The Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, has announced in an instagram post that the city is the first to join the Oceans 2050 initiative called “Blue Cities Alliance.”

The announcement was made at a signing ceremony, hosted by Doukas, on the sidelines of the 8th Circle the Med conference.

The Blue Cities Alliance is launched by Oceans 2050, a non-profit organization co-founded and presided over by Alexanda Cousteau, granddaughter of the legendary conservationist Jacques Cousteau.

The Blue Cities Alliance aims to accelerate the transformation of coastal cities toward prosperity, resilience and regeneration, and plans to build a “dynamic global movement of city leaders, businesses, scientists, NGOs, and communities focused on coastal restoration, a thriving blue economy, and innovative solutions that harmonize economic growth with ocean health,” according to the organization’s website.