Be a blue citizen: Embracing democracy for thriving oceans and rivers
Every year, the EU4Ocean Coalition picks a “Challenge of the Year” to lend focus and new energy to its actions. The Coalition’s 2025 challenge is about blue citizen and citizenship. But what does "blue citizenship" mean? And why is it important for ocean literacy?
Who is a ‘Blue Citizen’?
Whilst there is no official definition, ‘blue citizen’ broadly refers to an individual who is:
- Informed about the importance of aquatic ecosystems (rivers, lakes, the ocean...) and the need for their protection and sustainable use;
- Empowered to exercise their right to participate in the transformation of society’s relationship with these ecosystems, including by exercising their rights within the democratic system;
- Aware of their duties and responsibility to make informed decisions and choices contributing to the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems.
The same challenge, but an even greater opportunity
Democratic processes such as voting, advocacy and citizen engagement enable individuals to have an active role in the transformation of society’s relationship with blue ecosystems. They allow citizens and communities to demand action such as new legislation, transparency, accountability or international cooperation, which can in turn contribute to a more sustainable future by limiting pollution, regulating overfishing, mitigating the effects of climate change, developing a sustainable blue economy and much more.
Since 2024, the EU4Ocean Coalition has been connecting ‘democracy’ and ‘citizenship’ with the wide range of blue ‘conservation’ efforts of its three communities. Little did we know, this was just the beginning...
For the year ahead, we have decided to renew the focus of our actions around a ‘Be a Blue citizen!’ challenge. We will use this as an opportunity to pay greater attention to the influence on, and opportunities of, the democratic process for ocean literacy, particularly in the light of the United Nation Ocean Conference (UNOC) 3 co-organised by France and Costa-Rica in Nice, June 9 to 13, 2025 during which strong citizen and institutional engagement will be essential.
Connecting Ocean Literacy and Blue Citizenship: from Knowledge to Action
Ocean literacy plays a vital role in raising awareness on the importance of ocean sustainability in personal, professional and political decision-making of all levels. It has become a fully-fledged movement advocating for the need to better understand the ocean's influence on us and our influence on the ocean. Blue citizenship allows to take the knowledge gained from ocean literacy a step further, towards informed and proactive citizens that act to build an ocean literate society engaging with institutions, elected representatives and public authorities to internalise ocean issues and solutions in the functioning, governance and decision-making processes of democratic institutions at all levels.
Be a Blue Citizen: Embracing Democracy for our Rivers and Ocean to Thrive
This year’s ‘Be a Blue Citizen: Embracing Democracy for our Rivers and Ocean to Thrive’ challenge aims to ground ocean literacy within the democratic process. It's a challenge about getting everyone mobilised to support the delivery of the policy framework required to deliver healthy, resilient and sustainable rivers and ocean.
The following questions/issues will be tackled through EU4Ocean activities:
- How can ocean literacy evolve to strengthen its citizenship dimension - giving more attention to rights and responsibilities of citizens, and to principles of justice, fairness and inclusivity?
- What role for ocean literacy (how and for whom) to strengthen the attention given to the ocean in democratic institutions and processes?
- How can ocean literacy support new and innovative forms of civic engagement at all levels (local to the EU, cross-country to inter-sectoral) so these can be effective in addressing ocean challenges?
- Which roles and responsibilities for local democracy - in particular cities - in addressing river and ocean challenges?
This year's challenge touches on different facets of our democratic system where an ocean conversation needs to be internalized. It includes spaces for knowledge sharing and transfer (e.g. citizen information centers, libraries, aquariums...), tools (including digital, e.g. apps), all forms of civic engagement, the functioning and accountability of democratic institutions and processes, or the roles and responsibilities of elected representatives from the local to the European level.
‘Be a blue citizen' is about you!
Participate in our (online and in-presence) events and discussions to share ideas and thoughts!
Apply for a call for collective actions if you have a “blue citizenship/embracing democracy” project in mind
Read more on our advocacy campaign: #MakeEUBlue: Cities in Action and get involved!
Join the Coalition and its communities to be part of the action!