CELEBRATION HIGHLIGHTS
On 8 June 2023, the United Nations hosted its annual World Oceans Day celebration featuring the theme, Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing, which highlighted the need to put the ocean first. The hybrid event was hosted by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs (DOALOS), in partnership with Oceanic Global and supported by Panerai, with contribution by Discover Earth at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City and was broadcasted live on UNWorldOceansDay.org and supporting channels for global accessibility.
ABOUT UN WOD 2023
The ocean covers the majority of the earth, but only a small portion of its waters has been explored. Despite humanity’s utter reliance on it, and compared to the breadth and depth of what it gives us, the ocean receives only a fragment of our attention and resources in return.
But tides are changing.
UN WOD 2023 FULL PROGRAM
Watch the full program from 8 June to celebrate the United Nations World Oceans Day 2023 theme, Planet Ocean, and join forces with decision makers, scientists, private sector executives, civil society representatives, indigenous communities, celebrities and youth activists and more to put the ocean first.
Segmented Videos
Schedule
Planet Ocean: Opening Remarks
10:00 amUnited Nations representatives and high-level speakers will open UN World Oceans Day with remarks on the 2023 theme "Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing".
H.E. António Guterres
Secretary-General of the United Nations
Miguel de Serpa Soares
Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel
Lea d'Auriol
Founder & Executive Director, Oceanic Global
Jason Momoa
Actor and UN Environment Programme Advocate for Life Below Water
Lucas Bravo
Actor and Activist
Water & Wisdom
10:30 amA multi-sensory performance reconnecting humanity with the element of water which sustains the diversity of life on earth.
Whaia
Sonic Weaver
Fireside Chat: Time to Put the Ocean First
10:50 amA discussion on the need to change the tides and prioritize the ocean across all sectors.
Sophia Li
Journalist & Climate Communicator
Sylvia Earle
Explorer at Large, National Geographic & Mission Blue
Ray Dalio
Founder and Chief Investment Officer Mentor, Bridgewater Associates; Co-Founder, Dalio Philanthropies; Co-Founder, OceanX
Message from the International Space Station
11:35 amSteve Bowen
NASA Astronaut
Woody Hoburg
NASA Astronaut
Ocean x Climate Keynote
11:40 amA deep dive keynote on the ocean-climate intersection. Keynote by:
Hans-Otto Pörtner
Marine Ecophysiologist Alfred-Wegener-Institute & Co-Chair WG II, IPCC
Beyond the Surface Spotlights
11:45 amSpotlight diving deep into the power and potential of the ocean.
Moderator: Alejandro Alba, Senior Correspondent, NowThis
Spotlights by:
Fabien Cousteau
Founder & Chief Oceanic Explorer, Proteus Ocean Group
Diva Amon
Deep-Sea Biologist, SpeSeas; Benioff Ocean Science Lab, UCSB
Titouan Bernicot
Founder and CEO, Coral Gardeners
Ocean Literacy Remarks
12:30 pmRemarks on how furthering our understanding of the ocean equips us to better protect it.
Jean-Marc Pontroué
CEO, Officine Panerai
Francesca Santoro
Senior Programme Officer, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO
Blue Perspective Spotlights
12:40 pmSpotlight presentations underscoring our interconnectivity to and reliance on the ocean.
Moussa Wele
Maritime Archaeologist & Programme Coordinator Culture Sector, UNESCO
Mohammad Arju
Communications Coordinator, ICCA Consortium
Mpume Mthombeni
Performer & Co-founder, Empatheatre
10th Annual Photo Competition Winners Announced
1:15 pmAnnouncement of the finalists and winners of the 2023 Photo Competition for United Nations World Oceans Day.
Curator: Ellen Cuylaerts, Freelance Underwater, Wildlife Photographer and Curator 2023 World Oceans Day Photo Competition
Photo Competition Host: Ian Bongso-Seldrup, Managing Editor and Chief Operations Officer, Dive Photo Guide
Judges:
Rajan Desai
Wildlife Photographer
Ipah Uid Lynn
Underwater fine art wildlife photography
Rathika Ramasamy
Wildlife Photographer
Antoine Janssens
Photographer, Filmmaker & Director
Closing Remarks
1:25 pmClosing remarks from United Nations and Oceanic Global summarizing key messages and calling on continuous action to protect our blue planet.
Lea d'Auriol
Executive Director & Founder, Oceanic Global
Francois Bailet
Senior Legal Officer, Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs, United Nations
Hosted by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs (DOALOS) in partnership with Oceanic Global and supported by Panerai, with contribution by Discover Earth and OceanX.
PHOTO COMPETITION
The Photo Competition for UN World Oceans Day 2023 was curated by Ellen Cuylaerts and a jury composed of world-renowned individuals. 2023 marks the 10th year of the annual photo competition, which also included a celebratory 10-year anniversary exhibition in-person at the UN Headquarters in New York. This is a unique opportunity for photographers to showcase the beauty of the ocean and generate a new wave of excitement towards protecting the ocean and the entirety of our blue planet.
2023 Competition is closed for submissions
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ShareA special thanks to Oceanic Global and Panerai.
To all the speakers, performers, judges Friends of World Oceans Day group, and community partners including 351 Studios, Discover Earth, OceanX, Toni Castells, Stephen Grybowski, Nicole Hitchins, Jake Bushell, Free Time Media, Thirty Two Music, PTR & CO. See Factor, Megan Goldman, Now This, Now This Earth and Brut Media.