M/S Paul Gauguin to Host Inaugural Blue Climate Summit, May 14-20, 2022

Blue Climate Initiative announced that its inaugural Blue Climate Summit will take place on the m/s Paul Gauguin, May 14-20, 2022 in French Polynesia. The Summit will be co- convened by H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco and President Edouard Fritch of French Polynesia, among others, and will focus on accelerating projects that target six missions: climate change mitigation, ocean protection, CO2 removal, healthy blue communities, sustainable tourism and improved ocean understanding.  Over 250 scientists, innovators, policy makers, business and financial experts, community leaders and environmental and youth activists will be brought together to work on ocean and climate strategies.  The Summit is a program of the Blue Climate Initiative, which was born in French Polynesia and is now a flagship program of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.  “There has never been a more important or urgent time for the world to address ocean protection and climate change. With tipping points rapidly approaching, we can’t afford to wait. Rather than just talking about problems, the Blue Climate Summit is focused on action and solutions,” said Stan Rowland, CEO of Blue Climate Initiative. Hervé Gastinel, CEO of PONANT, which owns PAUL GAUGUIN Cruises added, “We are proud the m/s Paul Gauguin, Tahiti’s iconic luxury small ship, has been selected as the host venue. The partnership with the Climate Summit is a natural fit as we also have ambitious objectives to protect the ocean and the communities where our ships visit.” Earlier this, he had also reaffirmed PONANT’s five founding engagements relating to the environment, cornerstones of the company’s commitment to promoting a sustainable and responsible tourism. The full program of events can be found here, which includes a session focused on sustainability in the travel industry. The discussion will be moderated by Ian Randall, science reporter for the UK-based Express Newspapers and feature speakers including Charles Gravatte, General Secretary at PONANT and Mathieu Bechonnet, Managing Director of Air Tahiti Nui.  

ABOUT BLUE CLIMATE INITIATIVE Blue Climate Initiative, sponsored by the nonprofit organization Tetiaroa Society, engages scientists, innovators, community leaders, investors, and global experts through evidence-based action. It enables innovation research and collaboration to combat climate change while protecting our oceans and unlocking solutions to urgent challenges like renewable energy, sustainable food supplies, improved human health, flourishing biodiversity, stewardship of ocean’s resources and vibrant ocean economies.  ABOUT PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES PAUL GAUGUIN Cruises operates the cruise ship, the 332-guest m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a luxury cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific. PAUL GAUGUIN Cruises has been recognised by notable publications in travel and lifestyle and was voted one of the “Top Small Cruise Lines” in the Condé Nast Traveler 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards and was honored on the publication’s 2021 “Gold List.” Paul Gauguin Cruises was selected as “Best Small-Ship Cruise Line” in Global Traveler’s Leisure Lifestyle Awards for a sixth year in a row in 2021. The line was recognized for the fourth time for having the “Best French Polynesia Cruises” in the AFAR Travelers’ Choice Awards, and “#3 Top Midsize-Ship Cruise Line” in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2021. LuxLife Magazine named Paul Gauguin the Best South Pacific Cruise Experience Company of the Year for 2021. In September 2019, Paul Gauguin Cruises joined PONANT’s family, the world leader of small-ship cruising. For more information or reservations for PAUL GAUGUIN Cruises, visit https://www.ponant.com/paul-gauguin/

Press contacts | Laure Foulatier +33(0)4 88 66 64 38 | Justine Fraticelli +33(0)4 88 91 35 56 | presse@ponant.com #PGCruises/ #PaulGauguinCruises / #GauguinExperience