REGISTRATION OPENS FOR CAPITOL HILL OCEAN WEEK 2023: OCEAN x CLIMATE 

The hybrid conference will take place June 6-8 in Washington, DC, and virtually

Session descriptions are available at CapitolHillOceanWeek.org

Silver Spring, Md. – March 2, 2023 – The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation announced the launch of registration for Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW), which will take place June 6-8, 2023, in Washington, DC, and virtually. 

CHOW 2023: Ocean x Climate will focus on the connection between the ocean and climate change. The CHOW conference agenda with session descriptions for June 7 and 8 at the Ronald Reagan Building is now available on the registration website.  

Understanding global climate change and mitigating and adapting to its impacts is inextricably linked to our one ocean and its biodiversity. How we manage our global ocean to ensure it thrives for future generations is central to combatting climate change, protecting the health of coastal communities, and sustaining our economies.  This extends to the role of national marine sanctuaries and protected areas in strengthening resilience, and communicating the need for more ocean-climate actions. 

“The ocean is critical to maintaining life on earth. A thriving ocean in the future requires we address climate change head-on, and make ocean and coastal communities front and center in all national climate strategies,” said Shannon Colbert, Vice President for External Affairs for the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. “CHOW 2023 will dive into how this nexus will shape the future for our ocean, and our planet.” 

A nationally representative survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago for the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation revealed insights into Americans’ opinions on ocean conservation and climate change. The poll shows that Americans of all backgrounds overwhelmingly want the government and businesses to do more to protect the ocean, and over half recognize that climate change is the biggest threat to the diversity of life in our ocean.   Over one-third of respondents who live in coastline counties say they have personally seen the effects of climate change on the ocean and coasts. 

The conference agenda is shaped by the members of the CHOW 2023 Advisory Committee, a diverse group of leaders in marine science and policy from around the country who will guide the development of CHOW’s conference program to focus on the most pressing issues facing the ocean and Great Lakes as they intersect with global climate issues. 

The Ocean Awards Gala will cap off Capitol Hill Ocean Week on the evening of June 8, 2023, World Ocean Day, in the Ronald Reagan Building atrium. The gala annually recognizes champions of marine and Great Lakes stewardship. Previous honorees include Presidents, Members of Congress, and world-renowned scientists and conservationists. Sponsorships are now available. 

The week will begin with CHOW Hill Day on June 6, 2023, during which members of the ocean and climate communities will speak with elected representatives about the policy issues relating to our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes. 

Convened by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation every June, CHOW brings together scientists, policymakers, scholars, businesses, and conservation leaders to address pressing conservation, science, and management issues facing our oceans and Great Lakes. The conference is held in conjunction with the Foundation’s Ocean Awards Gala, which recognizes champions of marine and Great Lakes stewardship with Leadership, Lifetime Achievement, Conservation Innovation, and Sanctuary Wavemaker Awards. In 2023, the Ocean Awards Gala will be held on the evening of Thursday, June 8th.  

Sponsorship information is available for Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2023 here.  

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The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, established in 2000, is the official non-profit partner of the National Marine Sanctuary System. The Foundation directly supports America’s national marine sanctuaries through our mission to protect species, conserve ecosystems and preserve cultural and maritime heritage. We accomplish our mission through community stewardship and engagement programs, on-the-water conservation projects, public education and outreach programs, and scientific research and exploration. The Foundation fosters innovative projects that are solution-oriented, scalable and transferable, and develop strategic partnerships that promote the conservation and recovery of species and their habitats. Learn more at marinesanctuary.org. 

Contact: Chip Weiskotten 

Director of Strategic Communications 

518-669-3936 

chip@marinesanctuary.org