"Now we know what we could not know when I was a child. That we have the power to harm the ocean. Now we know the ocean is in trouble. And if the ocean is in trouble, we’re all in trouble.”
Dr. Sylvia Earle
World Oceans Day is an annual reminder to protect and conserve our life-giving ecosystem. It's a time to celebrate and reflect. Now more than ever, it's also a time to act. This year we honored the day with a focus on solutions and the most promising drivers of change through an event co-organized with the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), as a highlight of the first high-level United Nations Ocean Conference.
On June 8, 2017, ocean experts and explorers, leaders from coastal communities around the globe, and members of the creative industries came together to raise awareness for the beauty and fragility of the oceans and highlight the power of collaboration and eco-innovation towards the achievement of SDG 14 and targets set forth by the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The three-hour event set a tone of unity and hope for the future of the oceans as speakers from across different backgrounds, ages, and areas of expertise emphasized the urgent need for action. The overarching message: We need to make peace with our life support system. And we're strongest when we work together.
Speakers included:
H.E. Ambassador Peter Thomson of Fiji, President of the General Assembly
H.E. MS. Isabella Lövin, Minister for International Development Cooperate and Climate, and Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden
Diego Luna, actor and filmmaker
Dr. Sylvia Earle, marine biologist and renowned explorer
Fabien Cousteau, filmmaker, ocean conservationist, and aquanaut
Eric Liedtke, Executive Board Member, Global Brands, adidas
Chris Jordan, artist and filmmaker
Dr. Scott Bolton, Principal Investigator NASA Juno/Jupiter Mission
Dr. Cady Coleman, chemist and former astronaut
Dr. Iain Kerr, whale expert
Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group, philanthropist
Learn more:
Parley x UN Environment roundtable for solutions
The Empire State Building goes blue
Diego Luna's World Oceans Day talk
