Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 UN World Oceans Day has switched format to be an online event that is open and free to all. On 8 June from 10am to 5pm EDT (UTC−04:00), the event will be streaming live. It is produced in partnership with non-profit Oceanic Global and aims to raise global awareness about the abundance the oceans provide, and individual and collective duty to use its resources sustainably.

At 12:40PM, Ellen Cuylaerts, curator of the UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition, will be joined by the contest’s judges: Adriana Basques, Adam Hanlon, Jill Heinerth, Darren Jew, Jane Morgan, Amos Nachoum, Miriam Stein Battles, David Salvatori, and John Thet, to announce this year’s winners.

The full day’s schedule is below. In order to attend and get updates from the event, please register.

SCHEDULE

10:00AM Opening Remarks

High-level speakers will open UN World Oceans Day with remarks on the 2020 theme “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean”.

Speakers
H.E. António Guterres. Secretary-General of the United Nations
H.E. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande. President of the General Assembly
*Remarks: Cara Delevingne *

10:20AM The State of the Ocean

Speakers will provide an overview of the state of the ocean and highlight the inter-linkages of the problems we face, as well as opportunities we can harness.

Speakers
Sylvia Earle. President & Chair, Mission Blue
Bill McKibben. Co-Founder, 350.org
João Miguel Ferreira de Serpa Soares. Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs & United Nations Legal Counsel

11:00AM “Spotlight Solutions” for the Ocean

This segment spotlights current projects offering innovative solutions that address the themes of the eight interactive dialogues of the 2020 UN Ocean Conference.

Moderator
Lucy Biggers. Climate and Sustainability Correspondent, NowThis

Speakers
Peter Thomson. United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean Francis Zoet. Co-Founder & Director of Operations, The Great Bubble Barrier
Ahmad “Aki” Allahgholi. Founder & Managing Director, Coralive.org
Olivier Ceberio. COO and Co-Founder, Resolute Marine
Michael Selden. Co-Founder & CEO, Finless Foods
Jossie Jasmin. Dive shop Manager & Instructor at Amun Ini Dive Bigs Eggert. Owner of Amun Ini Dive
Dirk Rosen. Founder & Executive Director, Marine Applied Research and Exploration
Elisa Morgera. Professor of Global Environmental Law, Strathclyde University Law School & Director, “One Ocean Hub”
Jim Ritterhoff. Executive Director, FORCE BLUE

12:00PM The Cousteaus: A Multigenerational Conversation on Ocean Exploration

The Cousteaus will provide a multigenerational perspective on our evolving understanding of the ocean across time, highlighting certain innovations in science and exploration that have shaped our relationship with the ocean.

Speakers
Jean-Michel Cousteau
Celine Cousteau
Fabien Cousteau

12:20PM OceanX: Innovation, Technology and Deep Sea Exploration

The segment will highlight exciting developments in the world of science, technology and exploration, with a particular focus on deep sea exploration, opportunities for future discoveries and the rapid progress in this field.

Speakers
Mark Dalio. Founder & Creative Director, OceanX
Edith Widder. CEO & Senior Scientist, Ocean Research & Conservation Association, Inc.

12:40PM UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition Winners

Announcement of the finalists and winners of the 2020 UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition.

Curator
Ellen Cuylaerts. Freelance Underwater and Wildlife Photographer and Curator, 2020 UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition

Judges
Jim Standing, Adriana Basques, Adam Hanlon, Jill Heinerth, Darren Jew, Jane Morgan, Amos Nachoum, Miriam Stein Battles, David Salvatori, John Thet
Remarks: Ellie Goulding

1:00PM The Blue Economy and Private Sector Impact

This panel discussion will shed light on how the private sector is engaging communities to develop solutions for a healthy ocean.

Moderator
Curtis Brainard. Managing Editor, Scientific American

Speakers
Tom Szaky. Founder & CEO, TerraCycle
Michael W. Lodge Secretary-General, International Seabed Authority
Dave Ford. Founder, Soul Buffalo & Co-Founder, Ocean Plastics Leadership Network
Melissa Garren. CEO & Founder, Working Ocean Strategies

Deeper Dive
One Ocean Foundation

2:00PM Communities Innovating for a Sustainable Ocean

Panelists will provide examples of community-driven innovative approaches to effecting positive change in our relation with the ocean, highlighting key lessons learned.

Moderator
Andrea Thompson. Associate Editor for Sustainability, Scientific American

Speakers
Gayatri Reksodihardjo–Lilley. Director & Founder, Indonesian Nature Foundation (Yayasan Alam Indonesia Lestari - LINI)
Julia Kumari Drapkin. CEO & Founder, ISeeChange
Asha de Vos. Founder & Executive Director, Oceanswell
Shanta Shamsunnahar. Program Coordinator, MPA Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bangladesh

Deeper Dive
Christophe Bailhache. Photographer & Filmmaker, Co-Founder of Underwater Earth

3:00PM Youth Driving Innovation

Youth from around the world will share their solutions to drive innovation, engage their community and bridge generational gaps for a healthy and sustainable ocean.

Moderator Jack Harries. Filmmaker & Environmentalist

Speakers
Forbi Perise Eyong Nyosai. Greening Forward
Lilly Platt. Environmentalist and Global Youth Ambassador for Plastic Pollution Coalition, WODI &Youth Mounds. Founder of Lilly’s Plastic Pickup.
Dylan Vecchione. Founder, ReefQuest Foundation
Callie Veelenturf. Marine Conservation Biologist; Founder, The Leatherback Project and Rights for Nature

World Ocean Week Remarks

Remarks on World Oceans Week and the efforts of the Friends of World Oceans Day (FOWOD) community.

Speakers
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

4:00PM A Concert for our Ocean

The Day will conclude with a celebration of the ocean through live performances from musicians around the world!