The European Digital Ocean Pavilion will prominently feature the theme of how Europe tackles coastal challenges with nature-based solutions during the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), open to the public from 2 to 13 June 2025.
Mercator Ocean has been leading efforts to address coastal challenges through various projects designed to enhance public understanding of coastal dynamics and develop more effective prediction and adaptation strategies.
On the morning of 13 June, in the INSPIRE area of the Pavilion, attendees will delve into the topic of coastal challenges. The session, titled “Let’s Talk About Coastal Challenges”, will feature three thematic panels: State of the Coastal Systems, Advances in Coastal Monitoring, and Coastal Solutions. The programme will conclude with a segment on Data Visualisation and a final Wrap-up highlighting key takeaways and next steps. Moderated by Tina Silovic and Joanna Staneva, with Henri Landes as Master of Ceremony, the session aims to foster dialogue and showcase innovative approaches to coastal resilience.
EU Digital Twin Ocean
The EU Digital Twin Ocean (EU DTO) is an advanced digital representation of the ocean designed to provide comprehensive insights into marine environments. Developed by Mercator Ocean International, the EU DTO integrates data from the Copernicus Marine Service and EMODNet, the European Marine Observation and Data Network, to create a detailed and interactive model of the ocean.
By providing detailed simulations and predictive models, the EU DTO helps address ocean and climate challenges by enabling researchers and policymakers to develop effective adaptation strategies for coastal communities and to support sustainable ocean management.
Nature-based solution
The EU DTO is being utilised in innovative applications such as the Nature-Based Solution Assessment, developed through the WIS platform by HEREON as part of the EDITO Model Lab.
The Nature-Based Solution Assessment demonstrates how coastal vegetation, such as seagrass, can reduce wave energy, slow erosion, and contribute to climate mitigation. Demonstrators focused on the Wadden Sea in Germany and the Songor Lagoon in Ghana highlight the effectiveness of nature-based interventions in stabilising coastlines and enhancing biodiversity.
This application enables users to explore “what if” scenarios by testing different environmental and policy conditions to better understand potential outcomes, a tool that will also further assist in making informed, science-based decisions that strengthen coastal resilience and support sustainable ocean management.
Information about UNOC3 and the European Digital Ocean Pavilion
Join us in learning more about how Europe tackles coastal challenges with nature-based solutions! Register here to participate in the online streaming of the European Digital Ocean Pavilion’s activities at UNOC3, or come visit us in person to explore innovative solutions for sustainable Ocean management and stewardship.
This article is part of a series focused on the morning themes of the European Digital Ocean Pavilion. To read about Marine Biodiversity, click here. To read about Marine Pollution, click here. To read about Ocean and Climate, click here. To read about Sea Level Rise, click here.
