World Oceans Day

Join us in reimagining our relationship to the ocean and integrate these topics from the  World Oceans Day thematic discussion guide into your global World Oceans Month dialogues. DOWNLOAD THE UN WOD DISCUSSION GUIDE

For too long, we have treated the ocean as something vast, distant, and separate from us. We created that distance ourselves. The ocean has always flowed through us, in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the climate that makes our lives possible. Now we are being called to reimagine that relationship. For the first time in a generation, humanity has chosen to govern a significant part of our shared ocean together. The entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement is not the end of negotiation but the beginning of a transformation that no treaty alone can complete. 'Reimagine' asks us to close that distance together. To move from passive inheritors of the ocean’s generosity to active guardians of its future . To govern not just beyond our borders but beyond our blind spots, beyond the habits of taking, operating in silos, and the belief that the way things have been is the way they must remain. Join the   UN World Oceans Day 2026  observance!

Closing Reflection A shared ocean. A shared future. A shared way forward .  Invite participants to complete the following:  ● My new relationship with the ocean looks like:  ● One action I'm taking towards a new future: Engage with UN World Oceans Day Post a photo and tag @UNWorldOceansDay on Instagram of your in-person, hybrid, or virtual event that integrated the Reimagine Discussion Guide . Let us know how the discussions progressed.  Share any revelations or reimagined actions that came from it.  Reimagining a better future is the first step to building it. It’s time to act as one.

  What does it mean to act beyond borders - together? The ocean connects all nations, yet governance has often been fragmented across borders and sectors. Today, global cooperation - for example through the BBNJ Agreement - signals a shift toward collective action.  To reimagine collaboration is to move beyond coordination toward true collective stewardship.  Discussion Prompts: ● What does effective intergovernmental collaboration look like in practice for ocean sustainability? ● Where have international efforts succeeded - and where have they fallen short? ● How can countries move beyond sectorial approaches to prioritize the health of our shared ocean? ● How can global agreements translate into meaningful action at regional, national, and local levels?

  What becomes possible when the next generation leads?  Young people are not only future leaders - they are already shaping the present through advocacy, innovation, and action. To reimagine our relationship with the ocean is to expand who leads - and who is heard. Discussion Prompts: ● How are young people currently influencing ocean action in your community or field? ● What barriers prevent youth from meaningfully participating in decision-making - and how can they be removed? ● What would it look like to design systems that effectively engage youth leadership, not just youth participation? ● How can intergenerational collaboration strengthen ocean solutions? ● How can current leaders support, resource, and amplify youth-led initiatives?

  What does prosperity look like in balance with the ocean? The ocean is a source of livelihoods, innovation, and economic growth. Yet too often, economic systems have prioritized over-extraction over regeneration. To reimagine the blue economy is to ask: what if economic success was defined by the health of the ocean itself? Discussion Prompts: ● What would a truly sustainable and regenerative blue economy look like in your region or industry? ● Where do current economic systems create harm to ocean ecosystems - and why do those systems persist? ● What existing models or solutions demonstrate that economic growth and ocean health can coexist? ● How can businesses and industries transition from overly extractive practices to regenerative ones? ● What decisions can be made today to ensure that ocean-based economies support both people and planet, for generations to come?

  What can we relearn to move forward?  Long before modern systems of governance and science, communities around the world lived in deep relationship with the ocean - guided by knowledge systems rooted in observation, respect, and reciprocity. To reimagine our future, we must also reconnect with what has long been known.  Discussion Prompts: ● What Indigenous, Traditional and Local community Knowledge systems already embody a more connected relationship with the ocean? ● Where have modern systems created distance from these ways of knowing - and what has been lost as a result? ● What would it look like to center Indigenous, Traditional and Local community Knowledge alongside scientific knowledge in ocean decision-making? ● How can we ensure that the integration of Indigenous, Traditional and Local community Knowledge is respectful, equitable, and led by the communities it belongs to? ● What practices, values, or perspectives could we restore or relearn to guide a more reg...

  What becomes possible when we act as one?  The future of the ocean will not be shaped by isolated efforts - but by aligned action.  Discussion Prompts: ● If we succeed, what does a thriving ocean look like in one generation? ● What decision can you or your organization make today that future generations will recognize as a turning point? ● What is your role in bridging the gap between the ocean we have and the ocean we need? ● What does “acting as one” look like in practice over the next 12 months? ● How can we sustain momentum beyond World Oceans Day?

How do we bring the ocean closer to everyone?  Connection drives care. Care drives action.  Discussion Prompts: ● How can we make the ocean more tangible for those who have never experienced it directly? ● What barriers - geographic, economic, cultural - limit connection to the ocean? ● How can education, media, and experiences close this gap? ● What role do art, culture, and storytelling play in making the ocean accessible to all? ● How do we ensure that access leads to sustainability - not over exploitation?