German Ocean Festival
Endorsed as a UN Ocean Decade Activity
Parliamentary Ocean Evenings as part of the German Ocean Festival
The German Ocean Festival is intended to develop a general awareness of our ocean, encouraging participants to take find out more about the ocean, to take ocean-friendly decisions, and to do so immediately. The project aims to ensure that the ocean is embedded in political Berlin. In 2025, the German Ocean Festival will consist of three Parliamentary Ocean Evenings spread throughout the year. The focus is on political actors, but networking with companies and civil society is also an important factor.
The focus will be on the UN Ocean Decade, national, European and international marine policy as well as the blue economy and sustainable products. An immersive ocean show and musical accompaniment will once again ensure a sensory experience of the ocean habitat. Each Parliamentary Ocean Evening will conclude with a discussion round in which the status quo of German marine policy will be compared with European and international developments.
Dates and topics of the next parliamentary evenings:
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Germany and the ocean
8 July 2025
The ocean is far more important for the future of the economy and society in Germany than is currently reflected in marine policy. With this parliamentary ocean evening, the German Ocean Foundation seeks to initiate a dialogue with politicians and to make the ocean a political priority. The German Ocean Foundation and the Planetarium Berlin Foundation cordially invite you to the Parliamentary Ocean Evening on 8 July 2025 at the Zeiss-Großplanetarium in Berlin. Please register by 5 July 2025.
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Europe and the ocean
23 September 2025
The German Ocean Foundation and the Planetarium Berlin Foundation cordially invite you to the Parliamentary Ocean Evening on 23 September 2025 at the Zeiss-Großplanetarium in Berlin. Please register by 18 September 2025.
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The ocean as an economic area for Germany
9 Dezember 2025
The German Ocean Foundation and the Planetarium Berlin Foundation cordially invite you to the Parliamentary Ocean Evening on 9 December 2025 at the Zeiss-Großplanetarium in Berlin. Please register by 4 December 2025.
German Ocean Festival 2024
In November 2024, the German Ocean Foundation, the Planetarium Berlin Foundation and the German Society for the United Nations e.V. hosted a parliamentary ocean evening with ocean policy spokespersons Daniel Schneider (SPD), Astrid Damerow (CDU/CSU), Stefan Wenzel (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), Olaf in der Beek (FDP) and Ina Latendorf (Die Linke), and keynote speakers Prof Dr Stephan Rahmstorf (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research) and Anna von Rebay (Ocean Vision Legal) to the Zeiss-Großplanetarium in Berlin.
It was not hard to see that there are a whole host of challenges that Germany needs to address in a timely manner in order to meet the major requirements in the areas of sustainable development, the use of the ocean, ocean protection and the restoration of ecosystems that have already been destroyed. This is a mammoth task that we will only be able to achieve together and through constructive dialogue. We were happy to hear that the parliamentary representatives of all parties are committed and passionate about continuing their efforts in this area.
The Parliamentary Ocean Evening was the prelude to future German Ocean Festivals in Berlin, which will emphasise the special importance of the oceans for our future existence in political Berlin, together with partners from business, science and society. Close links to art and culture are a central element of the German Ocean Festival, as this is the only way to ensure that these topics are relevant to society.
