UNESCO-IOC and Prada Group bring the Ocean&Climate Village to Barcelona for the 37th America’s Cup

UNESCO, in partnership with the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team, is bringing the immersive Ocean&Climate Village exhibition to Port Olímpic in Barcelona from 24 September to 4 October 2024. This initiative highlights the critical connection between ocean health and global climate, educating the public and advancing scientific research as part of UNESCO’s broader efforts under the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). 

The Ocean&Climate Village exhibition is presented at the America’s Cup within the framework of SEA BEYOND, the educational programme developed by the Prada Group and UNESCO which uses interactive tools to engage visitors of all ages with vital information on marine biodiversity, climate change, ocean acidification, and rising sea levels. This travelling exhibition emphasises the need for greater ocean literacy - a concept that extends far beyond classrooms, incorporating perspectives from science, culture, and local knowledge.

UNESCO is actively fostering collaborations between scientists and sailors to advance oceanic research. The partnership with the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team during the America’s Cup symbolises how sailing boats can serve as platforms for data collection, contributing valuable insights into ocean health. This collaboration reflects similar efforts seen in the Vendée Globe, where UNESCO worked with sailors to gather critical scientific data from some of the most remote areas of the ocean.

By connecting the sailing community with researchers, UNESCO is expanding its ability to gather data essential for understanding ocean dynamics and supporting sustainable marine management. These collaborations are part of UNESCO’s leadership role in the Ocean Decade, which seeks to drive global efforts to restore and protect the ocean, our planet’s most vital ecosystem.

Barcelona, the host city of the America’s Cup, is also a central hub for UNESCO’s ocean initiatives. Earlier this year, in April 2024, the city hosted the Ocean Decade Conference, bringing together global leaders, scientists, and policymakers to address the urgent challenges facing the ocean. The return of the Ocean&Climate Village during the America’s Cup underscores the city’s place in the global conversation on ocean sustainability.

As we approach the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice in June 2025, the work being done now - through events like the Ocean&Climate Village - aims to inspire real, concrete actions to restore and protect the ocean for future generations. UNESCO’s commitment to ocean literacy, alongside its partners, is critical to achieving this goal.

Visitors to the Ocean&Climate Village are invited to explore the critical challenges facing the ocean, and how they can contribute to protecting it. By engaging with these initiatives, UNESCO aims to inspire people to act for a sustainable future both on land and at sea.

“The Ocean&Climate Village is a groundbreaking initiative that illustrates the ocean-climate nexus in an engaging and accessible manner. By showcasing this exhibition at the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona, in partnership with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and the Prada Group, we are seizing an opportunity to reach a new and diverse audience. Our goal is to inspire individuals to take impactful actions for the ocean and climate beyond the event: to ‘sea beyond’. This exhibition not only reflects UNESCO’s dedication to education and sustainable development but also emphasizes the key role each of us plays in safeguarding our planet,[/i" said Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.

“[i]SEA BEYOND has supported the Ocean&Climate Village since its first editions, taking it further than the borders of Italy and Europe, with the aim of spreading ocean literacy and ocean preservation principles. The presence of the exhibition here in Barcelona during the America’s Cup reflects the multifaceted nature of our relationship with the sea, which is a place of innovation, experimentation and competition, but first and foremost is a long-term commitment to sustainability and to the education of young generations,” said Lorenzo Bertelli, Executive Director of the Prada Group and Patron of the Ocean Decade Alliance.

This collaboration between UNESCO and the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team underscores a commitment to sustainability in maritime sports, and the contribution that sailing boats can make to the ocean science community through valuable data collection. The partnership is symbolised by the inclusion of the UNESCO and SEA BEYOND logos displayed on the mainsail of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli boat. This highlights our joint commitment to ocean protection and aims to elevate awareness of ocean literacy during one of the world’s most prestigious sporting competitions.

“The Ocean&Climate Village is not only an immersive experience and an exhibition on ocean health and conservation, it is a real “Manifesto” on the need to promote education and protection of the marine environment, which Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli is proud to pursue together with UNESCO-IOC and SEA BEYOND. After the success of previous editions, I am happy that this important initiative has come to Barcelona, the “home” of the 37th America’s Cup. This is a unique opportunity to spread our shared values of sport, education and sustainability globally, in the hope that our message can help save the blue planet,” said Max Sirena, Team Director of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.

Previous editions of the Ocean&Climate Village have been hosted at the Triennale in Milan (October 2021), the Arsenale in Venice (March 2022), Castel dell’Ovo in Naples (March 2023) and the Haitian Centre in Qingdao (October 2023). Over the years, the exhibition has continually renewed its content, adapting to the needs and interests of various local communities and reflecting the unique geographical characteristics of each host city.