The UN Lisbon Oceans Conference enters its second day today with sessions on sustainable economy and conservation of marine ecosystems, side events on law of the sea regulation and "blue tourism" and an "ocean promise".

The magna meeting, co-organized by Portugal and Kenya, ends on Friday and aims to boost the countries' action to protect the oceans.

The program for the second day of work includes discussion sessions on sustainable ocean-based economies, in particular for small island developing states and least developed countries, and on management and conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems.

The Prime Minister, António Costa, and the Minister of Economy and Sea, António Costa Silva, are participating in a Leaders Lunch as part of the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy.

Former President and Prime Minister of East Timor Xanana Gusmão and the Executive Secretary of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries, Zacarias da Costa, will be at a side event on the regulation of the law of the sea.

Side events also extend to tourism in the blue economy, energy transition and green shipping and cooperation. The Minister of the Environment and Climate Action, Duarte Cordeiro, is the "host" of an initiative dedicated to cooperation between Portugal and Argentina in combating pollution of the seas through environmental education.

Today, according to Lusa, will also be launched, with the presence of the UN Under-Secretary-General, Usha Rao-Monari, the "Ocean Promise of the United Nations Development Programme", which aims to support the recovery of socio-economic losses caused by poor ocean management.

Outside Lisbon, in Estoril, the Blue Economy Sustainable Investment Forum is taking place.

The UN Lisbon Oceans Conference brings together world leaders, scientists, leaders of non-governmental organizations, academics and business people, as well as representations from UN member states, under the theme "Increasing action on the oceans based on science and innovation."

From the Conference, the second after the one in New York in 2017, voluntary commitments are expected on Sustainable Development Goal 14, concerning the protection of marine life.