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An imaginary world to make the real one grow.

ARCHIPEL is an imaginary universe that tells real local stories and amplifies them through the issuance of impact credits.

Its first stop: Nice, on the shores of the Mediterranean, for UNOC3.
In partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD), six stories inspired by fourteen Guardians of the Ocean were unveiled within the ARCHIPEL Pavilion.

These narratives came to life through the issuance of the first certified blue carbon credits in the Mediterranean, protecting 6,500 hectares of seagrass meadows.

the stories
certified carbon credits
Street Art

archipel stories

Archipelago of protection

The murmur of seagrass and the cry of the ocean

The archipelago was buzzing with anticipation. UNOK, the sacred whale, would soon be approaching. Each island in the archipelago was preparing its own celebration, but out at sea, another expectation was keeping Marco on his toes. He scanned the horizon from the bow of the research boat, Sofia and Nayla at his side.

Listen to the story (french version)

The storm and the memory of the ocean

The island was still bathed in deceptively peaceful sunshine. For hours, Tao, the marine engineer, had been scanning the satellite readings on his onboard screen.
A storm, much more violent than forecast, was forming offshore. And instead of moving away, it was heading straight for the Archipelago.

Listen to the story (french version)

exhibition booklet with stories

" Tomorrow, during the UNOK celebrations, we'll be reminding people that the sea is much more than just a backdrop. It is our future. "

archipel stories

The sharing archipelago

Children of the archipelago

The sun was rising on the island of Education. In the coves, on the beaches and under the canvases of the open-air amphitheaters, the laughter and joyful bustle of the children was already resounding.

Listen to the story (french version)

The currents of reciprocity

Zara leaned forward slightly, her eye screwed to the lens of her camera, searching for the right frame despite the rolling of the boat.

Listen to the story (french version)

Exhibition booklet with stories

“Mira, the teacher, set her gaze on this eclectic group: - some forty children, - from the four corners of the sea, - all carrying different stories.”

archipel stories

Archipelago of prosperity

The last net

In the fishermen's territory nestled in the south of the Archipelago, excitement was building as the festivities for UNOK approached.

Listen to the story (french version)

Beneath the surface, hope

In the Archipelago of Prosperity, a string of islands sparkled in the golden morning light. It was an archipelago within an archipelago, coming to life on the eve of the UNOK celebrations.

Listen to the story (french version)

Exhibition booklet with stories

Discover flying islands in augmented reality

PROTECTION

PARTAGE

PROSPERITE

archipel impact

IN NICE, A WORLD FIRST TAKES ROOT UNDER THE SEA

Inventing Impact Credits

On June 4, 2025, during the United Nations Ocean Conference, the ELYX Foundation issued the first certified blue carbon credits for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea.
These credits safeguard 6,500 hectares of Posidonia seagrass meadows — underwater forests that capture CO₂, shelter marine life, and protect coastlines.

Certified under the Label Bas-Carbone, granted by the French State, these credits mark the first application of the methodology since 2018.
ARCHIPEL credits go beyond carbon accounting: they combine ecosystem protection with scientific research, social engagement, and cultural action.

With this project, the ELYX Foundation became the first institution to issue certified carbon credits for the Mediterranean.
France, in turn, stands as the first country to formalize such an innovative climate finance mechanism.

archipel impact

POSIDONIA SEAGRASS MEADOWS: THE MEMORY AND GUARDIAN OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

Protecting the Underwater Forests

Blue carbon credits here are used to protect a hidden treasure: Posidonia seagrass meadows.
These vast underwater prairies, covering nearly 80,000 hectares along France’s Mediterranean coastline, trap carbon within their millennia-old root systems, known as matte.
They are the memory of the Mediterranean — home to 25% of marine biodiversity, natural coastal barriers, and carbon vaults preserving centuries of captured emissions.

Yet, every anchor dropped at random tears through these fragile ecosystems, releasing stored carbon.
More than 250,000 boats navigate the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, most of them unregulated due to their size (under 24 meters).
In 2024, over 63,000 anchoring events were recorded — each one threatening one of the world’s most powerful carbon sinks.

ARCHIPEL chose to act by transforming anchoring culture, through Donia, an app created by Andromède Océanologie that guides boaters in real time to avoid sensitive zones.
Donia has already reduced destructive anchoring by 14%, saving thousands of square meters of seagrass each year.
With ARCHIPEL, Donia will continue to grow — turning a simple act of navigation into a gesture of protection.

Collaboration street art

A LASTING WORK ANCHORED IN THE CITY

Born from the encounter between Yacine Aït Kaci and OTOM, a leading figure of Nice’s street art scene, this permanent artwork is rooted in the very territory that hosts ARCHIPEL — transforming the momentum of international encounters into a living and inclusive legacy.

Flagship Partner

Beacon Partners

Companion Partners

CATALOGUE ARCHIPEL UNOC

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