Vesna Kuralt from National Institute of Chemistry in Slovenia, Project Manager of the REMEDIES program, joined key stakeholders and change-makers in Nice during the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), actively contributing to some of the most impactful discussions on the future of our seas and ocean.
On June 6, she presented REMEDIES solutions at the high-level side event “Mediterranean in Action: Engaging Communities and Advancing Solutions to Tackle Pollution under the Mission Ocean and Waters,” hosted by BlueMissionMed and the European Commission at the “Ocean Futures, Learning and Protecting Together” pavilion. This session spotlighted regional lighthouse initiatives, like REMEDIES, that drive citizen engagement, community empowerment, and scalable solutions against marine pollution. Projects from across the Mediterranean shared tangible results and collaborative strategies to restore ocean health by 2030.
On June 7, she attended a side event of the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco launching the Ocean Impact Initiative. This gathering spotlighted data-driven tools to integrate ocean health into sustainable finance, uniting experts from science, policy, and business to present a groundbreaking AI-powered platform supporting transparency and responsible investment decisions.
The conference continued with inspiring moments across the week. On June 8 – World Oceans Day, the event “Women Actions for the Ocean” gathered powerful voices and stories at the Mediterranean University Center. Since International Women’s Day in March, this initiative has celebrated women’s leadership and concrete action in ocean preservation. Vesna Kuralt joined this network exchanging deeply moving experiences aiming to appreciate and reinforce the role of women in shaping a sustainable blue future.
On June 9, she attended “La communauté océanique européenne s’engage pour le Pacte européen pour l’Océan,” a high-level dialogue with introductory remarks by Costas Kadis (European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans) and Benjamin Haddad (French Minister Delegate for European Affairs). The European Ocean Pact brings together the European Union’s policies and actions related to the ocean and creates a unified and coordinated plan for managing the ocean. Diverse stakeholders reflected on the Pact’s priorities, shared experiences from projects aligned with its principles, and strengthened collective ownership of its vision.
Through her participation, Vesna Kuralt ensured REMEDIES was part of critical conversations shaping the future of ocean policy, citizen science, and cross-sectoral cooperation in the Mediterranean and beyond.
As a supporter of the Let’s be Nice to the Ocean, she also participated at the “Presentation of the Protection Principle Task Force: Advancing a Paradigm Shift for Ocean Protection.” This initiative gathered more than 200 guests as culmination of two years of advocacy and coalition-building. Framed by the art exhibition Becoming Ocean, the event brought together ministers, scientists, philanthropists, and civil society leaders, and marked the official launch of a bold new initiative promoting a transformative framework that places ocean protection above exploitation.
