By Staff Writer
Nice, France – Flying the flag for India and the Global South, the Young Environmentalists Programme Trust made waves at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France. The high-level summit saw participation from over 170 countries and concluded with a landmark pact: “Our Ocean, Our Future: United for Urgent Action”—a resounding global call to protect 30% of Earth’s land and ocean by 2030.
At the forefront was Elsie Gabriel, founder of the Young Environmentalists Programme Trust and Ocean School India, who passionately advocated for embedding ocean literacy into national education systems. Her message was clear: without knowledge, there can be no stewardship.
“Our island territories like Lakshadweep and the Andamans, while not officially classified as Small Island Developing States, suffer equally from rising seas and climate injustice. These communities must be equally prioritized in global climate policies,” said Gabriel, urging for inclusive frameworks that recognize the environmental threats faced by India’s oceanic regions.l,” Young Environmentalists Programme brings the oceans to the classroom students who have never experienced the ocean. Many of our students are land locked and have never seen the ocean so ocean knowledge is key to conserving it.”
Gabriel’s abstract, “Integrating Knowledge Systems for Responsible and Respectful Ocean Stewardship”, was accepted,published at the Ocean Congress. She was invited to speak at several high-impact forums and side events including the IOC UNESCO, Universal Versatile Society, and Women in Ocean Action, where she advocated for multilateral partnerships and stronger representation for the Global South.
Highlights from Gabriel’s participation at UNOC sessions included:
•European Digital Ocean Pavilion
•The Economist Ocean Dialogues
•Katapult Ocean Event aboard the Statsraad Lehmkuhl
•Heirs to Our Ocean: Intergenerational Leadership Exchange
•IUCN and ECOP engagements
•IOC UNESCO’s Pavilion sessions
•Skills and Capacity Marketplace for the Blue Economy
The Trust also proudly showcased its grassroots impact: over thousands of students sensitized, hundreds of educators trained, and a groundbreaking commitment to translate UNESCO’s Ocean Literacy Framework into multiple Indian languages. In collaboration with youth ambassador Tanya Satish, Gabriel co-authored a timely publication before the ocean conference titled “An Introduction to Ocean Literacy”, whose foreword has been written by the Governor of Maharashtra,launched at the conference to encourage youth engagement in marine sciences.
In a special announcement prior to the conference, Gabriel was named a 2025 Mentor for the Sustainable Ocean Alliance’s Ocean Leaders Fellowship, reinforcing her role in cultivating future blue champions.
“I am deeply honoured to mentor the SOA 2025 Ocean Leaders Fellowship first cohort,” she shared. “This opportunity comes at a time when youth engagement is more critical than ever. We must equip emerging leaders to take charge of systemic change in ocean governance.”
Adding to their accolades, the Young Environmentalists Programme Trust recently received second place in the Ocean Education Awards presented by Ocean Census–Nippon Foundation, in partnership with Nekton and Boat International. The Trust was also recognized by Blue Threads (IOC-UNESCO) for its ocean literacy contributions.
As the world eyes the next milestones in ocean diplomacy—including the BBNJ Treaty, WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, and the Global Plastics Treaty—the Young Environmentalists Programme Trust stands firm in its mission: to amplify the voices of the Global South, champion youth leadership, and shape a resilient, inclusive ocean future.
