The initiative leverages high-profile figures across sports and entertainment to address critical environmental threats like ocean plastic pollution. Alongside the campaign expansion, organizers utilized the Helen Mills Event Space to preview a new conservation documentary focused on the plastics crisis in Hawaii. The film project, backed by Ocean Conservancy and narrated by actor Woody Harrelson, highlights how elite athletes witness marine damage firsthand.
Key points
The Protect Where We Play campaign uses the cultural influence of prominent figures to dr…: The Protect Where We Play campaign uses the cultural influence of prominent figures to drive public participation in marine preservation.
Cultural ambassadors draw on personal outdoor pursuits, including surfing, to raise aware…: Cultural ambassadors draw on personal outdoor pursuits, including surfing, to raise awareness about global environmental connectivity.
Ocean Conservancy serves as the executive producer and exclusive impact partner for Kulea…: Ocean Conservancy serves as the executive producer and exclusive impact partner for Kuleana to mobilize global action against plastic pollution.
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Actor
John Slattery, best known for playing Roger Sterling in Mad Men, has joined Ocean Conservancy’s ‘Protect Where We Play’ initiative as its newest Team Ocean Captain. The Emmy-nominated actor was announced as the campaign’s first actor to join the campaign at a New York City Climate Week event on September 24, 2025.
The initiative brings together athletes, artists, and entertainers to encourage millions of fans to support ocean conservation. The announcement came during the annual gathering. According to Ocean Conservancy, Slattery’s involvement is intended to bring a new voice to the campaign and extend its reach to entertainment audiences. The announcement was also accompanied by an exclusive preview of Kuleana, a documentary about the ocean plastics crisis in Hawaii.
John Slattery becomes the first actor to join ‘Protect Where We Play’
Slattery is the first actor to join Ocean Conservancy’s ‘Protect Where We Play’ campaign, which uses the popularity of sport and entertainment to encourage more people to support ocean conservation. The Emmy-nominated performer is best known for playing Roger Sterling in Mad Men.
Conservationists from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust spearheaded the translocation effort to expand the threatened species beyond its limited strongholds in northern England. Extensive preparatory work, including fringe moorland restoration and multi-estate predator control, provided the necessary conditions for the relocated population to survive and reproduce. This successful fledging demonstrates the viability of reintroducing the bird to historically occupied landscapes.
Human-driven warming has increased global temperatures by approximately 1.4C, significantly shifting hydrological cycles and driving extreme weather patterns worldwide. These elevated temperatures increase atmospheric moisture retention, leading to unprecedented precipitation events alongside intensified soil evaporation. As a result, regions across Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia are facing compounding crises ranging from critical water shortages to severe flooding.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have surged by more than 50% since the Industrial Revolution due to fossil fuel combustion. This trapped heat pushed 2024 to become the hottest year on record, exceeding 1.5C of warming above pre-industrial benchmarks. Global communities now face escalating humanitarian crises and economic shocks as climate extremes intensify worldwide.