The second fully virtual celebration of United Nations World Oceans Day, on 8 June 2021, will highlight the theme The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods.
Produced by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) of the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations, in partnership with non-profit organization Oceanic Global, and presenting partner Blancpain, supported by La Mer, this year’s annual event will shed light on the wonder of the ocean and how it is our life source, supporting humanity and every other organism on Earth.
United Nations World Oceans Day 2021
The Ocean:
Life and Livelihoods
Tuesday, 8 June 2021
-
Presented by Blancpain,
Supported by La Mer
Speakers
H.E. António Guterres
Secretary-General of the United Nations
Jean-Michel Cousteau
Ocean Explorer & President, Ocean Futures Society
Nicole Yamase
PhD Candidate in the Marine Biology Graduate Program, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Gael Garcia Bernal
Actor & Co-Founder, La Corriente del Golfo
Dr. Sylvia Earle
President and Chairman, Mission Blue / The Sylvia Earle Alliance
Catarina Lorenzo
Heirs to Our Oceans
Sam Waterson
Actor, Activist & Chair, Oceana's Board of Directors
Marisa Drew
Chief Sustainability Officer & Global Head Sustainability Strategy, Advisory and Finance, Credit Suisse
Schedule
United Nations Opening Remarks
10:00 amHigh-level speakers will open UN World Oceans Day with remarks on the 2021 theme "The Ocean: Life & Livelihoods”.
Featuring an original score by Michael Leonhart.
H.E. António Guterres
Secretary-General of the United Nations
H.E. Volkan Bozkır
President of the United Nations General Assembly
Gael García Bernal
Actor and Co-Founder, La Corriente del Golfo
Our Underwater World
10:10 amRecognizing the significant role the ocean has played in the evolution of life on Earth and its continued influence in supporting thriving and biodiverse ecosystems.
Featuring an original musical composition by Nitin Sawhney.
Jean-Michel Cousteau
President, Ocean Futures Society
Oceanic Discoveries
10:15 amHighlighting the awe and beauty of the ocean through recent oceanic discoveries.
Brian Skerry
Wildlife Photojournalist and Film Producer
Mattie Rodrigue
Science Program Lead, OceanX
Nicole Yamase
PhD Candidate in the Marine Biology Graduate Program, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Dr. Austin Gallagher
Chief Scientist, Beneath the Waves
Dr. Jonathan Whitney
Marine Biologist, NOAA - Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center and the University of Hawaii
Humanity's Relationship with the Ocean
10:55 amAddressing the relationship between the ocean and human health and well-being.
Dr. Sylvia Earle
President and Chairman, Mission Blue / The Sylvia Earle Alliance
Faces of the Sea
11:05 amStories of individuals whose lives are deeply interconnected with the ocean across sectors.
Featuring an artistic performance by The Longest Johns.
Moderator: Céline Semaan
Executive Director, Slow Factory
Deeper Dive: Dive Tierra Bomba
Short Film
Dr. Easkey Britton
Surfer and Marine Social Scientist, INCLUSEA Project
Deepika Tadi
MRF Staff, Green Worms
Deeper Dive: Racing the King Tide
Short Film
Bandarbeyla fishing community
Puntland, Somalia
Deeper Dive: Lessons from Jeju
Short Film
Catarina Lorenzo
Heirs to Our Oceans
Max
Search and Rescue Manager, SOS MEDITERRANEE
Mauro Colagreco
Chef-Owner, Relais & Châteaux Mirazur
Manthura Sheikh
Fish Processor and Trader, Malindi Women in Fisheries Entrepreneurship
The Ocean Connecting Us Daily
12:00 pmExploring how ocean science and resources are used in household items with otherwise invisible ocean origins.
Amanda Cerny
Actress, Entrepreneur & UNEP Ambassador
UN WOD Photo Competition Winners
12:05 pmAnnouncement of the finalists and winners of the 2021 UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition.
The unveiling of the 8th Annual UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition winners, selected by:
Curator: Ellen Cuylaerts
Freelance Underwater and Wildlife Photographer and Curator, 2021 UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition.
Judges: Jennifer Hayes, Julian Lennon, Joakim Odelberg, Ipah Uid Lynn, and Michel Strogoff
The UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition is co-organized and supported by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations, Oceanic Global, DivePhotoGuide, and Blancpain, and curated by Ellen Cuylaerts.
Deeper Dive: Blancpain
Laurent Ballesta
Marine scientist, underwater photographer, pioneer deep diver Leader of the Gombessa Expeditions
Will Harrison
Editor of Oceanographic Magazine
Remarks: Sam Waterson
12:25 pmAddressing the relationship between the ocean and human health and well-being.
Sam Waterson
Actor, Activist, and Chair of Oceana's Board of Directors
A Changing Ocean
12:30 pmHighlighting our human impact on the ocean, how ocean life and livelihoods are affected by issues from climate change to biodiversity loss, and the need to take action.
Moderator: Alejandro Alba
Host and Correspondent, NowThis
Danni Washington
Co-Founder, Big Blue & You
Dr. Kim Currie
Marine Chemist, NIWA
Dr. Kevin Conrad
Medical Director of Community Affairs and Health Policy, Ochsner Health
Deeper Dive: David Doubilet
Underwater Photographer
Keynote: Vladimir Ryabinin
Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO
Remarks: Alessandra Ambrosio
1:15 pmAlessandra Ambrosio
Model, Actress, and Togetherband Ambassador
Creating Sustainable Livelihoods
1:25 pmHighlighting harmonious solutions and human-centric approaches to balance our relationship with the ocean.
Moderator: Dr. Sherry Pictou
Assistant Professor, Dalhousie University
Hannah Kihalani Springer
Director, Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo
Mitchell Lay
Programme Coordinator, Fisher and Advocate, Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organizations
Dr. Carl Cater
Associate Professor in Tourism, Swansea University, Wales, UK
Deeper Dive: La Mer
Justin Boxford
Global Brand President, La Mer
Dune Lankard
Eyak Athabaskan Native and Founder, The Native Conservancy
Lela Devine
Youth Leadership Council Member, EarthEcho International
Francisco Núñez
Central Caribbean Director, The Nature Conservancy
Keynote: Peter Thomson
United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean
Blue Economy and Private Sector Impact
2:20 pmDiscussing the role of the private sector and blue economy in creating a sustainable and just working ocean.
Moderator: Martin Koehring
Head, The Economist Group's World Ocean Initiative
Amy Novogratz
Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Aqua-Spark
Elizabeth Petit González
Head of Communications, Sustainable Shipping Initiative
Ted Janulis
Founder & Principal, Investable Oceans
Marisa Drew
Chief Sustainability Officer & Global Head Sustainability Strategy, Advisory and Finance, Credit Suisse
Passing Down Knowledge
3:05 pmA dialogue across generations to discuss the need for intergenerational engagement, knowledge sharing and education to better understand how the ocean is changing and how this will affect us.
Biskungwi Izquierdo speaking with his nephew, Guneymaku.
Featuring an artistic performance by Yilian Cañizares.
UN-Oceans
3:15 pmUN agencies share the impact of their work on ocean life and livelihoods.
Opening: Miguel de Serpa Soares
Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Moderator: Alice Hicuburundi
Senior Legal Officer, Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs, United Nations
World Meteorological Organization
Moderator: Bart Smit Duijzentkunst
Legal Officer, Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs, United Nations
International Maritime Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency
UNESCO World Heritage Centre
International Labour Organization
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
World Oceans Week Remarks
3:50 pmH.E. Ricardo Serrão Santos
Minister of Sea, Government of Portugal
H.E. Ambassador Raychelle Omamo
Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Francois Bailet
Senior Legal Officer, Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs, United Nations
Lea d’Auriol
Founder & Executive Director, Oceanic Global
Concert for the Ocean
4:00 pmCelebrate UN World Oceans Day by tuning in for a virtual Concert for the Ocean, featuring renowned musical artists from around the world.
Angelique Kidjo
Bomba Estereo
Valerie June
Arthur Jeffes / Penguin Cafe
EARTHGANG
Little Dragon
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80
+TBA more!
Artistic Contributions
Angélique Kidjo
Valerie June
Arthur Jeffes / Penguin Cafe
Bomba Estéreo
The Longest Johns
Yilian Cañizares
Nitin Sawhney
EARTHGANG
Little Dragon
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80
A Special Thank You to: Oceanic Global, Blancpain and La Mer. To all the speakers, musicians, Friends of World Oceans Day group, community partners including Thirty Two Music and The Economist Group's World Ocean Initiative.
