EMSEA Showcases in the European Parliament the EU Blue Schools at UNESCO Ocean Literacy Event

The Managing Director of EMSEA presented the European Blue Schools network at a high-profile session in the European Parliament, where UNESCO unveiled its latest publication, Promoting Ocean Literacy – An Education Policy Brief. The publication calls on European and national policymakers to strengthen the integration of ocean-related content into national curricula, ensuring that future generations develop the knowledge and skills necessary to safeguard the ocean and promote a sustainable future.

The event, hosted by Portuguese MEP Paulo do Nascimento Cabral, was joined by MEP Isabella Lövin, both members of the SEArica Intergroup, and brought together key stakeholders in ocean literacy. Among them were Dr. Francesca Santoro of UNESCO-IOC, Sandra Castañer of DG MARE, Evy Copejans of EMSEA, and Michael Palmgren from the Marine Education Center in Malmö as well as several Blue School teachers from the Network of European Blue Schools and Escola Azul.

EMSEA’s presence at this event highlights its ongoing commitment to fostering ocean literacy across Europe and supporting educators in bringing the ocean into the classroom. The Network of European Blue Schools, a key initiative in this effort, empowers schools to embed ocean topics into their teaching and connect students with real-world marine challenges.

As momentum builds for integrating ocean literacy into education policies, EMSEA will continue to collaborate with policymakers, educators, and institutions to ensure that every learner has the opportunity to understand and protect our ocean.

More info on the the policy brief can be found here.