The Atlantic Centre, in partnership with SafeSeas, the University of Copenhagen and the Institute for Security Studies (Pretoria), is organizing a roundtable discussion on “The security of subsea data cables and marine protected areas", on June 30, as an official side-event of the United Nations Ocean Conference, in Parque das Nações, Lisbon.
This event aims to increase awareness of the importance of subsea data cable infrastructure, to improve the understanding of the key challenges and opportunities linked to the security of infrastructure and facilitate a discussion on improving cable resilience in line with the goals of protecting marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
Maritime infrastructure has become an increasingly debated part of ocean governance and security, as more activities depend on its well-functioning. Subsea data cables provide the connections required for the digital interactions that support everyday communications, with impact in many areas, from trade, to education, personal relations, but also diplomatic and military interactions. Despite the current capacity to keep cables stable and functioning, there are many pending issues regarding its security, related to the risks posed by increasing maritime activities, geopolitical competition and the limits of existing ocean governance mechanisms. The growing density of cable networks being laid at the Ocean bottom also raises the pressures on vulnerable marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
This public event is taking place on the sidelines of the UN Oceans Conference, in Lisbon, and it aims to increase awareness for the importance of subsea data cable infrastructure, to improve the understanding of the key challenges and opportunities linked to the security of infrastructure, and to facilitate a discussion on improving cable resilience in line with the goals of protecting marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
The event is a joint initiative by the Atlantic Centre, SafeSeas, the University of Copenhagen, and the Institute of Security Studies (Pretoria), consisting of a roundtable discussion.
Location: Pala Pavilhão de Portugal, Parque das Nações
15h00-15h20 | Welcome remarks
- Portuguese Secretary of State for Defence, Marco Capitão Ferreira
- Peter Thomson, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean (video message)
15h20-16h05 | Roundtable discussion
Moderator: Martin Koehring, Head, World Ocean Initiative, Economist Impact
- Steve Dawe, Chairman European Subsea Cable Association
- Kaitlin Meredith, UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme
- Christian Bueger, University of Copenhagen
- Philippe Dumont, EllaLink
- Leendert Bal, European Maritime Safety Agency
16h05-16h15 | Closing statement by organizers
Download programme
The event is public and open to anyone willing to participate, but limited to the available seats.
Accreditation for the event can be completed in advance online or in person on the venue of the event.