
Open from 2 to 13 June, the Pavilion invites visitors to discover cutting-edge EU assets and technologies for ocean observation, including the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service of the EU’s Space Programme and innovative digital solutions.
Nestled within the Green Zone at Nice’s Palais des Expositions, “La Baleine,” the European Digital Ocean Pavilion underscores Europe’s commitment to harnessing digital innovation for informed decision-making, sustainable ocean management, and global collaboration in ocean conservation.
It offers an immersive and interactive gateway into the Digital Twin of the Ocean, an ambitious near real-time virtual representation of the ocean. Designed around three distinct spaces –INSPIRE, ENGAGE, and DECIDE, the Pavilion highlights the integration of cross-cutting digital technologies, including satellite and in situ observations, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge modelling, to provide a dynamic view of the ocean’s past, present, and future.
Through state-of-the-art simulations, multimedia screens, and interactive installations, visitors can visualise ocean processes, explore “what-if” scenarios, and better understand the ocean’s vital signs.
Free registration is required for general public access to this immersive, multidimensional experience, which promises to not only to educate but also to inspire greater collaborative efforts towards ocean conservation. The European Digital Ocean Pavilion remains open daily from 10:00 to 19:00.
Background
A decade after COP21 and the Paris Agreement, the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) will bring together UN Member States, heads of state and government, international agencies, local authorities, civil society, the private sector, and international donors to advance the implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14): Conserve and sustainably use the ocean, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.
The ocean remains largely unexplored and ocean observation is necessary to understand the complex system that it is. It also provides critical data for weather forecasting, climate change extreme events, civil security – sea condition, floods -, maritime shipping, offshore energy, fisheries and aquaculture, etc.
Ocean observation will be one of the key priorities of the European Ocean Pact, which will be adopted by the European Commission on 5 June.
