On October 23, 2019, during the Our Ocean 2019, the BRI International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC) held a side event named Greening the Blue Road: Promoting Marine Environment Governance in the Belt and Road Initiative in Oslo, Norway. More than 60 participants from different organizations and institutions gathered together to exchange and share opinions on the governance of marine ecological environment and green Belt & Road Initiative. A new thematic partnership of “Maritime Community with a Shared Future and Marine Governance under BRIGC was officially launched in the meeting.

The side event was chaired by Mr. Vidar Helgesen, BRIGC Co-Chair, CCICED Vice Chairperson, and Norway’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, Former Minister of Ministry of Climate and Environment of Norway, Mr. Marco Lambertini, BRIGC Co-Chair, CCICED Member, and Director General of WWF International, Mr. Eric Solheim, Convener of the Advisory Committee of BRIGC, CCICED Vice Chairperson, and Senior Advisor of WRI, Ms. Antha Williams, Member of the Advisory Committee of BRIGC and Global Head of Environmental Programs of Bloomberg Philanthropies, as well as Ms. Ingrid van Wees, Vice-President for Finance and Risk Management of Asia Development Bank attended the side event and delivered speeches. Speakers emphasize the vital role of sustainable ocean governance and pointed out the necessity of enhancing partnership to realize high-quality development of BRI.

Ms. Wang Juying from National Marine Environmental Monitoring Centre, Chinese lead partner of the newly launched thematic partnership, introduced four priorities of the partnership, including promoting regional marine environmental protection and governance, promoting regional marine biodiversity conservation and the sustainable management and utilization of bio-resources, enhancing cooperation in addressing climate change in marine-related areas, and promoting high-level dialogue. Representatives of international lead partners, including Mr. Eric Schwab, Senior Vice President of Oceans of EDF, Mr. Remi Eriksen, Group President and CEO of Norway DNV GL and representative from Bloomberg Philanthropies also explained their potential contributions and expectation towards the partnership. Mr. Li Yonghong, CCICED Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Director General of Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center of Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment appreciated the great support from partners and noted that BRIGC will make good use of the new thematic partnership to enable enhanced efforts and pragmatic actions in building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

The side event was jointly organized by BRIGC Secretariat, CCICED Secretariat, and EDF.