By Sean Russell, Director of Youth Engagement at EarthEcho International
Through the High Seas Youth Ambassador program, EarthEcho International and the High Seas Alliance are collaborating to provide a paid Ambassador experience to six youth ocean advocates (ages 17-22) in strategic locations around the world. Ambassadors will plan and execute innovative campaigns to build the public and political momentum needed to advance High Seas Treaty ratification.
Applications for the 2025 High Seas Youth Ambassador program are open through December 9, 2024.
Around the world time is running out to address the impacts of the climate crisis and ocean biodiversity loss. Although countries have set ambitious targets to protect at least 30% of the global ocean by the year 2030 to address these challenges, we are not currently on pace to achieve these goals. As a result, we must scale up our efforts to protect our blue planet. With this in mind, the urgent ratification of the High Seas Treaty is a critical step to securing the vision of a protected ocean and sets the stage for marine protected areas in international waters. The voices and leadership of young ocean advocates are central to building public and political momentum needed to achieve the goal of at least 60 countries ratifying the High Seas Treaty to ensure it becomes international law by June 2025.
Over the past year, we’ve seen the power of youth leadership in advancing the #RaceforRatification through the High Seas Youth Ambassador program. EarthEcho International is proud to partner with the High Seas Alliance to offer this Youth Ambassador opportunity, which in 2024, united five youth leaders from Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Africa, and Samoa equipping them with the tools, funding, and resources to advance ratification of the High Seas Treaty in their countries. From hosting conferences with young ocean advocates to build momentum for Treaty ratification to creatively reaching new audiences with a message of the importance of the High Seas Treaty through art as an advocacy tool, the High Seas Youth Ambassadors have mobilized thousands of their peers and community members to learn more about this opportunity to advance ocean protection.
Ambassadors also collaborated with EarthEcho International and the High Seas Alliance to ensure their work connected to government decision makers, including direct outreach to elected officials and participation in high level speaking roles at convenings including the Our Ocean Conference, 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting, and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP16 meeting.
2025 is a critical moment in the #RaceforRatification as we drive toward the goal of at least 60 countries ratifying the Treaty by June 2025. To that end, EarthEco International and the High Seas Alliance are excited to invite young ocean advocates ages 17-22 from key regions to apply to serve as a 2025 High Seas Youth Ambassador. This unique, paid opportunity will once again equip participants with the training and support to develop and implement creative campaigns in their countries to build momentum for High Seas Treaty ratification. Ambassadors will receive campaign planning training and mentorship from EarthEcho International and strategy guidance and support from the High Seas Alliance, as they collaborate with their peers to bring these campaigns to life.
Applications for the 2025 High Seas Youth Ambassadors program are open through December 9, 2024. Interested applicants can learn more and complete their application at: www.earthecho.org/high-seas-youth-ambassadors.
2025 High Seas Youth Ambassador Job Description