On 8 June 2022, the United Nations hosted its annual World Oceans Day celebration around the theme Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean, which highlighted the need to work together to create a new balance with the ocean that no longer depletes its bounty but instead restores its vibrancy and brings it new life.
The programming featured over 30 global thought-leaders, celebrities, community voices, private sector and cross-industry experts, and ocean managers who shed light on the ideas, solutions, and communities that are working together to help revitalize the ocean and everything it sustains. This was the first-ever hybrid celebration of the annual event, which took place in-person at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City for the ocean community, and media; and was broadcasted live primarily on UNWorldOceansDay.org for a global audience.
UN WOD is curated to include speakers, performers and thought leaders, including artist, celebrities, youth activist, scientists, private sector executives, civil society representatives, indigenous communities and decision makers. The 2022 speaker lineup included:
President of the United Nations General Assembly
Executive Director, EMEDO
Secretary-General, United Nations
Actress and Sustainability Advocate
Environmental Action Organizer & Poet
Assistant Director, International Monetary Fund; Co-Founder, Rebalance Earth
President and Co-Chair, Mission Blue
Marine Biology Consultant, Nekton Science Program Manager
The 9th Annual World Oceans Day Photo Competition was curated by photographer Ellen Cuylaerts, supported by Dive Photo Guide, made possible by La Mer, and featured a panel of internationally renowned judges, including Sirachai Arunrugstichai, Rathika Ramasamy, and Y Zin Kim.
High-level speakers will open UN World Oceans Day with remarks on the 2022 theme “Revitalization: Collective Action for Our Ocean”.
Host: Amber Valletta, (Supermodel and Sustainability Advocate)
*Featuring an original score from Michael Leonhart.
H.E. António Guterres
(Secretary-General of the United Nations)
H.E. Abdulla Shahid
(President of the United Nations General Assembly)
Miguel de Serpa Soares
(Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel)
Lea d’Auriol
(Founder and Executive Director, Oceanic Global)
Francois Bailet
(Senior Legal Officer, Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs, United Nations)
Jade Lozada
(Environmental Action Organizer & Poet)
Marine Biologist, Oceanographer, and Explorer, Sylvia Earle dives into this year’s theme: “Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean”.
Sylvia Earle
(President and Co-Chair, Mission Blue)
The Co-Hosts of the 2022 United Nations Ocean Conference share their message for World Oceans Day in preparation for the Conference
H.E. Mr. João Gomes Cravinho
(Minister of Foreign Affairs, Portugal)
H.E. Ms. Njambi Kinyungu
(Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations)
Spotlights on global collective ocean actions and initiatives from conservation, restoration, scientific exploration, community organizing, coalition building, governance approaches, and beyond, aimed at revitalizing the ocean.
Moderator: Alejandro Alba (Senior Correspondent, NowThis)
Sheena Talma
(Marine Biology Consultant, Nekton Science Program Manager)
Editrudith Lukanga
(Executive Director, EMEDO)
Kate Orff
(Founding Principal, SCAPE)
Martin Kramp
(Ship Coordinator, WMO/OceanOPS)
Lisa Blair (Lisa Blair Sails the World)
Shinobu Namae
(Executive Chef, Relais & Châteaux L’Effervescence)
James Kairo
(Chief Scientist, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute)
Remarks from La Mer, on their work to revitalize ocean action.
Lesley Crowther
(Senior Vice President, La Mer)
Isha Sangani
(Youth Leadership Council Member, EarthEcho International)
Announcement of the finalists and winners of the 9th Annual United Nations World Oceans Day Photo Competition.
Curator: Ellen Cuylaerts, (Freelance Underwater, Wildlife Photographer and Curator 2022 World Oceans Day Photo Competition)
Sirachai Arunrugstichai
(Conservation Photojournalist and Marine Biologist)
Rathika Ramasamy
(Wildlife Photographer)
Y Zin Kim
(Underwater Photographer and Art Director)
The value of a living ocean to our health and economic well being
Keynote by Ralph Chami (Assistant Director, The International Monetary Fund; Co-Founder, Rebalance Earth)
Panel Discussion
Panel exploring how to take a regenerative and collective approach to build a resilient ocean economy. Topics will include ocean finance, innovation through startups and entrepreneurs, capacity building and private sector collaboration.
Moderator: Martin Koehring (Head, World Ocean Initiative, Economist Impact)
Kendra MacDonald
(Chief Executive Officer, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster)
Andrew Hudson
(Head, Water and Ocean Governance Program, UNDP)
Whitney Johnston
(Director of Ocean Sustainability, Salesforce)
Bart Smit Duijzentkunst
(Legal Officer, Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs, United Nations)
Cassia Patel
(Director of Programs, Oceanic Global)
Julian Lage
(Guitarist)
Margaret Glaspy
(Singer-songwriter)
To all the speakers, performers, Friends of World Oceans Day group, and community partners including 351 Studios, SDN Broadcast, Daniel Červenka, Michael Leonhart, Thirty Two Music, Now This, The Economist Group’s World Ocean Initiative, and Brut Media.
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