This high-level Commonwealth virtual event celebrates World Ocean Day, highlighting how protecting the health of the ocean and coastal communities is critical to national and international economic recovery. Government and private sector leaders will speak on their challenges and experiences resetting and rebuilding equitable resilient ocean economies.
The Blue Reset
The COVID-19 pandemic is a stark reminder of the interconnectivity of nature and humanity on this planet. The ocean economy, which contributes approximately $1.5 trillion annually to the global economy, was particularly hard hit by the pandemic. The links between ocean-based sectors and land-based economies mean that these impacts have had widespread economic and social repercussions.
The pandemic has also offered an unprecedented opportunity to press the ‘blue reset’ to ensure a sustainable and equitable blue recovery so that people and the ocean can thrive for years to come. Discussions will also focus on how the Commonwealth Blue Charter can support post-COVID recovery.
Agenda
1300 – 1305 | Introduction and housekeeping
Dr Nicholas Hardman-Mountford FMBA, Head of Oceans and Natural Resources – Trade, Commonwealth Secretariat |
1305 – 1310
|
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland QC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth |
1310 – 1315 | Special Address
His Excellency Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Republic of Maldives |
1315 – 1350 | Roundtable Discussion
The Rt Hon Lord Zac Goldsmith, Minister for Pacific and the Environment, United Kingdom Hon Kirk D. M. Humphrey, Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Barbados Hon Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Mr Josh Thomas, CEO Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Australia Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth |
1350-1400 | Mr Lewis Pugh OIG, Endurance swimmer and UN Patron of the Oceans s |
1400 – 1405 | Ms Patricia E. Harris, CEO, Bloomberg Philanthropies |
1405 – 1410 | Ms Josheena Naggea, Doctoral candidate – Stanford University and Commonwealth Youth Voice |
1410 – 1415 | Closing remarks |
Speakers:
- Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland QC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth
- His Excellency Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Republic of Maldives
- Hon. Kirk D. M. Humphrey, Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Barbados
- Hon. Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Canada
- The Rt Hon Lord Zac Goldsmith, Minister for Pacific and the Environment, United Kingdom
- Josh Thomas, CEO, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Australia
- Patricia E. Harris, CEO, Bloomberg Philanthropies
- Lewis Pugh OIG, Endurance swimmer and UN Patron of the Oceans
- Josheena Naggea, Doctoral candidate at Stanford University and Commonwealth Youth voice
Registration
Contact
- Dr Nick Hardman-Mountford, Head of Oceans and Natural Resources: [email protected]
- Ms Heidi Prislan, Commonwealth Blue Charter Adviser: [email protected]