United Nations World Oceans Day 2021

The Ocean:
Life and Livelihoods

Tuesday, 8 June 2021
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Presented by Blancpain, Supported by La Mer

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.

Speakers

H.E. António Guterres

H.E. António Guterres

Secretary-General of the United Nations

Jean-Michel Cousteau

Jean-Michel Cousteau

Ocean Explorer & President, Ocean Futures Society

Nicole Yamase

Nicole Yamase

PhD Candidate in the Marine Biology Graduate Program, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Gael Garcia Bernal

Gael Garcia Bernal

Actor & Co-Founder, La Corriente del Golfo

Dr. Sylvia Earle

Dr. Sylvia Earle

President and Chairman, Mission Blue / The Sylvia Earle Alliance

Catarina Lorenzo

Catarina Lorenzo

Heirs to Our Oceans

Sam Waterson

Sam Waterson

Actor, Activist & Chair, Oceana's Board of Directors

Marisa Drew

Marisa Drew

Chief Sustainability Officer & Global Head Sustainability Strategy, Advisory and Finance, Credit Suisse

Schedule

United Nations Opening Remarks

10:00 am

High-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 am

Recognizing 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 am

Highlighting 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 am

Addressing 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 am

Stories 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 pm

Exploring 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 pm

Announcement 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 pm

Addressing 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 pm

Highlighting 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 pm

Alessandra Ambrosio

Model, Actress, and Togetherband Ambassador

Creating Sustainable Livelihoods

1:25 pm

Highlighting 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 pm

Discussing 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 pm

A 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 pm

UN 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 pm

H.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 pm

Celebrate 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

Angélique Kidjo

Valerie June

Valerie June

Arthur Jeffes / Penguin Cafe

Arthur Jeffes / Penguin Cafe

Bomba Estéreo

Bomba Estéreo

The Longest Johns

The Longest Johns

Yilian Cañizares

Yilian Cañizares

Nitin Sawhney

Nitin Sawhney

EARTHGANG

EARTHGANG

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80

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.

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