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The 20th anniversary edition
March 14 & 15, 2025
at UNESCO / Ministère de la Santé / Mediawan • Paris
FR · EN
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Debate

Oceans: the great upheaval of life

Oceans cover 70% of the planet. But they are not just salt water. They help to regulate the climate, they are home to 80% of living species and, like forests, they play a crucial role in oxygen production and carbon capture. Without them, we wouldn't be here. Without them, the Earth would not be habitable. 
Yet our human activities threaten them: warming and acidification of waters, plastic pollution, overfishing, noise pollution... all lead to the destruction of habitats and an erosion of marine biodiversity. This session aims to understand how these upheavals affect living things and what solutions are urgently needed to preserve this fragile ecosystem, which is still largely unknown.

Session translated in English and French.

Fabienne DELFOUR , Ethologist and Cetologist

Bill FRANÇOIS , Biophysicist, Naturalist, and Writer

Alexis ROSENFELD , Underwater Photographer and Explorer

Moderation: Cyrielle HARIEL, Impact journalist, author, and speaker

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La maison de l'UNESCO, 125 avenue Suffren, 75007 Paris – Salle II
Saturday, March 15 – 15:00 - 16:30
In partnership with L'OFFICE FRANÇAIS DE LA BIODIVERSITÉ
L'OFFICE FRANÇAIS DE LA BIODIVERSITÉ

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With the intervention of

Bill FRANÇOIS
Bill FRANÇOIS
Biophysicist, Naturalist, and Writer
Alexis ROSENFELD
Alexis ROSENFELD
Underwater Photographer and Explorer
Fabienne DELFOUR
Fabienne DELFOUR
Ethologist and Cetologist

Moderation

Cyrielle HARIEL
Cyrielle HARIEL
Impact journalist, author, and speaker

Other debates at the same time

Never too young to get involved!
What if changing the world was child’s play?

This interactive conference, specially designed for children aged 6-12 and their parents, shows that sometimes small actions can have a huge impact. Through simple projects and concrete gestures, discover how you and your children can positively transform your environment, your communities, and even help save the planet.

They are between 7 and 22 years old... and they’ve already done the incredible!
Collecting litter, helping the homeless, protecting biodiversity, sponsoring endangered species, or even joining a scientific expedition to Greenland to document climate change. Some have even won a lawsuit against climate inaction in Montana! These inspiring young people will be there to share their stories. They will inspire you, make you feel empowered… and most importantly, they will spark your own desire to take action for a better world, because you're never too young to make a difference!

Florine et Timothé , Participants in the Positive Biodiversity Families Challenge

Maël CAZES MEYER , Aspiring explorer

Gaëlane GAVOILLE , 12-year-old student in 7th grade

Rikki HELD , Climate activist

Moderation: Caroline SOST, Founder of Living School, trainer, speaker, and author of "Thriving at School" (Robert Laffont)

Learn more
Mediawan, 46 avenue de Breteuil 75007 Paris – Auditorium
Saturday, March 15 – 15:00 - 16:30
In partnership with LIVING SCHOOL

Pesticide-free agriculture that respects the living world is possible!
In the aftermath of the Second World War, the challenge was to feed France and Europe, and the gamble paid off. But in its wake, a productivist model of agriculture took hold. Study after study has denounced its health and environmental failings. It's time to react and change. 
New forms of agriculture that respect living organisms and ecosystems are becoming imperative.
This session will explore possible agro-ecological alternatives. We will open the debate on solutions for a future in which human health and the health of ecosystems take priority, while enabling farmers to make a living.

Sébastien BLACHE , Farm Manager at Ferme du Grand Laval, Naturalist and Ornithologist

Allain BOUGRAIN-DUBOURG , President of the League for the Protection of Birds

Noémie CALAIS , Farmer and Author

Thierry CAQUET , Scientific Director of Environment at INRAE

Didier DE LA PORTE , Farmer, Co-author of the Biodynamic Calendars and "Cheminer avec le vivant", Speaker on These Topics

Moderation: Gilles LUNEAU, Senior reporter at We Demain

Learn more
La maison de l'UNESCO, 125 avenue Suffren, 75007 Paris – Salle IV
Saturday, March 15 – 15:00 - 16:30
In partnership with L'OFFICE FRANÇAIS DE LA BIODIVERSITÉ

Women Take Action !
There are encounters that transform you. This session is one of them! Come and share the vision and struggles of exceptional women. We'll hear about their commitment to social justice, education and the environment. True driving forces behind ecological and social transitions, they remind us that courage and action have no limits. An inspiring session to leave you energized with ideas and confidence in the future.

Session translated in English and French.

Lætitia DOSCH , Director

Bella LACK , Journalist and environmentalist

Estelle LEFÉBURE , Co-founder and President of the Spero Mare Association

Solenn THOMAS , Founder of Eklore

Constance VON BRISKORN , Senior Manager for Biodiversity, I Care by BearingPoint

Moderation: Dorothée MARTIN, Impact Journalist and Filmmaker

Learn more
La maison de l'UNESCO, 125 avenue Suffren, 75007 Paris – Salle XI
Saturday, March 15 – 15:00 - 16:30

Images to alert and engage us
The weight of words, the impact of photos’. The famous Paris Match magazine slogan, created in 1978 by Jean Cau, sums up more than ever the way we live today, in a society swamped by images immediately posted on social networks. At the origin of this slogan was the journalistic conviction that images do not lie and that they provide a snapshot of the truth. But what about today in the age of generative AI? The fact remains that the power of the image is strong. Whether it's a photo, a drawing or a video, it captures our attention, stirs our emotions and sometimes even awakens our consciences. How do images affect our sensibilities? How does it inspire us to take action and transform the world around us? This session will explore how the visual arts, through emblematic works and committed creations, can trigger a profound awareness of social, environmental and human issues.

Laurent BALLESTA , Photographer, diver, and naturalist biologist

Enki BILAL , Comic Book Author and Director

Anastasia MIKOVA , Producer and Director

REZA , Photographer

Adrien RIVIERRE , Author and Journalist

Moderation: Delphine DARMON, Founder of the podcast Demain N'attend Pas (Tomorrow Doesn’t Wait)

Learn more
La maison de l'UNESCO, 125 avenue Suffren, 75007 Paris – Salle XII
Saturday, March 15 – 15:00 - 16:30

The XXL Workshop on Frugality - sharing our solutions for biodiversity!
The Ecofrugal XXL Biodiversity workshop is a participative workshop during which we will share, pool and discover solutions deployed to protect biodiversity. 

We'll review the 5 main causes of biodiversity decline and discuss the solutions that everyone can implement, both individually and collectively, in their personal and professional spheres. 

Duration 90 minutes 
- 15 minutes presentation of workshops and biodiversity
- 75 minutes sharing solutions

Philippe LÉVÊQUE , Author of the Ecofrugal Guide and Founder of monatelier-ecofrugal.fr

Moderation: Philippe LÉVÊQUE, Author of the Ecofrugal Guide and Founder of monatelier-ecofrugal.fr

Learn more
Mediawan, 46 avenue de Breteuil 75007 Paris – La verrière
Saturday, March 15 – 15:00 - 16:30
In partnership with MON ATELIER ECOFRUGAL

Streaming - Women Take Action !
There are encounters that transform you. This session is one of them! Come and share the vision and struggles of exceptional women. We'll hear about their commitment to social justice, education and the environment. True driving forces behind ecological and social transitions, they remind us that courage and action have no limits. An inspiring session to leave you energized with ideas and confidence in the future.

Streaming session translated in English and French. In French local time.

Lætitia DOSCH , Director

Bella LACK , Journalist and environmentalist

Estelle LEFÉBURE , Co-founder and President of the Spero Mare Association

Moderation:

Learn more
Vidéoconférence à domicile – STREAMING
Saturday, March 15 – 15:00 - 16:30

Green and Social Comedy Show - part 1
Welcome to the Green and Social Comedy Show at UNESCO, where laughter is our weapon for tackling the most serious subjects! In a world in transition, sometimes chaotic, sometimes absurd, talented comedians are coming together to give us an offbeat take on social and environmental issues. From the climate crisis to social inequality, they take a humorous look at our shortcomings, reminding us that we can smile even when the going gets tough. Come and relax while you think, laugh while you act. Because when it comes down to it, changing the world also means knowing how to laugh about it! 

A stand-up comedy show organized by the Entourage association featuring Denis Sireyjol and the comedians from the Green Washing Comedy Club. 

Marie-Flore LECLERCQ , Chief Executive Officer of Entourage

Moderation: Denis SIREYJOL, Comedian

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La maison de l'UNESCO, 125 avenue Suffren, 75007 Paris – Salle de cinéma
Saturday, March 15 – 15:00 - 16:30

Is the generation gap real?
Presentation of the Youth and Senior Barometers by Macif and the Jean Jaurès Foundation.
Do young people and seniors really have such opposing worldviews?

Macif, in partnership with the Jean Jaurès Foundation, will unveil the results of its “Youth and Business” and “Seniors and Business” barometers. Topics include politics, ecology, and work: do generations have contrasting approaches, or are they more aligned than we might think? What do young people and seniors expect from their companies and society? What are their aspirations? Is their commitment to building a fairer society different? And does the company have a role to play in fostering engagement?

Mathieu ALAPETITE , Director General of France Silver Eco

Thibaut GUILLUY , CEO of France Travail

Serge GUÉRIN , Sociologist specializing in aging issues, intergenerational relations, social innovation, and health.

Jérémie PELTIER , Co-CEO of the Jean-Jaurès Foundation

Chloé VANCAEYZEELE , Explorer by profession / content creator

Moderation: Justine DUROCHAT, Sustainable Transformation Facilitator and Committed Project Manager – Cyril BATOLO, Co-President of the Student COP3 and Energy Transition Engineer

Learn more
La maison de l'UNESCO, 125 avenue Suffren, 75007 Paris – Salle IX
Saturday, March 15 – 15:00 - 16:30
In partnership with LA MACIF