Our Vision & Timeline
The Young Citizens' Council for the Ocean was created from a simple but urgent question:
What would it mean to take citizenship seriously in a world shaped by the ocean?
Our vision is to strengthen a form of Blue Citizenship that goes beyond awareness and individual behaviour. We believe that protecting the ocean requires democratic participation, transnational cooperation, and a shared sense of responsibility that transcends borders.
At a time when political systems are increasingly shaped by fragmentation and national interests, the ocean reminds us of our global interconnectedness — as a life-sustaining system that we all depend on.
While the Council emerged in a European context, our vision is inherently cosmopolitan: to learn from one another across regions, cultures, and perspectives, and to collectively shape new approaches to ocean governance that reflect this shared reality.
The Council brings together young people to explore how this interconnectedness can be translated into new forms of participation, cooperation, and responsibility — not only within Europe, but globally.
Through dialogue, collaboration, and collective decision-making, we aim to contribute to a more inclusive, participatory, and forward-looking approach to ocean governance — one that recognises young people as active co-creators in sustaining our planet's life-support system: the ocean.
Timeline so far
Early 2025 — From Idea to Initiative
The Young Citizens' Council for the Ocean was initiated following the EU4Ocean Challenge of the Year 2024. Within a few months, a transnational group of young Europeans (aged 16–19) was brought together.
Spring 2025 — Building a Transnational Council
Through a series of online workshops, participants began exploring ocean challenges, citizenship, and governance. Guest speakers from science, policy, and civil society contributed to the process, while participants developed their own perspectives and questions.
May 2025 — Field Workshop in Kiel
The Council met in person at the Baltic Sea for an intensive multi-day workshop.
Activities included:
- scientific exchange at GEOMAR
- discussions on ocean governance and participation
- collaborative group work on the Blue Citizen Compass
- cultural and experiential formats (e.g. ocean activities, film discussions)
Within this short timeframe, participants developed concrete outputs through iterative group work and collective deliberation.
Summer 2025 — The Blue Citizen Compass
The Council finalised the Blue Citizen Compass, including:
- a definition of Blue Citizenship
- guiding principles
- policy recommendations
- proposals for institutional change
All elements were adopted through a two-thirds majority, reflecting a shared and democratic outcome.
2025–2026 — Dialogue and Engagement
The results were presented and discussed with stakeholders across different levels:
- exchange with the European Commission (DG MARE)
- contributions to international ocean policy discussions
- participation in public and cultural events
These engagements highlighted both the potential and the challenges of youth participation in ocean governance.
Today — From Pilot to Process
What started as a pilot project has evolved into an ongoing initiative.
The Blue Citizen Compass and Curriculum are now being shared with a wider community to:
- inspire dialogue
- enable replication
- and further develop the concept of Blue Citizenship through new perspectives