World Oceans Day

   The speaker will provide an initial assessment of the actions taken by France to protect the oceans and reach the agreements at the UN Ocean Conference. Watch the Press Conference: By the Ministry of Ecological Transition of France - 2025 UN Ocean Conference! Press Conferences .

Conversation on closing the finance gap for SDG14. The ocean is central to climate regulation, biodiversity, and food security— yet remains one of the most underfinanced components of the SDGs, with a $150 billion annual gap for SDG14. Recognising the ocean as a global common good and natural capital asset, this discussion will explore how public development banks, regional blocs, and new multilateral institutions can reimagine finance to address this systemic failure. Building on the Finance in Common Ocean Coalition's joint declaration, we will explore how financing frameworks must evolve from fragmented, project-level funding to systemic, mission-oriented investment strategies that integrate ocean ecosystems into macroeconomic and financial decision-making . Speakers: H.E. Didacus Jules, Director General, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Representative, Finance in Common Oceans Coalition (e.g., EIB, AFD, or CDC Group as part of FiCS) TBC Moderator: H.E. Dr. Hyginus ...

  Conversation with Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and Assistant Director-General, UNESCO. This session will introduce Ocean Heroes, a new educational game developed by UNESCO-IOC, Minecraft Education, and the Voice of the Ocean Foundation. Through immersive gameplay, students take on virtual marine missions tackling real-world issues like coral reef loss and plastic pollution . The panel will explore how the game builds ocean literacy, critical thinking, and youth engagement. It will also highlight UNESCO-IOC's broader role in transforming ocean science into action and driving solutions for the Ocean Decade and the  2025 UN Ocean Conference . Speaker: Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and Assistant Director-General, UNESCO Moderator: Naka Kondo, Editorial Manager, Economist Impact Join us during the UN Ocean Conference from June 9-13 and hear about the transformation ...