IMPACT REPORT 2020 - Ocean Unite
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IMPACT REPORT
2020
Contents
1. A Letter from our President 3
2. 30x30 4
a. Governance 4
b. On-The-Water Change 5
i. Antarctica2020 5
ii. Caribbean 7
iii. South Africa 8
iv. Maldives 9
c. #LOVE30x30: Awareness Raising and Communications 10
4. Ocean Unite Network 11
5. Ocean Unite Alliances Driving Positive Ocean Action 12
a. RISE UP 12
b. Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) 13
6. Organizational Highlights 15
7. Our Funders 16
2 Ocean Unite 2020 Report
Dear Friends of the Ocean: Ocean Unite continues to be a movement accelerator,
engaging, activating, innovating change and accelerating
When I wrote this letter to you last year, we were in eager investment to build Ocean health and resilience. Since our
anticipation of the “Ocean super-year” we expected for 2020. founding in 2015, our reputation as a unifying force for good
I described the steps we had taken at Ocean Unite to set with a focus on the Ocean rather than our brand has allowed
up our organization and orient our program to positively us to achieve an incredible amount of on-the-water impact,
influence decisions at a series of key global political meetings including helping to strongly protect over 5 million km2 of
on a new High Seas Treaty, Antarctic marine protection, Ocean around the globe, and bringing the broader Ocean
deep-sea mining, and setting the agenda and goals on nature community together around 30x30 and RISE UP, which is now
protection for the next ten years at the UN Convention on the largest-ever cross-collaboration network of organizations
Biological Diversity (CBD) 15th Conference of the Parties working in the Ocean space with a common prescription for
(CoP15) in China, in October 2020. Ocean health. We have also developed and strengthened civil
society, private and public sector partnerships through the
But instead, 2020 went in a direction we could not have Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance, a pioneering effort
predicted. The Covid-19 pandemic had, and continues to to drive investment into finance and insurance products that
have, a devastating impact on the global community. The build resilience to counter Ocean risk for the most vulnerable.
events of the Ocean super-year, expected to be pivotal
steps to expand efforts in the fight against climate change Key achievements in 2020 include:
and the destruction of ecosystems, were either postponed, • Supporting Antarctic Champion Lewis Pugh’s Antarctic swim
held virtually on a smaller scale, or cancelled altogether. In and advocacy in Russia.
the U.S. and many places around the world, the Covid-19 • Securing political support at the highest level for Southern
pandemic was coupled with the intense #BlackLivesMatter Ocean protection by France, Germany and the European Union.
demonstrations, a reckoning for many about social, economic • Advancing efforts to formally secure a commitment to 30x30 in
and environmental justice, and an election like no other in the British Virgin Islands.
this country. The longer term global economic fallout of the
• Organizing, sponsoring and participating in a Caribbean
pandemic has yet to be determined.
ministerial gathering on Ocean policy.
When the time comes for us to again meet safely in person, it • Helping to launch the Maldives Coral Institute, to help coral
will be with a very different perspective, but for Ocean Unite, reefs to survive and adapt to climate change.
our priorities remain clear. • Helping to launch “Shark Attack”, a campaign to protect sharks
in South Africa.
The Ocean Unite team has always rowed together; this year • Signing on more than 400 organizations to the RISE UP agenda
more so than ever before. We have been able to navigate for Ocean health.
through postponed policy decisions, cancelled travel, illness, • Building out the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance,
lost funding, and incredible uncertainty, while also laying the securing new members and being selected as a Paris Peace
groundwork for what will hopefully be an impactful 2021. Forum showcase project.
• Launching the Ocean Risk and Resilience innovation challenge
In 2018, when we wrote our business plan to become a non- to build the project pipeline for sustainable financing products.
profit organization independent from our incubator at Virgin
Unite, we established our mission and vision: I am pleased to share with you this report on our 2020
achievements. We look forward to seeing you on the hopefully
To secure Ocean health, it is critical to reduce CO2 emissions calmer seas of 2021 – where Ocean and climate issues become
as quickly as possible while strongly protecting the much more integrated; biodiversity, climate, resilience and
scientifically recommended target of at least 30% of the financing become a focus for decision makers; and our program
Ocean by 2030 (30x30) to regenerate Ocean life, build areas and alliances help to build the wave of change our blue
resilience to change and reduce Ocean risk. planet so sorely needs.
In putting together this report, it is gratifying to see that Thank you for your continued commitment and support.
despite many of our plans needing to be rethought several
times this year, we were able to remain true to our mission
and vision, and advance the 30x30 call to action.
Karen Sack
President & CEO
Ocean Unite 2020 Report 3
30x30 is the call to action to safeguard at least 30% of the Due to Covid-19, both the 4th intergovernmental conference to
Ocean – the minimum level recommended by science – finalize a new UN High Seas agreement and the CBD CoP15 to
through a network of highly protected marine areas. It has negotiate a new Global Deal for Nature have been postponed
been demonstrated that high level diplomatic and influencer until later in 2021. Despite these changes, Ocean Unite has
efforts, Ocean Unite’s calling card, are critical to achieve action continued to actively coordinate with the coalition of NGOs
by governments. working on 30x30 and the High Seas.
Goal: Secure highly protected status for at least 30% of the
Ocean by 2030.
Objectives:
• Securing a new legally binding United Nations High Seas
biodiversity treaty.
• Adoption of 30x30 as an international target at the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• Protecting a further 4 million km2 of the Southern Ocean by
the end of 2020.
• Building 30x30 champions by accelerating marine protections
in the Caribbean, South Africa and the Maldives.
José María Figueres and Sir Richard Branson at the Paris Peace Forum virtual event.
• Raising awareness through public communications on the
importance and urgency of 30x30 (#Love30x30). Ocean Unite supported the High Seas Alliance as a scale-
up project of the Paris Peace Forum – an annual event to
All of Ocean Unite’s work is focused on delivering the science- focus on multilateral solutions to critical global issues. Ocean
based 30x30 target and building Ocean resilience on a global Unite supported the organization of a high-level panel on
scale. Despite Covid-19, the year still afforded multiple November 12, 2020 with Ocean Unite Network members José
opportunities to advance against the 30x30 target. María Figueres (as moderator), Sir Richard Branson, and EU
Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, joined by French Minister
2020 HIGHLIGHTS for the Sea Annick Girardin, and the Chair of the High Seas
negotiating process, Singaporean Ambassador Rena Lee. It was
• Paris Peace Forum engagement and high-level panel. an excellent opportunity for government and business leaders
• José María Figueres participant in Global Steering to exchange views on what is needed to successfully get the
Committee for the Campaign for Nature. negotiations over the finish line in 2021. As a follow-up to the
• Close coordination with 30x30 NGO alliance. meeting, Sir Richard published a blog highlighting the importance
of a strong treaty and the need to protect the High Seas.
Ocean Unite co-founder José María Figueres joined the Global
Governance Steering Committee for the Campaign for Nature, a group
Securing a new legally binding UN High Seas biodiversity treaty of former political leaders advocating for 30x30. The group
and adoption of 30x30 as an international target at the CBD. released a statement in June urging that recovery from the
global crisis requires investment in nature.
Looking ahead to 2021, Ocean Unite will:
• Continue to work closely with the High Seas Alliance to
support the successful development of the treaty, including
activating our high-level Network champions to use their
voices at key moments.
• Continue to work with the 30x30 Ocean Alliance and
Campaign for Nature to identify key strategic interventions
that Ocean Unite can carry out to support the adoption
Vipin Kumar/Unsplash
of this target at the CBD, including on the resource
mobilization (financing) issue.
• Through our on-the-water work in the Caribbean and
elsewhere, build further government champions that
support a robust High Seas treaty and 30x30 at the CBD.
4 Ocean Unite 2020 Report
On-The-Water Change
Progressing to the 30x30 target in the but key marine areas are still under threat. Working with our
partners The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Antarctic and
Antarctic, the Caribbean, South Africa Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC), the group is campaigning for
and the Maldives the establishment of three new large-scale marine protected
areas (MPAs) in the East Antarctic, Weddell Sea and Antarctic
Peninsula. Together this will deliver the largest act of Ocean
Antarctica2020 protection in history, protecting a further almost 4 million km2,
which is 1% of the global Ocean, taking total protection of the
Objective: Using the high-level influence of the Antarctica2020 region’s waters to way over 7 million km2.
(A2020) group to increase the total amount of protection of the
Southern Ocean to over 7 million km2 by 2020. Decisions on marine protections in the Southern Ocean
require a consensus decision at the regional management
2020 HIGHLIGHTS organization. Two countries: China and Russia, are currently
• Antarctic Champion Lewis Pugh’s swim in East standing in the way of this consensus. While we did everything
Antarctica and advocacy in Russia. possible to achieve our 2020 objective at this year’s annual
meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic
• Three new A2020 Champions.
Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the pandemic and broader
• Secured high-level commitments of key leaders in geopolitical relationships worked against a positive outcome.
the EU, France, Germany and Spain, including the EU The online format of the meeting also hampered discussions
Commission President’s State of the Union speech. and negotiations. Despite this disappointment, there has been
• A2020 op-eds by Alexandra and Philippe Cousteau. significant success on the campaign this year as illustrated
• Increased public awareness with Only One’s below. With a political shift in the U.S. imminent and
#Antarctica2020 campaign collaboration and petition emerging strong support from Europe, and with 2021 being
launch. the 60th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty System and 30th
Anniversary of the Madrid Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty, we
• Virtual engagement and panels: World Economic Forum
are looking forward to a year of action and outcomes.
Virtual Ocean Dialogues “deep dive” session, Roscongress,
Monaco Blue Initiative, and the Wilson Center.
The A2020 campaign welcomed three new Champions in
2020 who have been an impactful addition to the group:
Since 2018, Ocean Unite has coordinated the A2020 Ashlan Cousteau: Ocean explorer, journalist, speaker, host
Champions, a group of high-level influencers from the world and filmmaker; Philippe Cousteau: Ocean explorer and
of sports, politics, media and science, to build support for multi-Emmy-nominated TV host, author, speaker and social
accelerating protection of the Southern Ocean. Currently, over entrepreneur; and Gesine Meissner: former German Member
4.5 million km2 of the Southern Ocean has been protected, of the European Parliament (MEP).
Endurance swimmer and
Antarctica2020 Champion
Lewis Pugh swimming in
a glacial lake in the East
Antarctic.
Kevin Trautman/Lewis Pugh Foundation
Ocean Unite 2020 Report 5
ANTARCTICA2020
The campaign got off to a big splash in the first couple of its Only One online platform, we developed a social media
months of the year with A2020 Champion and endurance campaign, as well as a call to action petition urging world
swimmer Lewis Pugh’s expedition (joined by fellow Champions leaders to take action this year. The campaign launched in July
José María Figueres and Slava Fetisov) to swim in a glacial lake and Ocean Unite worked to activate its network of high-level
in East Antarctica, and subsequent advocacy trip to Moscow. influencers and other groups to promote this campaign. This
In February, Ocean Unite organized an in-person meeting of includes Jason Momoa, the actor who plays Aquaman, and
the A2020 Champions in Brussels to strategize for the year actor and Ocean advocate Leonardo DiCaprio. The team is
ahead and to meet with key European officials from European working on further activation in 2021.
Commission President Von der Leyen’s cabinet.
Looking ahead to 2021, Ocean Unite will:
From March, the campaign shifted from in-person activities to • Continue advocacy to encourage high-level engagement
a more online focus, with increased engagement by the A2020 with Russia and China by the MPA proponents France,
Champions in virtual meetings, including the Roscongress Germany, the EU, Norway, Australia, Chile and Argentina.
(organizers of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum)
• Develop strong partnerships with other key CCAMLR
virtual panel aired on World Ocean Day, the World Economic
members, such as the U.S. (given the new Administration),
Forum and Friends of Ocean Actions’ Virtual Ocean Dialogues
Spain, and the UK (given their role as host of the UNFCCC).
“deep dive” session on Antarctica on June 2, 2020, highlighting
the value of MPAs in the region and opportunities to reach • Support high-level convenings by MPA champions with
consensus in 2020, and the Monaco Blue Initiative digital event. Russia and China.
• Participation in online and (where possible) in-person
high-level events to amplify messages on Southern Ocean
protection.
• Expand A2020 Champions group to strengthen strategic
focus by identifying and recruiting new U.S., Russian and
Chinese champions, among others.
• Increase public awareness through communications efforts,
building on the Only One campaign with key partners,
including a virtual concert by partners ASOC.
Antarctica2020 Champions Robert Hill, José María Figueres, Geneviève Pons,
Pascal Lamy and Lewis Pugh in Brussels at the Antarctica2020 strategy meeting.
Advocacy efforts in Europe by the group paid off and were a key
contributing factor to a strong commitment to Southern Ocean
MPAs in the EU Biodiversity Strategy released in May 2020, as
well as in EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen’s State
of the Union speech in September. The campaign also used
its connections to engage Spain as chairs of the 2020 CCAMLR
meeting. Deputy Prime Minister of Spain, Teresa Ribera, became
a vocal advocate on Twitter for Antarctic protections.
The campaign also ramped up its public awareness efforts
on social media, maximising key international moments
like Earth Day, World Penguin Day and World Ocean Day, as
well as before, during and following the CCAMLR meeting.
It also welcomed a new collaboration with Elite Model, the
international modeling agency that was keen to use the power
of the voices it represents to help promote the Southern
Ocean campaign. Together with Elite and Sea Legacy and
6 Ocean Unite 2020 Report
Caribbean
Objective: By the end of 2021, at least five Caribbean follow up by Sir Richard Branson and further on-the-ground
countries publicly committing to support 30x30 and greater work by Ocean Unite in the BVI resulted in the Minister of
resilience in the region. Natural Resources committing to 30x30. Ocean Unite is assisting
with developing a draft potential MOU to support engagement
2020 HIGHLIGHTS between the Blue Prosperity Coalition and the BVI.
• Conducted detailed seascape analysis to guide strategic
engagement in the region. Ocean Unite developed a formal partnership with the Caribbean
Biodiversity Fund (CBF) to support its 30x30 objectives in the
• Advanced efforts to formally secure a commitment to
Caribbean. The CBF supports MPA financing and management
30x30 in the British Virgin Islands (BVI).
in the Caribbean. It has partnered with the Caribbean Challenge
• Engaged 5+ Caribbean ministers in discussions to commit
Initiative (CCI), an aspirational declaration signed by nine
to 30x30 regionally and internationally.
governments in 2013 to protect at least 20% of their coastal
• Organized, sponsored and participated in the Caribbean and marine resources by 2020. Ocean Unite was an organizer
Challenge Initiative-Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CCI- and sponsor of July’s CCI-CBF Virtual Regional Meeting, a
CBF) Virtual Meeting in July, and convened a special Ministerial gathering of governments and key partners to
partnerships meeting. support collective enhanced efforts on MPAs post-2020. This
• Content lead for UltraMarine Ocean Action Summit on included facilitating a video message by Sir Richard Branson to
30x30 at Necker in January and virtual UltraMarine LIVE the meeting participants, congratulating the Caribbean on its
event featuring five Caribbean governments. leadership and encouraging further ambition, including 30x30.
• Developed a partnership with the Caribbean Biodiversity
Fund, the Caribbean Challenge Initiative and cemented Alongside this meeting, Ocean Unite also co-led a virtual
collaboration on 30x30 with the Caribbean Climate Smart partnerships sessions bringing together key regional and
Accelerator. international partners to support a dialogue on the role of
partnerships in advancing 30x30 in the region. Participants
Ocean Unite is building a champion group of Caribbean committed to continue to work on 30x30, with the possibility of
countries supporting 30x30 and greater resilience in the developing a longer-term roadmap on how to increase Ocean
region. This work includes: protection in the region via a high-level meeting in early 2021.
• Leading the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator’s (CCSA)
Ocean work, including their 30x30 Ocean initiative. Looking ahead to 2021, Ocean Unite will:
• Driving the Campaign for Nature’s efforts to engage up to • Continue engaging with 5+ Caribbean governments to drive
five Caribbean countries to support 30x30 and advocating commitments to 30x30 in their own waters.
for others to do the same. • Work closely with partners CBF, CCSA, Unite BVI, Blue
• Working with the Blue Prosperity Coalition (BPC) to integrate Prosperity Coalition, Blue Nature Alliance, and others.
innovative planning tools, like marine spatial planning, into • Convene a high-level ministerial meeting on 30x30.
management approaches. • Provide political support and engagement for 30x30 by
Caribbean countries at the CBD and for a robust High Seas
To help inform Ocean Unite’s strategic engagement in the biodiversity treaty at the UN.
region, we developed a seascape analysis in the first part of
• Enhance communication and outreach to amplify key
the year, calling on our knowledge of and relationships with
Caribbean voices supporting 30x30, as well as cementing
key governments, regional organizations and stakeholders to
Ocean Unite as a key player in the region.
highlight opportunities for our most impactful engagement.
In January 2020, the second UltraMarine Ocean Action Summit
on Necker Island in the BVI focused on 30x30, hosted by
professional kiteboarder Susi Mai and artist and entrepreneur
Jeremy McKane, with content led by Ocean Unite. The meeting
brought together more than 50 activists from business, science,
arts, and entertainment, the BVI Minister of Natural Resources
and other key BVI officials, as well as Ocean Unite Network
(OUN) members including Sir Richard Branson, Philippe and
Ashlan Cousteau, José María Figueres, Danni Washington, and
special guest, Mrs. Debbie Remengesau, the First Lady of Palau.
As a result of the meeting, there was increased interest among Discussion on protecting the BVI at the Ultramarine Summit, including Sir Richard
BVI officials to accelerate protection of their waters. An email Branson and BVI Minister for Natural Resources Vincent Wheatley.
Ocean Unite 2020 Report 7
South Africa
Objective: Increase the level of Ocean protection in South Africa local hero, “Sharkboy”, Achmat Hassiem, a South African
and advocate for 30x30. Paralympian gold medal winner who had his leg bitten off by
a Great White shark and now works for Ocean conservation
2020 HIGHLIGHTS efforts. He is now actively engaged in the campaign. We also
supported strategic planning exercises and helped convene
• Activated Ocean Unite Network member Shailene and attend meetings with the Minister of Environment, the
Woodley with South African youth. Director General of the Department and four Deputy Director
• Launched WildOceans’ Sharks campaign. Generals working on Ocean conservation, fisheries, monitoring
• Provided high-level political engagement and strategic and enforcement. Ocean Unite also used the opportunity to
support. introduce the work of Global Fishing Watch to South Africa
• Introduced Global Fishing Watch to South African through their CEO, Tony Long.
officials and potential partners.
In June, we facilitated South African youth leader, Ruth
Mthembu, speaking at the WEF Virtual Ocean Dialogues. Ocean
Ocean Unite works in partnership with WildOceans, a South Unite also provides ongoing strategic support and advice to
African non-profit, on its Ocean iMPAct Project, which is seeking the campaign, including help integrating the campaign with
to double the total area of South African continental waters various international initiatives such as RISE UP and the global
protected in MPAs to at least 10% by 2020 and paving the way 30x30 campaign, building African champions, and participating
for national support for 30x30 at home and internationally. in regional strategy development and implementation with
representatives of the Campaign for Nature, The Pew Charitable
In January, Ocean Unite facilitated the participation of actor Trusts, Oceans 5, and Global Fishing Watch.
and Ocean Unite Network member Shailene Woodley to help
the WildOceans campaign, working with their Youth4MPAs Looking ahead to 2021, Ocean Unite will:
initiative, which resulted in a video the campaign used on its • Provide ongoing strategic advice and support for
social media channels and widespread local media attention. WildOceans’ efforts to reach the goal of protecting at least
10% of South Africa’s continental waters.
In early March, Karen Sack spoke at the launch of the
• Provide continued political and communications support
WildOceans Shark Conservation campaign, introducing
for South Africa to become a 30x30 champion.
Actor and Ocean
Unite Network
member Shailene
Woodley
working with
WildOceans and
the Youth4MPAs
group in support of
30x30.
8 Ocean Unite 2020 Report
Maldives
Objective: Enable the establishment of the Maldives Coral building with representatives of the International Pole and Line
Institute (MCI) and support the Blue Prosperity Coalition in Foundation to help ensure that the marine spatial planning
the delivery of the marine spatial plan for the Maldives. yields both conservation and fisheries benefits.
2020 HIGHLIGHTS In February 2020, Ocean Unite helped to publicly launch the
Marine Coral Institute (MCI) with a workshop and one-day
• Agreed MCI mission and work plan, finalized pitch
coral festival held in the Maldives. Ocean Unite has worked
materials and launched Institute’s fundraising campaign.
to help set up the Institute, introduce world class marine
• Public launch of MCI with expert workshop and public scientists as advisors, and provide weekly input into its
Coral Festival. development and possible pilot projects. This includes helping
• Helped deliver virtual webinar showcasing results from with raising the profile of the MCI, connecting it to other
first MCI research projects. organizations and initiatives, including The Explorers Club
• Delivered initial research to inform how to improve World Ocean Day virtual discussions, the World Surf League
national laws on corals. and RISE UP, and supporting the professionalization of its
• Investigated opportunities to help the Maldives with fundraising operation.
monitoring and enforcement including with the
International Pole and Line Foundation (IPLF) and Ocean Unite helped organize a virtual webinar in September
Global Fishing Watch. 2020, showcasing some of the initial research undertaken by
the MCI. More recently, Ocean Unite and the MCI received
an initial piece of research by New York University’s law
Ocean Unite is working in the Maldives as part of our clinic on various global, regional and national frameworks for
partnership with the Waitt Foundation and the Blue Prosperity coral protection, which complements the work of the Waitt
Coalition (BPC), and through work initiated by former President Institute on existing relevant regulations in the Maldives.
Mohamed Nasheed, an Ocean Unite Network member, and Taken together, we expect these two pieces of work will help
Virgin Unite to establish a coral resilience center of excellence inform how to improve the national laws regarding corals.
in this Indian Ocean coral archipelago. In September 2019, the
Republic of Maldives committed to fully protect at least 20% of Looking ahead to 2021, Ocean Unite will:
its Ocean waters, and to sustainably build its Ocean economy. • Provide continued strategic advice and counsel to the MCI
Since that time, Ocean Unite has been liaising with the team and former President Nasheed.
from the Waitt Institute, who are progressing the marine
• Assist in amplifying MCI’s work and boosting fundraising efforts.
spatial planning of the Maldives’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
on behalf of the BPC. We have also facilitated relationship • Provide ongoing support of Waitt Foundation/BPC project.
Mohamed Nasheed,
Maldives Speaker of the
House, talks about the
importance of reefs with
students at the Maldives
Coral Festival in February
2020.
Ocean Unite 2020 Report 9
#LOVE30x30: Awareness
Raising and Communications
Objective: Increase awareness of the importance and urgency • A RISE UP blog by Environmental Justice Foundation’s
of 30x30 through public communications. executive director Steve Trent, about uniting for stronger global
governance.
2020 HIGHLIGHTS • A RISE UP blog by surfer and WSL PURE ambassador Adrian
• Ran a #Love30x30 Ocean blog series with Virgin Unite Buchan, who discussed RISE UP’s sixth principle related to
which reached a potential global audience of 17 million 30x30.
individual users on virgin.com and 25 million individual
users on virgin.com’s social channels. As always, World Ocean Day on June 8 represented a key
moment in time for pushing campaign content. This year, in
• Promoted the #Love30x30 video with Sir David
addition to promoting the blog and the 30x30 film, we also had
Attenborough, Shailene Woodley, Sir Richard Branson
two important opinion pieces: one written by new Network
and voices from around the world.
member, EU Commissioner Sinkevičius, for EURACTIV; and
• Engaged in social media activities on 30x30 with over the second written by Karen Sack for the UN Chronicle. On
48 million impressions. World Ocean Day, as well as an interview with Karen Sack for
• Distributed Ocean Unite’s monthly The Navigator newsletter Chatham House, Ocean Unite hosted a webinar alongside
to over 4000 Ocean practitioners around the world. Credit Suisse and Responsible Investor featuring world-leading
• Produced the monthly Ocean Unite Network Brief. scientist, Callum Roberts, the EU Commissioner, and Marissa
• Engaged in multiple in person and virtual events and Drew, underscoring the ambition of protecting 30% of the
specialist Ocean advocacy. Ocean by 2030 and the need to invest in nature. Over 1200
people watched the session. Credit Suisse also published an
interview with Karen Sack and José María Figueres. As part of
At the end of 2019, Ocean Unite launched the #Love30x30 call our focus on engaging the financial sector, we also participated
to action, a new Ocean Unite 30×30 webpage, and a map to in webinars with Morgan Stanley and UNEP-FI. In November,
showcase inspiring initiatives underway that should be supported Karen participated in a focused Ocean dialogue organized by
to help achieve 30x30. This was coordinated with the presentation Deutsche Bank Wealth Management along with Ocean Unite
of The Chatham House Prize to Sir David Attenborough and the Network leaders Julie Packard and Maria Damanaki, world
BBC, and included a panel moderated by Karen Sack as well as renowned scientist Professor Stefan Rahmstorf, and Deutsche
keynote speeches by Shailene Woodley and Karen at the post-prize Bank International Private Bank Chief Investment Officer,
dinner. This was followed by #Love30x30 being the key message Christian Nolting. Deutsche Bank’s Global Head of Wealth
at the Necker Cup tennis event, with tennis stars from around the Management, Claudio de Sanctis, facilitated the discussion.
world celebrating the need to protect the Ocean.
Ocean Unite also continued to send out its highly regarded
Throughout 2020, we pushed our #Love30x30 vision, including monthly newsletter The Navigator, reporting on the latest
through the #Love30x30 video, on multiple platforms and media Ocean news, updates on events and decision points, reports
outlets, and aided by organizations with large follower bases. and trends. The Navigator provides a global overview of what
Our Network leaders activated their social media accounts has happened and what is about to happen in the international
and participated in numerous (virtual) events. The hashtag Ocean world, as well as a list of the latest reports and resources
#Love30x30 showed 47.9 million impressions for the period from for practitioners. It goes out to more than 4.3K subscribers from
January 1, 2020 to the end of November, with a monthly average the worlds of politics, civil society, business and media. We
of 3 million impressions, and activity peaks around key events. also produce the monthly Ocean Unite Network Brief, a more
Our digital content focus expanded as the world went virtual. tailored version of the newsletter specifically for the Ocean
Unite Network.
Blogs included:
• A piece by Ruth Mthembu, Youth Spokesperson for WildOceans’
Ocean iMPAct Campaign, on protecting the South African
Ocean, which gave the #Love30x30 vision a local perspective.
• An International Women’s Day blog, in which OneOcean
crew member Natalie Hart gave a big shout out to the
#Love30x30 message.
• A blog about RISE UP, in which OU’s Karen Sack discussed
the key actions that need to happen to protect the Ocean,
including 30x30.
• A World Ocean Day blog by Heather Zichal of the BPC, in which
she mentioned the importance that reaching the 30x30 target
has for the Blue Economy. #Love30x30 Video with voices from around the world.
10 Ocean Unite 2020 ReportOcean Unite Network The Ocean Unite Network (OUN) – now numbering 40 leading Nathalie Rey in the Ocean Race Summit #2 in May. It was also influencers – sits at the core of all our work. Launched in an effective platform for the OUN members to reinforce Ocean 2017 at The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, the OUN is Unite’s key priorities regarding 30x30 and Antarctic marine a diverse and unexpected group of influencers, innovators, protection, encouraging participants to take the bold and leaders and disruptors from around the world forming a loose ambitious action needed to protect the Ocean. network to help drive change. With the support of Ocean Unite’s experienced team of policy, communications, campaign and engagement specialists, the OUN uses a unique mix of soft diplomacy behind closed doors, social media, speeches, meetings, open letters, op-eds and blogs to help publicize and build awareness about the state of the Ocean, the key challenges it faces, and solutions needed to restore and revitalize it. The value of this Network is evident in all the work that we have been undertaking this year, helping to deliver key messages at key moments for Ocean conservation. For example, on September 16, Ocean Unite and its Network members Danni Washington, Ashlan and Philippe Cousteau and José María Figueres, together with Karen Sack, were part of the Ocean Race Summit #3 that took place both online and in Newport, U.S. The aim of the Summit was to shine a light on Ocean health, and through leading voices in the Ocean In April, Ocean Unite was delighted to announce that Virginijus world to discuss collaborative solutions that restore Ocean Sinkevičius, the current Commissioner for the Environment, health and abundance, such as MPAs, the role of science and Oceans and Fisheries at the European Commission, joined the blue technologies. The meeting was an excellent opportunity OUN. The Commissioner is a strong Ocean advocate for 30x30, to further deepen Ocean Unite’s relationship with the Ocean Southern Ocean MPAs, and the need for a strong High Seas Race organizers, following participation by Programme Director treaty. Ocean Unite 2020 Report 11
Alliances Driving
Positive Ocean Action
After a year of preparatory work, RISE UP was formally
launched on February 5, 2020 to coincide with the start of
the UN Ocean Conference preparatory meeting in New York.
This included the launch of its website and a communications
toolkit. RISE UP was introduced to government delegates
through a formal intervention from the floor delivered by
Ocean Unite and at a side event, and was included on the panel
at the official press conference. The team of RISE UP partners
in New York also presented RISE UP to UN Secretary-General
António Guterres and discussed the pressing Ocean crisis
with him. Ocean Unite coordinated a UN Press Briefing and
distributed the press release to targeted media. The resulting
Objective: Create a movement for the Ocean that increases coverage was positive and on message: Governments urged
awareness and accelerates change to achieve RISE UP goals through to take bold action to safeguard Ocean and 2020: the year for
strategic engagement of the RISE UP network at key moments. action, to ‘RISE UP’ and safeguard Ocean life.
2020 HIGHLIGHTS
• RISE UP prescription for Ocean health drafted and
agreed by 27 groups including fisherfolk, Indigenous
Peoples, philanthropies, businesses and conservation
organizations.
• Launched at the United Nations in February 2020 during
UN Ocean Conference preparatory conference.
• Met with and presented RISE UP to UN Secretary-General
António Guterres.
• Released communications toolkit and launched website.
• RISE UP blog series highlighting unique voices and
smaller organizations.
• 450+ sign-ons, and ongoing outreach and engagement
RISE UP founders Karen Sack- Ocean Unite, Tiago Pitta e Cunha- Oceano Azul and
with signatories. Imani Fairweather Morrison-the Oak Foundation, hand over RISE UP to UN Secretary-
• Seascape analysis underway reaching out to signatories General António Guterres at the UN Ocean Prep meeting in February 2020.
for input to plan Phase 2 of campaign. With the UN Ocean Conference set to take place in June 2020
in Lisbon postponed, we decided to use the time to go digital
Launched in February 2020, RISE UP is a first-ever joint call to and to engage more fully with the growing number of signees.
action by a broad swathe of civil society, fisherfolk, Indigenous Ocean Unite coordinated a series of RISE UP blogs on the Virgin
Peoples, businesses and philanthropic organizations on the Unite platform with each blog focused on one of the letters/
need for bold action to safeguard the Ocean. Its call is to goals that make up RISE UP and demonstrates the broad diversity
Restore Ocean life; Invest in a net-zero carbon future; Speed of the RISE UP community. In the second half of the year, we
the transition to a circular and sustainable economy; Empower undertook a seascape analysis to determine the focus, strategy,
and support coastal people; Unite for stronger global Ocean key moments, resources, coordination and leadership for RISE
governance; and Protect at least 30% of the Ocean by 2030. UP’s next phase. 123 organizations provided detailed answers to
the questionnaire, an unusually high rate for this kind of survey.
Originally established as a campaign to raise the level of A plan for the next two years of RISE UP drawing from these
government ambition for action at the UN Ocean Conference responses is being prepared.
scheduled to take place in June 2020 in Lisbon, Ocean Unite and
co-leaders Oceano Azul Foundation and the Oak Foundation Looking ahead to 2021, Ocean Unite will:
have transformed the willingness of a few into an agreed global • Develop a two-year campaign plan based on the seascape
agenda for the Ocean, with the number of signatories growing analysis.
daily. As of the end of November, the number of sign-ons has • Launch Phase 2 of RISE UP based on the objectives uncovered
reached over 450 organizations. by the seascape analysis.
12 Ocean Unite 2020 Reportoceanriskalliance.org | #OceanRisk
Objectives: By 2030, to create a new marketplace by driving regions and communities that need it most. The Alliance is
US$500m of investment into innovative and scalable finance helping to raise awareness and understanding of Ocean risk
products that increase coastal resilience and reduce Ocean risk and its impacts, identify innovative finance solutions and help
for the most vulnerable communities around the world. And, bring them to market, showing that investment in nature-based
by 2025, to have surfaced at least 15 novel finance products solutions is good for people, businesses and our blue planet.
forming the foundation of this new marketplace.
While 2020 posed myriad challenges, it was also an exciting
2020 HIGHLIGHTS opportunity to move forward apace with the Alliance’s work,
building forward better and bluer.
• Established ORRAA’s secretariat – comprised of Ocean
Unite, AXA XL and the Global Resilience Partnership – to
ORRAA welcomed five new members and eight project delivery
administer the organization and facilitate delivery of
partners in 2020 from civil society, philanthropy, academia and
objectives.
the private sector. New members are Conservation International,
• Secured US$2m in seed-funding from the Government Greensquare Ventures, International Union for Conservation of
of Canada for the first year of work. Nature (IUCN), Swiss Re, and WWF International. New project
• Invested in six innovative and scalable pilots to grow delivery partners are Global Fishing Watch, IHE Delft Institute,
finance product pipeline. Mesoamerican Reef Fund, Oceana, Sasakawa Peace Foundation,
• Launched innovation challenge. The Stimson Center, Trygg Mat Tracking, and the University of
California Santa Cruz.
• Participated in numerous events to showcase ORRAA’s
leadership in this field, its partnerships and innovation.
• Additional projects in the pipeline on mitigating
nutrient and sewage pollution as risk multipliers,
insuring against IUU Fishing, Protected Areas Insurance,
and Coastal Resilience Bonds.
Launched in 2019 by Ocean Unite, insurance giant AXA XL and a
number of partners, co-hosted by Ocean Unite and the Global
Resilience Partnership (ORRAA) housed at Stockholm University,
and with core financial support from the Government of Canada,
the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance is a multi-sector
collaboration designed to drive investment into coastal natural
capital by pioneering ground-breaking finance products that
incentivize blended finance and private investment into the
The launch of the Innovation Challenge.
Karen Sack participated on behalf of ORRAA in the online UN Climate Week Karen Sack was joined by finance heavy hitters on a panel organized by the
in September, presenting an overview on why nature-based solutions are so UNEP Finance Initiative regarding financing ocean protection.
important for adaptation to climate change.
Ocean Unite 2020 Report 13oceanriskalliance.org | #OceanRisk
ORRAA invested in six projects to grow the product
pipeline: PROJECTS
• Developing the Coastal Risk Index, a risk transfer Ocean Unite is playing a leading role in the development
mechanism for vulnerable coastal ecosystems and of a project focused on leveraging the insurance industry
communities. to reduce IUU fishing.
• Understanding the risk landscape of coral reefs. The project brings together different AXA entities, Global
Fishing Watch, Trygg Mat Tracking and Oceana, with a longer-
• Understanding Ocean-derived risks facing coastal
term aim of engaging other insurance industry partners.
communities in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and
The aim is to develop a framework to identify vessels at
Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
risk of conducting IUU fishing before they are insured,
• Addressing the gender dimension of Ocean risk exposure shifting the economic incentives away from engaging in
in SIDS and LDCs. IUU fishing. The project builds on the Risk Assessment
• Assessing emerging opportunities and risks for SIDS and Guidelines that Oceana released in 2019 as well as the
LDCs from the growing blue economy. 2017 Insurance Industry Statement Against IUU Fishing.
• Strengthening the financial resilience of small-scale fishers
in the Philippines. Looking ahead to 2021, Ocean Unite will:
• Work to secure ongoing funding from at least two governments
ORRAA was also selected as a project at 2020’s Paris Peace as well as at least one philanthropy for the Alliance.
Forum (PPF) in November as one of 100 projects to be
showcased from a record 850 submissions. The PPF has been • Continue its role as co-chair and co-host for the Alliance,
designed to foster multilateralism and collaboration, advancing engaging in speaking events and in leadership roles placing
solutions on the environment, health, climate, security and Ocean Unite as a leading voice on innovative financing for
development. This year it is also focused on Covid-19 impacts Ocean/coastal nature-based solutions globally.
and how to “bounce back to a better planet”. • Co-lead on the development of ORRAA’s longer-term
organizational plan and impact fund.
• Work on the three outcomes on the ‘Insuring against
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing’ project, in
collaboration with Global Fishing Watch.
Ocean Unite hosted a webinar
on World Ocean Day with Credit
Suisse and Responsible Investor
underscoring the importance of
30x30 and investing in nature.
14 Ocean Unite 2020 ReportOrganizational Highlights
In this year, Ocean Unite’s second as a U.S. tax-exempt We are also especially grateful to the members of our Board
organization, we continued to put in place systems and of Directors, who have provided extraordinary leadership
structures to support good governance and compliance, during this tumultuous year. In particular, we want to
including new policies and procedures related to ethics, anti- thank them for their willingness to review and approve the
corruption, safeguarding, anti-harassment and capitalization. organizational budget multiple times, in response to funding
Our Board of Directors approved a formal donation that de-materialized, new grants won, moratoriums on travel
acceptance policy. We also conducted our first internal audit. and ramped up communications to reach an audience that
was suddenly stuck at home:
We owe a debt of gratitude to Virgin Unite for incubating
• José María Figueres, Chairman
Ocean Unite and for its ongoing financial support now that we
are an independent entity. We are pleased to be continuing to • C. Wolcott Henry, Treasurer
work closely with them and with Sir Richard Branson and his • Jean Oelwang
advocacy team on Ocean issues. • Lisa Speer, Secretary
Our work would not be possible without the partnership and
collaboration of all of our colleagues and friends working
across the global Ocean community who inspire and engage
us in our work every day. Thank you.
Ocean Unite’s team of experts has had all-hands on deck
this year to achieve our desired impact:
KAREN SACK NATHALIE REY RICHARD PAGE SAFIYA SAWNEY
President & CEO Programme Director Policy Specialist Caribbean Specialist
SOPHIE HULME BRITTNEY FRANCIS CAMILA CUADROS CRUZ JON BASSFORD KAREN ANCILLAI
Communications Lead Digital & Social Media Manager Communications Manager Operations Lead Partnerships Lead
Ocean Unite 2020 Report 15Our Funders
Ocean Unite is grateful to the following funders who We are also pleased to recognize our commercial co-venture
provided significant support for our 2020 work: partners, all of whom are committed to supporting our
• Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition 30x30 goal:
• Biological Diversity Project, a project of the Resources • Canada’s 36Pix, which provides the world’s best green
Legacy Fund screen software for creating perfect images, is donating a
portion of its sales to Ocean Unite.
• Curtis & Edith Munson Foundation
• Guardian of the Ocean, Finnish makers of jewelry that gives
• José María Figueres
back is donating a portion of sales from each piece from its
• Global Fishing Watch collection to Ocean Unite.
• C. Wolcott Henry • Texas-based Qualitas Health is donating a portion of sales
• Henry Foundation from iWi, algae-based nutrition that is good for every living
• The Ocean Foundation thing, to Ocean Unite.
• Oceano Azul Foundation
• Planet Heritage
• Pew Charitable Trusts
• Lisa Speer
• Stockholm University
• Summit Charitable Foundation
• WWF Australia
• Waitt Foundation
• Wildlands Conservation Trust
• UltraMarine Ocean Action Summit
• Virgin Unite
• Virgin Voyages
16 Ocean Unite 2020 ReportEngaging, activating and innovating change; and accelerating
investment that builds Ocean health and resilience.
ACTIVATING INNOVATING INVESTING
Delivering Ocean Building Building Ocean
protection messages constituencies health and
at key moments and reaching new resilience
audiences
www.oceanunite.org
For more information, please contact info@oceanunite.org
ACTIVATE
twitter.com/oceanunite facebook.com/oceanunite instagram.com/oceanunite INNOVATE
INVEST
Ocean Unite 2020 Report 17You can also read
