Villars Ocean Forum 2026

Après-midi

• Check-in for guests @ Hotel VIU, Victoria Hotel, & Villars Palace • Registration and badge pick-up @ Villars Palace

Introduction and objectives of the Villars Ocean Forum - Ground Zero for Planetary Tipping Points: Ocean, Poles & Glaciers.

Victoria Attwood Scott

Keith Tuffley

The ocean, glaciers, and poles are central to Earth’s stability—and are now driving planetary risk. With 7 of 9 planetary boundaries already breached, including ocean acidification, this science briefing and interactive plenary will examine how accelerating cryosphere loss and ocean change are pushing Earth systems toward dangerous tipping points – and how today’s scientific, economic, political, societal, and technological shifts are changing the landscape for global resilience.

Sylvia Earle

Nik Gowing

Tim Lenton

Johan Rockström

Heïdi Sevestre

Chukwuebuka Edum (Villars Rapporteur)

Session in Parallel

This session explores the latest advances in ocean, glacier and poles science — and where critical uncertainties remain. What breakthroughs in science and system dynamics are emerging, and what more must the Villars Ocean Community do to reach a turning point that delivers decisive gains for ocean, glaciers, and poles?

Tom Battin

Callum Roberts

Peter Schlosser

Thomas Frölicher

Jens Thomsen (Villars Rapporteur)

This session explores where measurement and standards are already creating accountability for ocean, glacier, and polar change—and where they fall short. What breakthroughs in standards and measurement are emerging, and what more must the Villars Ocean Community do to reach a turning point that delivers decisive gains for ocean, glaciers, and poles?

Noelia Garcia Nebra

Emily Mckenzie

Heïdi Sevestre

Mathias Wikström

Eric Gee (Villars Rapporteur)

This session explores where new data, analytics, and artificial intelligence are already improving detection, forecasting, and decision-making for ocean, glacier, and polar change—and where gaps persist. What breakthroughs in data intelligence are emerging, and what more must the Villars Ocean Community do to reach a turning point that delivers decisive gains for ocean, glaciers, and poles?

Chrissy Durkin

Peter Houlihan

Anna Lerner

Everett Johnson (Villars Rapporteur)

This session explores where institutions and partnerships are already stewarding knowledge to inform systemic decisions — and where trust and collaboration remain fragile. What breakthroughs in knowledge stewardship are emerging, and what more must the Villars Ocean Community do to reach a turning point that delivers decisive gains for ocean, glaciers, and poles?

Céline Dubreuil-Degortes

Minna Epps

Julia Marton-Lefèvre

Ana K. Spalding

Kseniia Nikitina (Villars Rapporteur)

A report back of the key insights and ideas that emerged from sessions in parallel.

Mark Lynas

Ines Bächinger (Villars Rapporteur)

Jason Dey (Villars Rapporteur)

The Tonga 2025 ocean science expedition brought scientists, explorers, and policy makers into one of the planet’s most remote ocean regions. This session celebrates the team behind the mission, highlighting how exploration, data, and collaboration come together at the frontlines—expanding knowledge, inspiring action, and reminding us why discovery still matters for ocean protection.

Arzucan "Zuzu" Askin

Kat Bruce

Sylvia Earle

Keith Tuffley

Vanessa Shadoian (Villars Rapporteur)

Le Soir

This meal is prepared based on the recommendations of the EAT-Lancet Commission’s Planetary Health Diet, which provides scientific guidelines to ranges of different food groups that together constitute an optimal diet for human health and environmental sustainability.

Villars Ocean Forum 2026