World Oceans Day 2017

INITIATIVES
Written By Anna Kovesi
 
 

"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

 

WATCH THE TALKS

 

Learn more:

UN Ocean Conference

Parley x UN Environment roundtable for solutions 

The Empire State Building goes blue

Diego Luna's World Oceans Day talk

 

@parley.tv || @parleyforoceans

#SaveOurOcean

#ParleyAIR 

 
 

READ MORE

 
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Anna Kovesi
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