The ocean is the cradle of life on Earth and the main regulator of the planet’s climate. But the ocean is now bloodless, polluted, overheated and devastated by industrial fishing. The ocean currents that dictate climate regulation are at risk of collapse. Marine heatwaves are exploding, whales are starving.
Oceans, like forests, are essential for animal and plant species, including humans. As well as being our biggest carbon sinks, they are home to an immense biodiversity on which our survival depends. As Dr. Jane Goodall reminds us, “everything is linked in living things, in the tapestry of life”.
That’s why the Jane Goodall Institute is working to restore the health of the ocean.
And that’s why we were present at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France, from June 9 to 13 2025.
The Jane Goodall Institute India was present at the UNOC, represented by Shweta Naik, its Executive Director and an expert with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO).
JGI India has created “Oceans Are Us”, a Roots & Shoots ocean education program that fosters the opening of young learners’ hearts and minds with compassion and awareness and, in so doing, stimulates their lifelong connection with the magnificence of the ocean. “Oceans Are Us” is designed to collaborate with local educational institutions and their communities, as well as national, regional and global programs that wish to help young people create an emotional connection with the ocean by instilling hope in young participants.
The Jane Goodall Institute India was present at the UNOC, represented by Shweta Naik, its Executive Director and an expert with the Commission.
Shweta Naik is member of a group of ocean literacy experts with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO), which promotes international cooperation in marine sciences to improve the management of oceans, coasts and marine resources. The Commission is responsible for coordinating the Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). It is also the coordinator for India of the Blue Schools Network.
The Committee met at UNOC and Shweta took part in a round table side event alongside Ottavia Carlon, Barbara Pinheiro and Rada Pandeva.
The Jane Goodall Institute France was also present at the UNOC, represented by Roxane Batt (Head of Advocacy), Daphné Bouhélier (Head of Roots & Shoots), Laura Casterman (Head of Partnerships) and Galitt Kenan (Director).
On this occasion, the Jane Goodall Institute France was able to:
– Speak on behalf of the Ocean Coalition, led by the Bloom association and representing a network of 177 NGOs, in an official statement at the inaugural session on June 9;
– Participate in the Marche Bleue, an NGO event in Nice, as the voice of civil society and scientists must be heard, now more than ever;
– Speak at schools and universities with our Roots & Shoots groups, to raise awareness of ocean-related issues among young people & observe the prize-giving ceremony for the writing and drawing competition organized by Nous les Ambitieuse, of which we are partners;
– Organize a side-event to the eloquence finals for Sustainable Peace with the Ocean, to listen to the finalists’ pleas, because words are powerful and bring Hope;
– To echo JGI’s recent publications and other media: the exceptional op-ed by Dr. Jane Goodall in the Observer as a “Planetary Guardian” — and the one signed by Galitt Kenan on behalf of JGI France on the representativeness of women in conservation (supported by Women for Sea, SHE Changes Climate France and Les Impactrices).
The Jane Goodall Institute teams on site in Nice, France, have also strengthened key partnerships in our network.
These include
– Meeting with the French and international teams of the IUCN, of which Dr. Jane Goodall is Patron and of which the Jane Goodall Institute is a member;
– Meeting with UNESCO teams (including its Director, Audrey Azoulay), on the occasion of the publication of Jane Goodall’s recent “Speech for History”;
– Meet personalities, friends of Jane Goodall and the Institute, at exceptional, committed and inspiring conferences, such as Paul Watson, Sylvia Earle and Prince Hussein Aga Khan.
The teams present at the UNOC would like to thank the Jane Goodall Institute Global teams, and in particular the Advocacy Committee and Mary Lewis, for their support.
