ADVISORY: Ocean Conservancy Climate Scientists, Policy and Advocacy Experts Available for Interviews at New York City Climate Week

NEW YORK – Ocean Conservancy climate scientists and policy and advocacy experts will be on the ground and available for interviews at New York Climate Week and the UN General Assembly High-level Week from Monday, September 21 through Friday, September 25. There, they will lead and participate in conversations on how the ocean protects our planet from the worst effects of climate change and can be an even greater force for good. 

“This past summer’s record-breaking land and ocean temperatures should be a reminder to all of us that the ocean cannot stay on the sidelines,” said Ocean Conservancy’s Vice President for Climate Fatima Candace Vahlsing. “In fact, the ocean plays a starring role in regulating our climate and absorbing excess heat and carbon pollution, and leaders must seize the opportunity to center the ocean in delivering real emissions reductions as we head into a busy season of climate negotiations ahead, from the IMO to COP 31.”

In addition to promoting cleaner shipping, responsible marine carbon dioxide removal and other solutions, Ocean Conservancy will continue elevating its award-winning Protect Where We Play initiative, launched in 2025 to leverage the reach of athletes, artists, entertainers and venues to spread the message of ocean protection. 

“A healthy ocean is critical to so much of what we love, from wildlife to the sports and outdoor experiences that bring us together,” said Ocean Conservancy’s Chief Brand and Communications Officer Jenna DiPaolo. “We’re excited by the momentum we’ve seen so far and believe everyone can understand how the ocean impacts all of us, and how we all have a role to play.” 

WHO	Ocean Conservancy experts will be in attendance in New York and available for interviews upon request: Janis Searles Jones, Chief Executive Officer Jenna DiPaolo, Chief Brand and Communications Officer Fatima Candace Vahlsing, Vice President for Climate Amanda Carter, Director of Climate Science Anja Brandon, Director, Plastics Policy Whitney Berry, Associate Director, Climate Policy and Program Implementation Caroline Bonfield, Senior U.S. Policy Manager, Climate Becca Robbins Gisclair, Senior Director, Arctic and Northern Waters
WHAT	Areas of expertise include: – Sports and Climate – Athlete Activism – Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal – Ocean Climate Solutions – Clean Shipping – Plastics Policy – Arctic Protection
WHEN	Monday, September 21 – Friday September 25
WHERE TO FIND US	A full schedule of events Ocean Conservancy is participating in or hosting can be found below.
CONTACT	Emily Prettyman, Senior Communications Manager, [email protected]

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

From Stadiums to Shorelines: Storytelling that Breaks Through the Noise Date: September 21 Time: 12:40 PM – 1:30 PM  Location: SVA Theatre, 333 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011 Description: Presented by Ocean Conservancy’s Protect Where We Play.The stories we tell now have the power to bring us together. At a time when sports and entertainment unite millions around shared moments of triumph, heartbreak, and pure human connection, this panel brings together storytellers from the front lines — sharing real examples of how they’ve engaged, inspired, and deepened the fan experience in ways that truly matter.​ Speakers: – Christy Briggs, Director of Sustainability, Lumen Field / Seattle Seahawks – Christina Guerron-Orejuela, Director of Global Social Responsibility, Seminole Hard Rock Internationa – Jenna DiPaolo, Chief Brand and Communications Officer, Ocean Conservancy and Head of Protect Where We Play Ocean Conservancy Representative: Jenna DiPaolo (Moderating)

Powering Up the Future of Ports: Lessons from leading maritime electrification projects Date: September 21 Time: 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM Location: Environmental Defense Fund, 257 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10010 Description: ​As governments, ship owners, cargo owners and other stakeholders pursue their decarbonization goals, ports are becoming critical hubs for cleaner operations, including through electrification. Electrified ports support shore power deployment, battery-electric and hybrid vessels, cargo-handling equipment electrification, charging infrastructure, and grid modernization projects. Port provisions to support electrification across vessel types – from harbor craft and ferries to ocean-going vessels – vary widely in impacts, infrastructure needs, and planning requirements. This roundtable brings together port authorities, ship owners, investors, utilities and policy makers to discuss how major ports are planning and implementing electrification strategies, the infrastructure and policy requirements needed to support growth, and lessons that can be shared across regions to accelerate maritime decarbonization. Ocean Conservancy Representative: Caroline Bonfield (Speaking)

The Ocean Awakens: The Undiscovered Treaty Negotiating the Future Date: September 21 Time: 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM  Location: 89 South St, New York, NY 10038 Description: The UN Plastics Treaty, the newly in-force High Seas Treaty, Extended Producer Responsibility, and the push to Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, among the policies in play to cut plastic production and pollution. Where negotiations stand, what’s holding them back, and the paths to move them all forward. Ocean Conservancy Representative: Anja Brandon (Speaking)

Responsible mCDR governance for research and beyond Date: September 21 Time: 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM  Location: Environmental Defense Fund, 257 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10010 Description: As interest in marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) grows, stakeholders are grappling with a range of difficult questions: research, commercialization, deployment, environmental protection, scientific integrity, equity, public accountability, and governance under uncertainty. This workshop will bring together a wide range of mCDR stakeholders to better understand these tensions and explore where constructive paths forward might exist. Ocean Conservancy Representative: Amanda Carter (Co-host)

Columbia University’s Powering Forward: Sustainable Sports & Entertainment Date: September 21 Time: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM  Location: The Lee C. Bollinger Forum at Columbia University, 601 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027 Description: The Sustainability, Energy, and Entertainment Network (SEEN) at Columbia’s Climate School is partnering with the Green Sports Alliance, Hollywood Climate Summit, Music Sustainability Alliance, Sustainable Entertainment Alliance, and Broadway Green Alliance to convene leaders from sports, entertainment, and media for an afternoon of workshops. Ocean Conservancy Representative: Jenna DiPaolo (Speaking)

The Blue Current to COP31 Date: September 22 Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Location: Copinette Restaurant – 891 1st Ave, New York, NY 10016 Description: Ocean Conservancy is co-hosting a closed-door convening for Heads of Delegation, providing a space for exchange, enabling participants to identify shared priorities, build common ground, and develop a collective vision to drive meaningful ocean-based outcomes at COP31. Ocean Conservancy Representative: Whitney Berry (Speaking)

PROTECT WHERE WE PLAY: Unleashing the Power of Athlete Activism Date: September 23 Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Location: Solutions House, The Assembly, 2 Park Ave, New York, NY 10016 Description: ​Climate change is threatening the game. It’s impacting the grass on our fields, the air we breathe, the waters we swim in, and the mountains we love to climb. But there’s one game-changing solution: a healthy ocean. Incredibly, the ocean produces half of the world’s oxygen and absorbs 90% of the excess heat from climate change. It is home to millions of unique species and is directly responsible for people’s prosperity and quality of life worldwide. Regardless of where you live, whether on the coast or in the mountains, the ocean is connected to all of us. No ocean, no life.  In this panel, you’ll hear from the below professional athletes leading the way on #TeamOcean. Speakers: – Amani Toomer, Super Bowl-winning NFL Veteran of the NY Giants​ – Lee Whitwell #1 Ranked Sr. Professional Female Pickleball Player – ​Jasmyne Spencer, American National Women’s Soccer League Veteran​ – Mike Geddes, Sport & Purpose Advisor, 17 Sport​ – Jenna DiPaolo, Chief Brand and Communications Officer Ocean Conservancy Representative: Jenna DiPaolo (Moderating)

Port Powerhouse @ Climate Week NYC Date: September 24 Time: 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM Location: 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10007 Description: Port Powerhouse: Ports powering a climate-positive economy is High Ambition Climate Collective and the Port of Seattle’s flagship convening spotlighting ports as drivers of climate action, clean energy deployment, resilient infrastructure, economic competitiveness, and community prosperity. The event is co-hosted by HACC, Port of Seattle, and the Port of New York-New Jersey, in partnership with C40 Cities and the United Nations Global Compact Ocean Stewardship Coalition. Ocean Conservancy Representative: Caroline Bonfield (Releasing new report)

Blue NDC Challenge Roundtable: Building the Implementation Taskforce that Members Need Date: September 24 Time: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Location: Lexington Hotel (511 Lexington Avenue) Description: Ocean Conservancy is co-hosting a closed-door roundtable to provide current and prospective Blue NDC Challenge members with an opportunity to shape the Blue NDC Implementation Taskforce (Taskforce) before its official launch at UNFCCC COP31.  Ocean Conservancy Representative: Whitney Berry (Speaking)

Global Development Forum 2026 at UNGA81: Rethinking Aid, Finance, and Impact Date: September 24 Time: 1:00 PM  Location: Studio Gather10 W 51st St, New York, NY 10111 Description: Countries across the Global South are facing a convergence of pressures—from global conflicts, food and energy price volatility, and heavy debt burdens to geopolitical competition and declining foreign aid from leading donors. Governments and development actors are now challenged to do more with fewer resources, and traditional models of development cooperation are being tested at a moment of growing need and constrained capacity. At the same time, these pressures are accelerating debate over how development is financed, delivered, and measured. FP’s Global Development Forum @ UNGA81 will convene policymakers, business leaders, financing pioneers, civil society, and faith-based organizations for solutions-oriented discussions on how to bridge resource gaps, strengthen locally led approaches, improve transparency, and build more effective models for sustainable development. Speakers:  – MODERATOR: Andrew Sollinger, CEO & Publisher, Foreign Policy – Ovie Mughelli, 2x All-Pro NFL Veteran  – Fatima Candace Vahlsing, Vice President of Climate, Ocean Conservancy Ocean Conservancy Representative: Fatima Candace Vahlsing (Speaking)

Bending The Climate Curve  Date: September 25 Time: 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM Location: The Explorers Club, 46 E 70th St, Manhattan, New York, New York, 10021, United States Description: ​Addressing climate change by “bending” the climate curve will require both reducing emissions, and atmospheric carbon dioxide removal strategies that integrate the ocean’s central role in Earth’s climate system. As interest grows in the ocean’s capacity to store carbon, so does the need for knowledge-based approaches that are guided by strong ethical and governance frameworks. This event will explore the state of emerging methods to enhance the ocean’s natural carbon sink, in particular phytoplankton-based approaches. Our panel of experts will discuss how diverse approaches can inform responsible innovation and implementation, as well as the guardrails needed to guide field trials and future action while safeguarding our shared ocean. Ocean Conservancy Representative: Fatima Candace Vahlsing (Speaking)

ABOUT THE EXPERTS

Janis Searles Jones

Janis Searles Jones is CEO of Ocean Conservancy, a global nonprofit that unites science, people and policy to protect the ocean, today and for generations to come. Jones sets the strategic direction for the organization of 140 staff championing solutions that have the greatest potential impact for the ocean. She is an influential and widely respected environmental lawyer and negotiator, with deep expertise in ocean and coastal law. 

Jones is a frequent speaker on the biggest challenges of our underwater world and coastal communities—from climate change to threatened species to plastic pollution—and the need for durable, evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and a thriving planet. She is a published author contributing to papers on the sustainable use of ocean resources and ecosystem-based management. Jones holds a JD and a certificate in environmental and natural resources law from Lewis & Clark Law School where she is also a Distinguished Environmental Law Graduate and an adjunct faculty member. She is based in Ocean Conservancy’s Portland, Oregon, office. 

Jenna DiPaolo

Jenna DiPaolo Colley joined Ocean Conservancy in 2024 as Chief Brand and Communications Officer. In her new role, Jenna brings a passion for the environment, climate solutions, and human rights. Previously, she was Chief Communications Officer at Greenpeace USA, focusing on environmental justice, and led communications at the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) for a decade. Jenna has worked extensively with Indigenous communities, including the Baka in Cameroon, the Igorot in the Philippines, and the Guajajara in Brazil. She is a member of the Club of Rome’s Planetary Emergency Partnership, the Forbes Communications Council, and a board member of TINTA. Jenna holds an M.A. in International Affairs – Human Rights from George Washington University, a DEFL from Université de Tours and a B.A. from Bucknell University.

Ovie Mughelli

Ovie Mughelli is an award winning, 2x All-Pro NFL veteran who has continued to leverage his platform as an environmental & sustainability leader, wellness advocate, author, media correspondent and owner of a medical consulting business. During his nine seasons playing in the National Football League, Ovie Mughelli was considered one of the best fullbacks in the NFL, while playing for the Atlanta Falcons and the Baltimore Ravens. Becoming a father awakened Ovie to the connection of human health to our planet’s health through a series of family difficulties when his two youngest children were born premature. Ovie has worked with and been acknowledged by leaders in the Earth protection movement, including sustainability leaders Ted Turner, Al Gore and Van Jones. He was named one of the world’s top Eco-Athletes by the Planet Green Foundation, was the closing speaker at the White House’s Sports and Sustainability Conference, spoke at the Climate Change Awards, and was the MC for both the Global Green and the Global Climate Action Summit. He is an honored “coach” on Team Ocean via Ocean Conservancy’s Protect Where We Play Initiative.

Fatima Candace Vahlsing

Dr. Fatima Candace Vahlsing is Ocean Conservancy’s Vice President for Climate, where she leads a team of policy experts and scientists working at the intersection of climate change and the ocean. Prior to joining the organization, Dr. Vahlsing served for more than fifteen years in senior government climate positions at the international, federal, and state level, including in four different  White House offices for two Presidents, as a diplomat at a national security agency, in the U.S. Senate, on a Presidential transition team, and in the State of California. She is an expert at developing strategies, legislation and policy to advance ambitious and achievable climate solutions through science and innovation, economics, and health. Dr. Vahlsing holds a PhD in Environmental Health Sciences, a Masters in Global Environmental Health, and a Masters in Public Policy from the University of California at Berkeley. She is based in Washington, D.C.

Becca Robbins Gisclair

Becca Robbins Gisclair is Ocean Conservancy’s Senior Director, Arctic Programs. Becca is an attorney who has worked on fisheries policy, environmental issues and international human rights for over 20 years. She was instrumental in achieving first of their kind salmon bycatch limits in both the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska.

Before joining Ocean Conservancy in 2015, she worked for the Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association; Hobbs, Straus, Dean and Walker, LLP; and the Alaska Marine Community Coalition. She served on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Advisory Panel for six years, including two as chair, and now serves on the North Pacific Research Board and the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission U.S. Advisory Panel. Becca holds a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and a juris doctor from U.C. Law San Francisco.

Amanda Carter

Dr. Amanda Carter is Ocean Conservancy’s Director of Climate Science. Prior to her time at Ocean Conservancy, Amanda was the Deputy Director for Ocean Policy at the White House Council on Environmental Quality during the Biden-Harris Administration, co-leading the National Strategy for a Sustainable Ocean Economy as well as implementation of the Ocean Climate Action Plan and the interagency Ocean Policy Committee. She previously worked at the National Science Foundation as a government and legislative affairs specialist and at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as both a Sea Grant Knauss Fellow and congressional affairs specialist. Amanda holds a Ph.D. in marine biology and M.S. in oceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and an M.S. and B.S. in biology from UC San Diego. She was awarded the EPA Science To Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship to support her research on coral reef ecology and has published peer-reviewed research on coral reef ecosystem response to climate change and invasive species. Amanda has returned to San Diego, California after spending close to a decade in Washington, D.C.

Anja Brandon

Dr. Anja Brandon is the Director of Plastics Policy at Ocean Conservancy, working to advance policy solutions at the state and federal level to eliminate plastic pollution and support the transition to a circular economy. Anja was part of the team of advocates that helped draft and pass the strongest plastics legislation in the country, SB 54 in California, for which she was named among Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business 2023. Dr. Brandon has been an invited speaker and lecturer on plastics policy and her scientific work at national and international conferences and at universities including Stanford, Oregon State University, and Bennington College. Prior to joining Ocean Conservancy, Anja was the AGU/AAAS Congressional Science Fellow in the office of U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), where she was the lead policy advisor on issues including plastics, ocean and water pollution, and toxic pollutants. Anja holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and Science from Stanford University where she was awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship for her work. Her doctoral research focused on understanding plastic waste management challenges and developing novel methods to break down common plastics.

Whitney Berry

Whitney Berry is Ocean Conservancy’s Associate Director of Climate Policy and Program Implementation. Whitney is an expert on ocean and climate change policy and works to advance the organization’s domestic and international ocean-climate priorities. Her portfolio includes ocean-based mitigation and adaptation policy solutions to combat climate change and protect the marine environment. Previously, Whitney worked for the State of California’s Natural Resources Agency as a cabinet-level Climate Change Policy Manager within the office of the Ocean Protection Council. Prior to her position with the California Natural Resources Agency, Whitney was a California Sea Grant Fellow working on ocean-climate policy. She graduated from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies with a Master’s Degree in International Environmental Policy and a concentration in Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. Whitney is based in California. 

Caroline Bonfield

Caroline is Ocean Conservancy’s Senior U.S. Policy Manager, Climate. Her primary focus at OC is leading U.S. federal and state policy work in California on shipping decarbonization. Caroline also provides support for the shipping emissions team in its work at the International Maritime Organization. Prior to joining Ocean Conservancy, Caroline earned a M.S. in Animals and Public Policy from Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and a B.S. in English from Georgetown University. In previous roles, she worked to advance animal and environmental policy at both the state and federal levels, tackling a variety of issues ranging from wildlife protection to climate change.

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ABOUT PROTECT WHERE WE PLAY

Protect Where We Play (PWWP) is an Ocean Conservancy initiative uniting sports and entertainment industries to protect the ocean by leveraging athletes, artists, teams, events and venues to mobilize millions of fans worldwide. Together, we combat climate change and preserve the future of sports, entertainment and all the places we play and find joy. www.protectwhereweplay.com #protectwhereweplay

ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY  

For more than 50 years, Ocean Conservancy has delivered effective, evidence-based solutions for the ocean and all who depend on it. Today, we continue to unite science, people and policy to protect our ocean from the greatest challenges it faces: climate change, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss. We are a 501(C)3 headquartered in Washington, D.C. that inspires a worldwide network of partners, advocates and supporters through our comprehensive and clear-eyed approach to ocean conservation. Together, we are securing a healthy ocean and a thriving planet, forever and for everyone. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky or Instagram.