A sense of belonging
― By Dona Bertarelli
There is a moment, when you enter the ocean, where the world above recedes. It is quiet. Almost imperceptible. But something shifts. I have felt it in different ways over the years: crossing the ocean under sail, guided by wind and currents, in constant dialogue with the elements; diving beneath the surface, where sound softens and time stretches; and through my philanthropic work, engaging with passionate people who dedicate their lives to understanding and protecting this vital system.
Speaking
for the ocean
― By Dona Bertarelli
At the Tribune Bleue final, held at the Sorbonne University in Paris last week, I had the honor of opening the competition with a reflection on what drives us to speak, and on what it means to speak for something that cannot speak for itself: the ocean.
French Polynesia, a shared journey from commitment to implementation
― By Dona Bertarelli
Last month, I had the pleasure of returning to French Polynesia since the announcement of the Marine Protected Area (MPA). This was a deeply personal experience, as for more than a decade, this region has been central to my commitment to the ocean through Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy.
Protecting Africa’s Ocean future and why a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining matters
― By James Alix Michel and Dona Bertarelli
The world is entering a decisive period for the future of the ocean. With the High Seas Treaty coming into force and meaningful progress being made on the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, global momentum for stronger marine governance is building.
Beyond Targets
and Declarations
― By Dona Bertarelli
As this year draws to a close, attention often turns to what lies ahead. For biodiversity, the coming years will be decisive, not only for what we protect, but for how we choose to change.
As I stand still, looking at the world that sustains us — this miracle of life we so often take for granted — I think about what it will truly take to protect 30% of our land and ocean, and what this commitment asks of us beyond targets and declarations.
Nurturing nature to shape our children’s future
― By Dona Bertarelli
Biophilia is a concept that deserves more space in our public conversations. It describes the innate human tendency to seek connection with nature and other living beings, an idea shaped in the 1980s through the work of biologist Edward O. Wilson. In many ways, it captures the instinct behind our sense of wonder: the quiet pull we feel toward the ocean, the calm that settles on a woodland trail, the peace that comes from a mountain range.
Nature’s Prescription for Our Future
― By Dona Bertarelli
For much of my life, I have worked at the intersection of human and environmental health. For three generations, my family has been dedicated to healthcare, with a constant focus on improving people’s well-being through science. I grew up surrounded by conversations about health, how the body functions, how to enhance quality of life, how science can help new life begin.
Reflections from United Nations Ocean Conference : Financing Ocean Action
― By Dona Bertarelli
We are facing an existential crisis for the ocean. But the root isn’t just ecological—it’s relational. Somewhere in the last century, we began to see Nature – and the ocean particularly – not as something we are part of, but as a commodity…
THE PROMISE AND PERIL
OF DEEP-SEA MINING
― By Dona Bertarelli
The ocean has always been a source of wonder and purpose in my life. As a sailor, a philanthropist and an advocate I’ve witnessed its vastness, its power, and also its vulnerability.
THE RESILIENT SONG OF THE CACTUS WREN IN THE DESERT
― By Dona Bertarelli
The Sonoran Desert, with its extraordinary species richness and striking landscapes, is a vivid testament to the resilience of life and its astonishing ability to adapt.