events

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UN Decade of Ocean Science Conference
Apr
11

UN Decade of Ocean Science Conference

You are invited to join us for an ocean acidification event at the UN Decade of Ocean Science Conference taking place in Barcelona April 10-12, 2024.

Moving from Science to Action on Ocean Acidification: Why Does It Matter?  How Is It Being Achieved?” will occur on April 11 between 8:30am-9:45am (with 7:30am coffee) at the Barcelona International Convention Center, Meeting Room 133-134 Southern Ocean, Floor P-1.

The event is co-hosted by the IAEA, OA Alliance, and NOAA in partnership with GOA-ON and OARS.

Please  use this registration link to express your interest in attending.



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National governments commitment to policy & investments to implement SDG 14.3
Dec
10

National governments commitment to policy & investments to implement SDG 14.3

OA Action Plans call forth renewed ambition to realize mitigation and adaptation targets already in place across UNFCCC and deliver on Sustainable Development Goal 14.3, “to minimize and address ocean acidification.”  Additionally, OA Action Plans help prioritize science, policy, and funding needs across the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainability
 
On 10 December, the United States announced the release of the U.S. Ocean Acidification (OA) Action Plan during a COP28 side event at Ocean Pavilion co-hosted by NOAA Ocean Acidification ProgramU.S. Department of State, and OA Alliance.

The U.S. is calling on more national governments to create OA Action Plans by the UN Ocean Conference 2025 and support implementation of SDG 14.3, "to minimize and address OA."

WATCH THE FULL SIDE EVENT HERE

Speakers included:

  • Dr. Mahlet Mesfin, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. State Department

  • Dr. Richard Spinrad, Administrator of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  • Ambassador Anna Lindstedt, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden

  • Ms. Emilie Rojas Margolliet, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chile

  • Ms. Gabrielle Larricq, Directorate of European and International Affairs France

  • Dr. Armando Francisco Arias-Isaza, Institute for Marine and Coastal Research, Colombia

  • Congressman Eduardo Murat Hinojosa, Mexican Chamber of Deputies 

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Leveraging UN Mechanisms for Local OA Adaptation and Resilience
Dec
6

Leveraging UN Mechanisms for Local OA Adaptation and Resilience

Date: 6 December
Time: 4.15pm -5.45pm
Location: Commonwealth Pavilion
Co-hosted with: UN FoundationIOC-UNESCO; Plymouth Marine Laboratory; Ocean Decade Programme ‘Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability; Commonwealth Secretariat; Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network and University of Washington


Overview:  Despite dire warnings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the impacts of ongoing ocean warming, acidification, and deoxygenation caused by increased GHG and carbon dioxide emissions are often misunderstood or not reflected across mainstream climate mitigation or adaptation priorities across the UNFCCC or domestically.

Panelists discussed food security, adaptation and financing concerns associated with OA and highlighted the science, policy, and further investments needed to respond.  The event launched the OA Research for Sustainability UN Decade Programme Commitments Page.

WATCH THE EVENT HERE.
 
Speakers:

  • Cristina Rumbaitis de Rio, Director of Adaptation, UN Foundation

  • Dr. Tarub Bahri, Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN

  • Mr. Euan Low, our Climate Impact Area Lead, Green Climate Fund

  • Tiago Pitta e Cunha has been Chief Executive Officer of Oceano Azul Foundation, Oceano Azul Foundation

  • Nicholas Hardman- Mountford, Head of Ocean Governance and Natural Resource Management Commonwealth Blue Charter 

  • Professor Steve Widdicombe, OARS Secretariat. UN Decade of Ocean Science, Ocean Acidification Research Programme

  • Ms. Paula Faiva, Director of Ministry of Climate, Oceans & Resilience, Government of Tokelau

  • Dr. Kalina Grabb, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, USA

  • Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy to the Ocean

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Leading on OA Monitoring, Policy Mainstreaming and Finance in the Pacific
Dec
4

Leading on OA Monitoring, Policy Mainstreaming and Finance in the Pacific

Date: 4 December
Time: 3.00-3.50pm
Location: Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion 
Co-hosted with: U.S. NOAA Ocean Acidification Program, U.S. State Department, The Ocean Foundation
 
Overview: The Pacific Islands region is leading on ocean acidification (OA) knowledge generation by developing regional monitoring and research programs that can be leveraged in the future to inform climate-ocean mitigation, adaptation, and resilience priorities. 


On 4 December, the OA Alliance co-hosted a discussion at the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion, "Leading on OA Monitoring, Policy Mainstreaming and Finance in the Pacific."  The event was co-hosted with U.S. NOAA Ocean Acidification Program, U.S. State Department, and The Ocean Foundation.

The event was an opportunity to share out goals, partnerships, and successes of the Pacific Islands Ocean Acidification Centre (PIOAC), alongside needs for increased science, policy mainstreaming and financing.

WATCH THE EVENT HERE.

Speakers:

  • Office of the Prime Minister, Climate Finance Specialist, Mr. Ravneeth Dewan, Fiji  

  • Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy to the Ocean

  • Mr. Exsley Taloiburi, GEM Division Deputy Director of Pacific Community

  • Dr. Kalina Grabb, U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration

  • Ms. Alejandra Navarrete, Government and Multilateral Officer, The Ocean Foundation

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COP28
Dec
1
to Dec 12

COP28

The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) will meet 30 November - 12 December as part of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

COP28 presents a critical opportunity to reflect on where we are in meeting goals and targets of the Paris Agreement and to chart an ambition path forward for climate-ocean action.

Importantly, COP28 marks the first ever Global Stocktake, a process by which country signatories to the Paris Climate Agreement take inventory of activities that have occurred to reduce climate change causes and impacts, identify gaps, and accelerate actions to meet our greenhouse gas and carbon reduction goals.
 
It is critical that ocean information be clearly articulated in this year’s Global Stocktake.  That's why we teamed up with the Ocean Climate Platform, the Ocean Conservancy and multiple partners to release recommendations for “Integrating the Ocean: Options for the CMA 5 Decision on the Global Stocktake."
 

COP28 President, the United Arab Emirates, is driving global attention on adaptation needs to transform and protect food systems in response to climate change.
 
Climate-ocean change threatens food security.  This matters to all of us, but especially communities that depend on marine species for food, economies, and cultural practices or traditions. 
 
Luckily, the UNFCCC has created an Ocean and Climate Dialogue to discuss options for strengthening ocean mitigation and adaptation measures in response to the mounting impacts of greenhouse gases on our marine resources and environments.

The OA Alliance has specific recommendations to protect seafood security and sovereignty through UNFCCC, which you can read more about here.

Members and partners of the OA Alliance will be convening a number of side events at COP28 focusing on increasing ambition for climate action to protect marine and aquatic seafood in addition to the financing needed to support countries in better information that support unique adaptation measures along their coastlines.
 

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Ocean acidification: a threat to marine ecosystems and economies in the Commonwealth and beyond
Nov
14

Ocean acidification: a threat to marine ecosystems and economies in the Commonwealth and beyond

The ocean absorbs up to 30% of annual carbon emissions, resulting in a fall in the pH value of its seawaters, thus signifying a rise in their acidity. The past 20–30 years have seen a rapid increase in ocean acidification and, unless decisive actions are taken to mitigate this, it will continue to rise. This event will bring together policymakers, scientists and other ocean experts from within and outside of the Commonwealth to discuss this growing crisis. It will explore the threat ocean acidification poses to marine ecosystems; identify what’s at stake for economies, communities and individuals; and highlight best practices that can help stem its tide.

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OA Week 2023: Updates on Law and Policy Related to Ocean Acidification
Oct
31

OA Week 2023: Updates on Law and Policy Related to Ocean Acidification

Join us in our session at the Ocean Acidification week 2023!

The Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON) will be hosting OA week between 30 October- 3 November, 2023. This virtual symposium will bring together researchers across the world with sessions, plenary speakers, and engaging talks about ocean acidification research to support OA mitigation, adaptation and improved management of ocean and marine resources.


The OA Alliance will be hosting a session aiming to discuss: Updates on Law and Policy Related to Ocean Acidification. The session will include:

  • National OA Action Plans to support domestic climate, ocean, and marine management goals.

  • Projects designed to integrate OA information across mainstream policies in Europe and the Western Indian Ocean.

  • Update on OA aspects across UNFCCC, UN SDG 14 and Convention on Biological Diversity.

Date: Tuesday, 31 October, 2023

Time: 6am PST; 9am EST; 2pm BST; 3pm CET; and 11pm in Tasmania

Duration: 90 minutes

We will have speakers from NOAA’s OA Program alongside law and policy practitioners advancing OA projects in Europe and Africa. Learn more about OA Alliance projects: Exploring Marine Management And Policy Response To Ocean Acidification in the EU and Mapping OA Monitoring And Research Recommendations To Policy In Africa, respectively.

Save the date and register by following this link:

Ocean Acidification Week 2023 schedule

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Climate Week: Accelerating Implementation of U.S. Climate-Ocean Policy
Sep
18

Climate Week: Accelerating Implementation of U.S. Climate-Ocean Policy

Join us at Climate Week 2023!

This 90-minute meeting will bring together coastal U.S. states on the front lines of climate-ocean change to discuss turning policy priorities into aligned actions and shared investments.

Event Overview

 Federally, the U.S. has led domestic and international leadership on climate-ocean change knowledge and response.  On March 21, 2023  the U.S. government released President Biden’s  Ocean Climate Action Plan.

U.S. states have been transforming climate-ocean policy by assessing regional risks, prioritizing information needs, incorporating coastal habitats into climate mitigation planning, and formulating local actions to support coastal and community resilience.

 

This working meeting will bring together U.S. states and federal practitioners around the themes of blue carbon ecosystems; and climate resilient marine resources and coastal communities.

 

Outcomes include: (1) identification of shared priorities or state/regional needs;  (2) recommendations to the federal government in implementing related activities of the Ocean Climate Action Plan; (3) funding to support regional or state programs/ projects.

Register Your Interest Here.

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UNFCCC Ocean and Climate Dialogue
Jun
13
to Jun 14

UNFCCC Ocean and Climate Dialogue

Building upon previous editions, this year’s Ocean and Climate Dialogue 2023 is being held June 13-14 in Bonn, Germany as part of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice.  

The Dialogue will be co-facilitated by Chile and Canada and focus on: (1) the role of coastal ecosystem restoration, including blue carbon ecosystems; and (2) fisheries and food security in the context of climate change.

We know that UNFCCC bodies and mechanisms can be leveraged to ensure adequate and equitable investments in climate-ocean change information, gaps analysis, and capacity or technology transfer that result in better preparedness, mitigation, and adaptation choices for all Parties—particularly as relates to food security and sovereignty. 

The OA Alliance will be engaging in the upcoming Ocean and Climate Dialogue, sharing our recommendations to strengthen UNFCCC response to ocean warming, acidification, and deoxygenation.

Read OA Alliance Recommendations to the Dialogue here!

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Exploring Marine Management And Policy Response To Ocean Acidification
May
24

Exploring Marine Management And Policy Response To Ocean Acidification

Join Us For

A side meeting on the margins of European Maritime Day 2023

Exploring Marine Management and Policy Response to Ocean Acidification 

 

24 May 2023

7:30am-9:30am

Club House room at  Marina du Chateau (Quai Eric Tabarly, 29200 Brest, France)

www.marinasbrest.fr

 Overview

European Maritime Day 2023 (EMD) is taking place in Brest, France between 24-25 May. The EMD is being organised by the European Commission, the City of Brest, the Region of Brittany, the department of Finistère and the General Secretariat for the Sea. It will explore the current state of play on a broad range of issues concerning the blue economy and the marine environment and discuss ways of moving forward.  Specific themes include:

  • Aquaculture and fisheries

  • Responsible food systems and biodiversity

  • Marine research, innovation, technology and observation

  • Maritime Spatial Planning

  • Civil Society and stakeholder relations

To support these themes and advance the integration of climate change information across key European marine management frameworks, the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification (OA Alliance), OSPAR Convention Intersessional Correspondence Group on OA (ICG-OA), and NE Atlantic Hub of the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON) will convene a 2-hour meeting, “Exploring Marine Management and Policy Response to Ocean Acidification.”

Meeting Focus 

Themes of the workshop focus on maritime policies including the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and Water Framework Directive or national equivalents in non-EU member states; marine spatial planning; applying cumulative impact assessments to ecosystems-based management; safeguarding European marine economies in the context of climate change. 

The meeting will bring together policy and decision-makers across Europe for brief presentations and breakout discussions of:

  1. OA trends, biological impacts and threats to keystone fisheries and aquaculture within the Arctic, North Atlantic and Mediterranean.

  2. Reporting and OA recommendations by OSPAR's Intersessional Correspondence Group on OA (ICG-OA) in OSPAR’s Quality Status Report 2023 as well as national response strategies.

  3. EU and national ocean and marine policy frameworks (including the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Water Framework Directive and Marine Spatial Planning efforts) that can be leveraged to characterize, address, and minimize ocean and coastal acidification.

Who Should Attend: invitees include climate and environment policy leads, water quality and monitoring programs and marine managers representing delegations from European nations bordering a sea or ocean.

 

Why Attend: communities across the NE Atlantic, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Mediterranean Sea are already experiencing negative impacts of climate change on habitat and biodiversity, fisheries and aquaculture, economies, cultural practices, and livelihoods. These impacts will worsen in the future without interventions from managers and decision makers across marine, coastal and climate policy themes.

 

Ocean warming, acidification and deoxygenation have gained increasing recognition across international policy platforms including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN Sustainable Development Goal Agenda, Convention on Biological Diversity and High Seas Treaty.

To date, international science coordination has emphasized enhancing coastal observations, establishing regional baselines, contributing to global indicators, and broadly developing research around keystone species. 

While this work must continue across different scales, national governments and end-users can leverage and apply targeted information to support discrete choices about localized mitigation, adaptation, and preparedness strategies in the face of ongoing climate change. 

Specifically, OA information can be used to support or evaluate marine management targets, evaluate ecosystem-based approaches, assess cumulative impacts to EEZs and coastal zones, and tailor mitigation or adaptation responses to potential interference of ecosystem services caused by climate change.

Outcomes of Workshop: As the science, research and observed impacts of climate-ocean continue to grow, there is a need for increased knowledge exchange and expertise on the substance and process for developing local, regional, and national marine management and policy responses in the face of cumulative change.

Specific outcomes of this workshop include:

  • Exploring what role OA information should play in the updated Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

  • Improving understanding of ecosystem-based management and Good Environmental Status in the context of climate-ocean change.

  • Leveraging European (national or EU) management and policy frameworks to take-up regional seas conventions recommendations, such as those by OSPAR’s ICG-OA, and further prioritize ongoing Convention mandates or reporting on OA.

  • White paper recommendations/ suggested European marine management and policy mapping to support national governments and the European Commission in further integrating climate-ocean change information across myriad blue economy targets, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture goals, nature-based solutions, and coastal management decision frameworks.

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Mapping OA Monitoring and Research Recommendations to Policy in Africa
May
19

Mapping OA Monitoring and Research Recommendations to Policy in Africa

Join us for Mapping OA Monitoring and Research Recommendations to Policy in Africa

May 19 between 11:00am-1:00pm East Africa Time in Tanzania

The OA Alliance is partnering with the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) on a project that will contribute towards enhancing OA monitoring, research, and vulnerability assessments in the WIO region, by illuminating their relationship to consequential policy goals.

The discussion flows from a Western Indian Ocean Acidification OA monitoring project established by WIOMSA with regional institutions and experts.  The project resulted in the WIO OA report in 2022.  Next steps including expanding the monitoring programme and ensuring that these efforts will inform ocean policy, management and adaptation in the future. 

We would love to have you join us and learn more about this effort and implications for regional policy, management and funding. 

Please register via this google survey link so that we can send you the zoom link + agenda.  

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Our Ocean Conference: Meeting of Members and Partners
Mar
3

Our Ocean Conference: Meeting of Members and Partners

On March 3, the OA Alliance hosted a meeting of members and partners to discuss needs and opportunities for advancing OA actions across international and domestic agendas.

 

Attendees heard opening remarks from United States, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans, Fisheries and Polar Affairs, Professor Maxine Burkett who spoke about the need for ongoing climate ambition and integration of climate-ocean policies across mitigation and adaptation themes.   Professor Burkett spoke about the recently released U.S.  Ocean Climate Action Plan which aims to: (1) create a carbon-neutral future; (2) accelerate solutions that tap the power of natural coastal and ocean systems to absorb and store greenhouse gases, reduce the climate threat, and protect communities and ecosystems against unavoidable change; and (3) enhance community resilience.

 

The U.S. government’s commitment to developing an OA Action Plan is well defined on page 24 and page 44 of the new report.

 

OA Alliance Director, Ms.  Jessie Turner, gave an overview of activities, products and programmatic focus areas which support answering the following questions. 

 

What’s needed to advance ocean acidification leadership internationally?

·       UNFCCC Ocean and Climate Dialogue/ Adaptation and Financing Schemes

o   (Leveraging NDCs and NAPs)

·       Example solutions/ projects to address mitigation and adaptation needs

o   (SDG 14)

·       Increased financing at regional scales

o   (GEF/ GCF/ UNEP/Development Banks/ Private)

 

What’s needed to support OA Action Planning and preparedness domestically?

·       Regional monitoring and coastal information

·       Inventory of relevant policies and management mechanisms

·       Prioritization of highly vulnerable sectors and resources

·       Finance plan for implementation

 

Finally, the group engaged in a discussion lead by Dr. Richard Spinrad, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, United States NOAA and governmental colleagues in Norway, Germany, United Kingdom, Portugal, and Mexico alongside non-government partners like PEW Charitable Trust, The Ocean Foundation, World Resources Institute, Peace Boat and the Seattle Aquarium.

 

Topics of discussion included the need for increased examples of OA adaptation and resilience; better storytelling about the impacts and solutions to climate-ocean change; and identifying areas where OA information can guide management and policy including:

 

  • Nationwide or regional vulnerability assessments.

  • Strengthening early warning systems and climate preparedness strategies.

  • Guiding climate-response fisheries management plans.

  • Targeting areas for marine and coastal habitat restoration or conservation.

  • Enhancing coral reef health.

  • Determining effective aquaculture adaptation strategies.

  • Developing, testing, and deploying nature-based solutions.

  • Reducing nutrient run-off from specific sources.

  • Strengthening water quality regulations.

  • Aggressively and urgently reducing CO2 emissions.




 

Thank you to all our members and partners who are leading discussions around OA action taking!  

 

 Links to additional products and programmes referenced during the meeting:

OA Alliance  Submission to the UNFCCC Ocean and Climate Dialogue in 2022 + specific adaptation/ finance recommendations for same.

Climate Financing for Ocean Adaptation breakfast meeting summary, hosted during UNOC 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal

OA Research for Sustainability UN Decade program 

OA Action Plan Toolkit

Communications products/ posters

 

 

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Communicating OA And Climate-Ocean Change: Panel Discussion With Practitioner
Feb
22
to Mar 22

Communicating OA And Climate-Ocean Change: Panel Discussion With Practitioner

As interest in ocean acidification (OA) grows, we must be thinking about communicating OA for different audiences and outcomes, moving from describing “what is OA” and “why does OA matter” to “what can different actors do to address OA?”

On February 22, 2023 the OA Alliance hosted a webinar, ‘Communicating OA and Climate-Ocean Change’ in order to support our members and partners in developing calls to climate-ocean action.

It’s important that members of the OA Alliance have a strong narrative and understand the discrete outcomes they want to achieve through OA communication efforts.

The webinar provided an overview from the OA Alliance in developing calls to action. We shared learnings from participating in the 5th International Marine Science Communication Conference (CommOCEAN 2022).  And finally, we heard from practitioners who are working on OA communications projects at local, regional, and international scales.

Our guests:

  • Mr. Salesa Nihmei, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Meteorology and Climate Officer, NZ Pacific Partnership on OA.

  • Nancy Hotchkiss, Pathways Collaborative, Oregon OAH Council Communications Project.

  • Austin Pugh, Canadian Community of Practice on OA, DFO/ NOAA bi-lateral comms collaboration.

  • Dr. Martha Sutula, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project.

Key takeaways:

  • We must move from describing ‘what is OA’ and ‘why does it matter’, to ‘what can different actors do to address OA’–whether through climate mitigation and adaptation targets, policy integration, management decisions and regulations, or targeted monitoring and research. 

  • Audience, audience, audience. The most effective communications are demand driven, get to know your audience and understand their needs. What channels do they use to receive information? In what formats?

  • OA information and ‘calls to action’ are going to be discrete for different purposes, different actors and applicable at different scales.

  • The importance of cross-sectoral relationships, collaboration is key; scientists need support designing and achieving communications aspects of their projects.

  • The importance of Iteration, and consistency in our messages, climate-ocean narratives should be reinforced across the OA community of practitioners. We can make use of the communications tools already available to simplify our work.

  • Scicomms shouldn’t feel like an add-on or after thought to science, there should be more of an institutional culture to co-design comms with end users, promote and fund communications capacity.

  • Partners at SPREP in Samoa highlighted how communications are experienced in different ways depending on your context. In the Pacific region alone, there are about 2,000 distinct languages.  It’s important to understand appropriate words to describe OA or other climate-ocean impacts and solutions.

RESOURCES REFERENCED:

OA Alliance posters and infographics including:

How Does OA Impact Services that Humans Depend On?

How Do You Measure Ocean Acidification?

What Do Policy Makers Need to Know?

What Can Local Governments Do?

What Can You Do to Address Climate-Ocean Change?

New Zealand Pacific Partnership on Ocean Acidification; and outreach materials including OA posters several translations for Vanuatu, Kiribati, Fiji, Niue, Tonga, Tokelau and Samoa.

The Oregon Coordinating Council on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia (OAH Council) released its 2022 Biennial Legislative Report which includes actions taken by the Council as outlined in the State’s OAH Action Plan. In 2023, the OAH Council is taking on a larger communications project to identify audiences and calls to action associated with implementing and supporting the OAH Action Plan.

The Canadian Community of Practice on Ocean Acidification was initiated in 2018 and is sponsored by the Marine Environmental Observation Prediction and Response (MEOPAR) Network.  MEOPAR Communities of Practice bring together researchers, practitioners, policy-makers, and community members to share expertise, to learn, and to provide a space for discussion and co-production of knowledge. New resources are being released on specific projects that assess social and economic vulnerability of key species in Canada, including Atlantic Sea Scallops. Learn more and check out projects here.

Frameworks Publications and Guidelines: How to Talk about Climate Change and the Ocean

UNESCO Global Recommendations on Open Science

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OA Action Plans: Increasing ambition for climate action & transforming response to climate-ocean change
Nov
14

OA Action Plans: Increasing ambition for climate action & transforming response to climate-ocean change

Ocean Pavilion at COP27

14 November

3:00pm-4:30pm Egypt Time

OA Action Plans: Increasing ambition for climate action and transforming planning and response to climate-ocean change

 

Hosted by OA Alliance

Hear from National and subnational government leaders who are committed to creating “OA Action Plans” that integrate ocean relevant science, mitigation and adaptation efforts across mainstream climate policies and investments.

AGENDA

Welcome by Jessie Turner, Director of the OA Alliance

Opening Remarks

Dr. Ko Barrett, Senior Advisor for Climate at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Vice-Chair at Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

U.S. State of Washington, Governor Jay Inslee

 

Integrated Approaches to Climate-Ocean Action

Governments committed to OA Action Planning, describe various priorities, processes, policy relevance.  

 

Government of Chile- co-founder of the OA Alliance (invited)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Commitments to support OA monitoring expansion and policy integration across relevant ministries, departments and programs; engagement with Latin American OA Network as part of the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network and UN Decade OA programme.

 

Government of British Columbia, Canada- co-founder of the OA Alliance

Minister of Environment and Climate Change, The Honourable George Heyman MLA

Importance of provincial climate risk and vulnerability assessments to inform relevant strategies, climate and environmental stewardship objectives and socio-cultural relevance.  Integration of OAH Action Plan across climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience frameworks.

 

Government of Mozambique  (invited)

Ministry of Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries

In partnership with WIOMSA, Mozambique is part of ongoing monitoring pilot sites occurring in Kenya, Mauritius, Tanzania, Seychelles and South Africa.  Aims include the development of a network to: (1) establish a regional baseline for climate and ocean change information, and (2) contribute for socially relevant information for marine resource management.

 

National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Egypt

Dr. Nayrah Shaltout, Associate Professor of Marine Chemistry Marine Environmental Division and co-chair of OA Africa

Domestic and regional work on OA and significance to climate resilience and sustainable fisheries.

 

Government of the United Kingdom

Stephanie Ockenden, Head of Ocean and Climate Change Policy & International Evidence, Marine and Fisheries, Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs

Emphasis on seafood industry and coastal economies; commitment to OA Action Planning by exploring regional vulnerability assessments and priorities; emphasis on integrating OA across mainstream climate and marine management policies; international leadership through GOA-ON, Blue Planet Fund and Commonwealth Blue Charter.


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Subnational Leadership on Climate-Ocean Action: Assessing Risk and Deploying Local Response
Nov
12

Subnational Leadership on Climate-Ocean Action: Assessing Risk and Deploying Local Response

America Is All In Pavilion at COP27

12 November

11:30am-12:30pm Egypt Time

Subnational Leadership on Climate-Ocean Action:  Assessing Risk and Deploying Local Response

 

Co-hosted by OA Alliance & Pew Charitable Trusts

Hear from subnational leaders on the front lines of addressing climate-ocean change, who are using a variety of strategies to assess climate risk and information needs, leverage investments and formulate solutions that apply targeted science to management at local and regional scales.

AGENDA

Welcome and Introductions

Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, U.S. Congress, State of Oregon District 1

 

Policy: Assessing Climate-Ocean Risk

 Province of British Columbia, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, The Honourable George Heyman

State of California Insurance Commissioner, Office of Commissioner Ricardo Lara

 

Policy: Exploring Local Response Strategies

Administrator Michael Regan, U.S. EPA (invited

Senator John Laird (California Senate District 17)

Queen Quet, Gullah/ Geechee Nation

Jennifer Browning, Director, Conserving Marine Life in the US, Pew Charitable Trusts

Brad Ack, Executive Director, Ocean Visions

 
Power of subnational collaborations

The Ocean Conservancy, Director of Climate Policy, Anna-Marie Laura

OA Alliance, Director, Jessie Turner



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Gaps and needs for ocean-based climate action towards SDG14.3
Nov
9

Gaps and needs for ocean-based climate action towards SDG14.3

Pacific Pavilion at COP27

9 November

4:00pm-5:00pm Egypt Time

International finance opportunities: Gaps and needs for ocean-based climate action towards implementing SDG14.3

 

Co-hosted by Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Commonwealth Blue Charter, IOC-UNESCO, and OA Alliance

There is increasing urgency that nations reduce GHG and carbon emissions and support ongoing efforts to implement SDG 14.3, “to minimize and address impacts of ocean acidification.”  This event will highlight the science, policy, vulnerability assessment tools and funding mechanisms that are needed to achieve this step change.

AGENDA

Welcome and Opening Remarks 

Dr. Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and Assistant Director-General of UNESCO   

 

Moving from IPCC Assessment Reports to Regional Action on OA

Professor Stephen Widdicombe, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Science at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Co-chair of the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON) Executive Council and Co-lead on the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development endorsed programme Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability (OARS)   

 

Pacific Regional Priorities and Local Information for OA Response   

Anne-Claire Goarant, Climate Change and Environmental sustainability

The Pacific Community, New Caledonia

 

Utilizing Climate Vulnerability and Rapid Assessment Tools to Inform Priorities

Commonwealth Blue Charter Secretariat, Dr Nick Hardman-Mountford,

Head of Oceans & Natural Resources

 

Leveraging Climate Financing for Ocean Adaptation and Resilience

Ms. Jessie Turner, Director, International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification

 

 Commitments to OA Policy and Financing from Governments !




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Harnessing finance for addressing climate-ocean change
Nov
9

Harnessing finance for addressing climate-ocean change

Virtual Ocean Pavilion (LIVE)

REGISTER HERE:

https://cop27oceanpavilion.vfairs.com

9 November

2:00-3:00pm Egypt Time

Harnessing Finance for Addressing Climate-Ocean Change

 

Co-hosted by OA Alliance and Global Fund for Coral Reefs

Hear from national governments, Global Fund for Coral Reef and OA practitioners on the innovative interdisciplinary projects that will help us leverage climate finance for more holistic climate-ocean adaptation. 

AGENDA


Welcome and Overview of Agenda

Ms. Jessie Turner, Director, OA Alliance


Assessing Climate-Ocean Change, Vulnerability and Location Adaptation Needs

Dr. Sarah Cooley, Director of Climate Science, Ocean Conservancy; Coordinating Lead Author on Working Group II of the IPCC’s 6th Assessment Report 

 

Example of Ocean Adaptation Priorities and Needs in the Pacific Region

 Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP) on monitoring activities and information needs related to coral reef resilience strategies

Director General Nawadra, SPREP


Perspectives from Financing Entities, Private Finance Sector, and Innovative Demonstration Projects 

 Global Environment Facility–overview of coastal adaptation and resilience investments and priorities at GEF including the Least Development Countries Fund, wetlands restoration, shoreline protection and aquaculture projects.

  • Fareeha Iqbal, Senior Climate Change Specialist at Global Environment Facility 

Global Fund for Coral Reefs

  • Leticia Carvalho, Head of the Marine and Freshwater Branch, UN Environment Programme 

  • Dr. Fahd Al-Guthmy, Programme Director (Conservation Finance)

Private Finance Sector: Demonstration models for driving resilience-focused finance

  • Michel Zumstein, Executive Vice President, Lombard Odier

 

Closing Remarks: What’s Needed For Accelerating Bended Finance for Ocean Adaptation/ Resilience

  • Sylvie Goyet, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation



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OA Alliance at COP 27
Nov
9
to Nov 16

OA Alliance at COP 27

Join the OA Alliance at COP27 for the “implementation COP” taking place under the Egyptian Presidency in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt between 6 – 18 November 2022.

Our government and affiliate members will be engaging across events & negotiations to:

  • Accelerate GHG reduction commitments by 2030.

  • Emphasize ocean adaptation and resilience needs.

  • Increase finance and technical capacity for ocean & coastal efforts.

  • Showcase implementation of OA Action Plans, including practices to climate-ocean policy integration and regional collaboration.


Pacific Pavilion

9 November

4:00pm-5:00pm Egypt Time

International finance opportunities: Gaps and needs for ocean-based climate action towards implementing SDG14.3

 

Co-hosted by Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Commonwealth Blue Charter, IOC-UNESCO and OA Alliance

There is increasing urgency that nations reduce GHG and carbon emissions and support ongoing efforts to implement SDG 14.3, “to minimize and address impacts of ocean acidification.”  This event will highlight the science, policy, vulnerability assessment tools and funding mechanisms that are needed to achieve this step change.

 



America Is All In Pavilion

12 November

11:30am-12:30pm Egypt Time

Subnational Leadership on Climate-Ocean Action:  Assessing Risk and Deploying Local Response

 

Co-hosted by OA Alliance & Pew Charitable Trusts

Hear from subnational leaders on the front lines of addressing climate-ocean change, who are using a variety of strategies to assess climate risk and information needs, leverage investments and formulate solutions that apply targeted science to management at local and regional scales.



Ocean Pavilion

14 November

3:00pm-4:30pm Egypt Time

OA Action Plans: Increasing ambition for climate action and transforming planning and response to climate-ocean change

 

Hosted by OA Alliance

Hear from National and subnational government leaders who are committed to creating “OA Action Plans” that integrate ocean relevant science, mitigation and adaptation efforts across mainstream climate policies and investments.


 

Virtual Ocean Pavilion (LIVE)

9 November

2:00-3:00pm Egypt Time

Harnessing Finance for Addressing Climate-Ocean Change

 

Co-hosted by OA Alliance and Global Fund for Coral Reefs

Hear from national governments, Global Fund for Coral Reef and OA practitioners on the innovative interdisciplinary projects that will help us leverage climate finance for more holistic climate-ocean adaptation. 

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From Knowledge to Action: Communicating OA Science for Policy Makers.
Sep
16

From Knowledge to Action: Communicating OA Science for Policy Makers.

Side event of the 5th International Symposium on the Ocean in a High - CO2 World occurring September 12-16 in Lima Peru.

The Symposium follows the symposia in Paris in 2004, Monaco in 2008, Monterey in 2012, and Hobart in 2016, which were all key events for the international community of researchers studying ocean acidification and related stressors.  Dedicated sessions will emphasize processes and impacts as well as consequences for humans and their potential responses through policy and management.


Our special side event is confirmed for Friday, September 16 between 1730-1900 (530-700pm) at the Postgraduate School, Universidad Cientifica Del Sur/(Universidad Científica del Sur – Posgrado) C. Cantuarias 398, Miraflores 15074, Peru.

This interactive event will provide a fun and engaging way to close out a busy week and focus on three major themes:

1. What is OA Action?
2. How Might Government Led Policy or Priority Setting Help Accomplish This?
3. Leveraging Collaborations and Commitments


Please register at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/from-knowledge-to-action-communicating-oa-science-for-policy-makers-tickets-398978825407

Co-hosted by

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Taking Action to Address OA & Implement SDG 14.3
Jun
29

Taking Action to Address OA & Implement SDG 14.3


 Join us at the UN Ocean Conference 2022


Taking Action to Address Ocean Acidification & Implement SDG 14.3

June 29, 2022

14:30-15:45pm

Committee Room

Blue Zone, Altice Arena 

Co-Hosted By:

International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Commonwealth Blue Charter, IOC- UNESCO; IAEA Ocean Acidification International Coordination Center, the Global Ocean Acidification- Observing Network and the University of Washington.

Overview:
This event will highlight Voluntary Commitments made by governments and civil society for advancing OA policy, financing, literacy, science and innovation for management.

Invited speakers:

Lord Zac Goldsmith, Minister for Pacific and the Environment at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, United Kingdom (invited)

Dr. Richard Spinrad, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States (invited)

Dr. Mark Gold, Director of California Ocean Protection Council, State of California

Carleen Thomas, Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN)

Prof. Richard Bellerby, Chief Scientist Climate and Oceans, Norwegian Institute for Water Research; OARS co-champion    

Dra. Carla F. Berghoff, Programa “Dinámica del Plancton Marino y Cambio Climático, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero, Argentina

Dr. Jan Newton, co-chair of the University of Washington Ocean Acidification Center and co-chair of the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network.

Dr. Vladimir Ryabinin, IOC-UNESCO Executive Secretary

Representative from New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Representative from Canada Department of Ocean and Fisheries


There are multiple impacts of climate change to our ocean including ocean warming, acidification, deoxygenation, sea-level rise, more frequent and intense storms, marine heat waves, loss of marine life and habitat, climate variability, and changing circulation. Together, these impacts are causing harm by displacing people, damaging coastal ecosystems, communities and property, decreasing food security and sovereignty, impacting jobs and livelihoods and threating cultural practices and traditions.

Ocean acidification (OA) is a direct result of human-caused carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and is altering the chemical balance of seawater that marine life depends upon for proper functioning and survival. 

While we must drastically reduce CO2 emissions, there are actions that governments and civil society can and should be taking now that will allow for increased adaptation and resilience of vulnerable ecosystems and species, further bolstering the ability of human communities to cope with future change.

Enhancing local and regional knowledge of ocean and coastal risks and impacts— alongside understanding and engaging with coastal community priorities—will help inform the most meaningful management and response strategies. Global efforts are moving forward to provide society with the evidence needed to sustainably identify, monitor, mitigate and adapt to ocean acidification at relevant scales.

 

View Event →
International Climate Financing for Ocean Adaptation
Jun
27

International Climate Financing for Ocean Adaptation

Taking Place During UN Ocean Conference to Implement SDG 14

Working Breakfast Meeting

International Climate Financing for Ocean Adaptation and Resilience


Co-organized by:  International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification, Commonwealth Blue Charter the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, and the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network.

In partnership with:  UN Foundation, Prince Albert ll of Monaco Foundation and The Ocean Foundation.


Meeting Objective and Outcomes:

This working breakfast will bring together international and regional OA science and policy coordinating bodies, national government representatives, and major international climate finance regimes with charges to support countries in developing and implementing climate adaptation and resilience strategies that advance goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2030 Agenda.

 

Outcomes include further understanding of eligibility requirements for climate finance mechanisms for ocean acidification adaptation and community resiliency strategies.


To Express Interest, Please Email Jessie@OAalliance.org


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So, What is Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal Anyway?
Mar
22

So, What is Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal Anyway?

So, What is Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal Anyway? How Does It Relate to OA?

While reducing anthropogenic carbon emissions is the #1 action needed to combat OA, additional strategies may be needed to assist carbon sequestration and advance resilience building actions.
 
A new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine outlines six Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) approaches that are in need of further research and development. 
 
Join us for a 75-minute panel discussion with OA scientists, public and private sector about the research and investment needed to explore the utility of Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal strategies and how they relate to OA.

Co-hosted by the OA Alliance and The Ocean Foundation.
 

Register Here.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtd-mgrDIjGtz98S3Ul6HUm-ppn8kvXGAN

Featured Panelists:

  • Matthew Eisaman, Co-Founder and CTO, Ebb Carbon and Associate Professor, Stony Brook University

  • Dr. Jess Cross, Oceanographer, NOAA/PMEL, Artic Ocean Carbon

  • Romany Webb, Associate Research Scholar, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School; Committee on a Research Strategy for Ocean CDR and Sequestration, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine

  • Brad Ack, Executive Director, Ocean Visions

  • Mark J. Spalding, President, The Ocean Foundation

  • Dr. Sarah Cooley, Director of Climate Science, Ocean Conservancy



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Policy & Management for Addressing Climate-Ocean Change
Mar
10

Policy & Management for Addressing Climate-Ocean Change

The OA Alliance is part of two UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainability endorsed programs: Understanding and Addressing Ocean Acidification and Changing Ocean Conditions Through the Development of OA Action Plans,” project ID 8 and “Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability (OARS),” project ID 219.

Partners across the OARS UN Decade Program aim to expand OA monitoring and research that help decision-makers better understand climate impacts to marine resources and explore local actions that increase resilience.

Join the OA Alliance and The Ocean Foundation for an overview of our unique obligations within the OARS program: (1) identifying evidence and information needs for OA mitigation and adaptation; and (2) strengthening feedback loops that promote application of OA knowledge by policy makers and end-users.

March 10 at 7am PST/ 10am EST/ 4pm CET

Register in advance for this Satellite Event:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Psh67goKTmS-7URsCi4A6A

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Integrated Policies for ocean climate action: Building coastal resiliency in the u.S.
Nov
8

Integrated Policies for ocean climate action: Building coastal resiliency in the u.S.

U.S. State actors participated in a COP26 sid event, “Integrated Policies for Ocean Climate Action: Building Coastal Resiliency in the U.S.” hosted by the OA Alliance, PEW Charitable Trusts and Ocean Conservancy on November 8 at the U.S. Climate Action Center.

As drivers of local and regional strategies, U.S. states are on the forefront of increasing ambition for climate action, integrating ocean and climate policies and increasing effective management across our estuaries and shorelines in the context of climate change.

Featured Speakers:

  • Governor Jay Inslee, State of Washington

  • Governor Kate Brown, State of Oregon

  • NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program Director, Dr. Libby Jewett

  • Secretary of Natural Resources, Wade Crowfoot, State of California

  • Secretary of Environment, Ben Grumbles, State of Maryland

  • Chair of Department of Land and Natural Resources, Suzanne Case, State of Hawai’i

  • Senator Chris Lee, Hawai’i State Legislature

From left: Chair of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Suzanne Case, State of Hawai’i; Senator Chris Lee, Hawai’i State Legislature; Governor Kate Brown, State of Oregon; Governor Jay Inslee, State of Washington; Director of NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program, Dr. Libby Jewett; Secretary of Environment, Ben Grumbles, State of Maryland; Mr. Simon Reddy, PEW Charitable Trusts; Secretary of Natural Resources, Wade Crowfoot, State of California.

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Raising Ambition at COP26 to Deliver SDG 14.3
Nov
8

Raising Ambition at COP26 to Deliver SDG 14.3

The side event, “Raising Ambition at COP26 to Deliver SDG14.3: To Minimize and Address the Impacts of Ocean Acidification,” hosted at the Commonwealth Pavilion during COP26, brought together major world policy and scientific leaders to increase ambition, cooperation and investment to minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification and further support increased investments from all actors across the SDG and UNFCCC frameworks.

During the event, Oceano Azul and UN Environment Programme both announced they were joining the OA Alliance and further committing to action on SDG 14.3.

Featured speakers included:

  • Dr. Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and Assistant Director General of UNESCO

  • Hon Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN SGD Special Envoy for the Ocean

  • Ambassador Fiona Clouder, Regional Ambassador for Latin America and the Caribbean, United Kingdom

  • Professor Ricardo Serrão Santos, Minister of the Sea, Portugal

  • Deputy Director Toby Fisher, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Environment and Resources Law Program

  • Professor Steve Widdicombe, Co-Chair of the Global Ocean Acidification-Observing Network & Director of Science at Plymouth Marine Laboratory

  • Dr. Nick Hardman-Mountford, Head of Oceans & Natural Resources at The Commonwealth


With interventions from:

  • Dr. Libby Jewett, Director of U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Ocean Acidification Program, USA

  • Director Leticia Carvalho, Marine and Freshwater Branch, UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

  • Mr. Tiago Pitta e Cunha, CEO and Founder, Oceano Azul Foundation

  • Ms. Sylvie Goyet, Special Advisor, Prince Albert ll of Monaco Foundation

  • Office of Governor Jay Inslee, State of Washington, USA


Co-Hosted on November 8 by: International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, IOC- UNESCO in partnership with: IAEA Ocean Acidification International Coordination Center, the Global Ocean Acidification- Observing Network and The Ocean Foundation.

COP26 event, “Raising Ambition at COP26 to Deliver SDG 14.3: To Minimize and Address the Impacts of Ocean Acidification,” hosted at the Commonwealth Pavilion.

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Taller Sobre Clima, Biodiversidad Y Protección Marina En América Latina
Oct
21

Taller Sobre Clima, Biodiversidad Y Protección Marina En América Latina

In partnership with The Ocean Foundation, Latin America Ocean Acidification Observing Network, International Partnership on MPAs Biodiversity and Climate Change and the Chile California Council—the OA Alliance hosted a workshop on October 21 that aimed to:

  • Provide overview of high-level commitments to ocean climate action made across Latin America in advance of COP26.

  • Showcase regional science and monitoring networks working to document ocean change.

  • Share examples of policy frameworks and co-beneficial integrated management strategies related to coastal and marine protection.

    Speakers included:

    Ambassador Coutts, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chile; Sherpa of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy

    Andrew Rhodes Espinoza, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mexico and Sherpa of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy

    Dr. Cristian Vargas, Universidad de Concepcion, Chile—Co-Chair of the Latin American Ocean Acidification Monitoring Network

    Ms. Alejandra Navarrete, The Ocean Foundation

    Ms. Laura Cussen, Ministerio del Medio Ambiente, Gobierno de Chile

    Mr. Matias Alcalde, Director of the Chile California Council

    Mr. Remi Parmentier, Because the Ocean Initiative and Declaration

    Ms. Marcia Tambutti, Agricultural Development Unit, United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC/ CEPAL)

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Integrated Policies for Ocean Climate Action: Building Coastal Resiliency in the U.S.
Sep
21
to Dec 21

Integrated Policies for Ocean Climate Action: Building Coastal Resiliency in the U.S.

As part of Climate Week 2021 in concert with the UN General Assembly, the OA Alliance hosted a side event, “Integrated Policies for Ocean Climate Action: Building Coastal Resiliency in the U.S.” The event was co-hosted by Ocean Conservancy, National Caucus of Environmental Legislators and the Seattle Aquarium.


The event brought together federal partners and U.S. states who demonstrating the kinds of local actions, policy integration and regional cooperation that are needed to: (1) mobilize urgent action for reducing GHG emissions; and (2) help communities build resilience to climate-ocean change.

Speakers included :

  • U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere

  • Governor Jay Inslee of Washington State

  • Dr. Beth Kerttula, National Caucus of Environmental Legislators Board President and former Director of White House National Ocean Council

  • Janis Searles Jones, CEO of Ocean Conservancy

  • State Legislators from across the U.S.

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Advancing Climate and Ocean Action Through Art, Education and Outreach
Jun
10

Advancing Climate and Ocean Action Through Art, Education and Outreach

Join Us for UN World Ocean Day Event: Advancing Climate and Ocean Action Through Art, Education and Outreach

 

 1:00pm PST/ 4:00pm EST/ 10:00pm CET/ 9:00am in Samoa on June 11

Co-Hosted By: OA Alliance, Peace Boat US

 

60 minutes

 

Ocean Acidification Poetry, Samantha Jones

 

(1) Seattle Aquarium, Dr. Jim Wharton, Director of Conservation Engagement and Learning

·       Reaching the public through interactive learning experiences and place-based education 


(2) Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Dr. Duncan McIntosh, Oceanography Officer

·       Community driven adaptation projects, ocean acidification posters as communication tools

 

(3) Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, William Pardis and Kalina Grabb

·       Instruments (pHyters) as tools for community engagement and measuring ocean change

 

(4) Gullah/Geechee Nation, Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/ Geechee Nation

·       Ocean acidification action plan, videos and infographics—global to local connections

 

(5) Oceano Azul, Mr. Sam Collins, Project Manager

·       Importance of ocean literacy in school curriculum

 

Panel discussion facilitated by Ms. Jessie Turner, OA Alliance

Concluding Remarks:  Emilie McGlone, Peace Boat US

·       UN World Ocean Day Mission and 2021 themes

·       The Importance of ocean communications and literacy

·       The importance of keeping up progress to implement UN SDG 14 and UN SDG 13

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Implementing UN SDG 14.3—Protecting Communities and Livelihoods from the Threat of a Changing Ocean
Jun
8

Implementing UN SDG 14.3—Protecting Communities and Livelihoods from the Threat of a Changing Ocean

Join Us for UN World Oceans Day Event: Implementing UN SDG 14.3

12pm PST/ 3pm EST/ 9pm CET

Co-Hosted by: OA Alliance and The Ocean Foundation

In 2021, it is imperative that governments and civil society continue to advance the suite of science and policy actions that will be needed to support food security and sovereignty, increase resilience of marine ecosystems and build a sustainable ocean economy in the face of future change.

 This is reflected in the UN Sustainable Development Goal Agenda and target SDG 14.3, to “Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification.”  As the science, research and observed impacts of ocean acidification continue to grow, there is a continued need for increased knowledge exchange and expertise on the substance and process for developing local, regional and national responses in the face of cumulative ocean change.


Hello and Introduction of Agenda:

Jessie Turner, OA Alliance and Alexis Valauri-Orton, The Ocean Foundation

 

Ocean Acidification Poetry: Samantha Jones

 

Opening Remarks: United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean Ambassador Peter Thomson

 

Understanding and Addressing Ocean Acidification in Latin America

Dra. Carla F. Berghoff, Latin American Ocean Acidification Observing Network Co-Chair

o   Creation and role of the Latin American OA Network (LAOCA)


Ocean Acidification Leadership in Argentina

Ministerial Representative, Argentina

o   Relevance of key projects in Argentina

 

Climate and Ocean Change, Tribal Government Treaty Rights, and Food Sovereignty

Councilman Chad Bowechop, Makah Tribal Council

o   Significance of ocean health and ocean life to the Makah Tribe

o   Tribal Treaty Rights guarantees

o   Impacts of Climate and Ocean Change to Tribal Treaty Rights and access to healthy, abundant resources


National Government Leadership on Ocean Acidification

Representative, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, New Zealand

o   New Zealand UN SDG 14.3 commitment to create the NZ Pacific Partnership on OA

o   Joining the OA Alliance and drafting a National OA Action Plan

o   Commonwealth Blue Charter OA Working Group and Policy Maker Handbook

 

Climate Change in the Mediterranean and Actions to Understand and Address Ocean Acidification

Dr. Abed El Rahman HASSOUN, OA- Med HUB Coordinator

o   Brief overview of the regions’ relationship to the ocean (economy, culture, security)

o   Creation and role of the OA Mediterranean Hub

o   Members, key projects and knowledge gaps, examples of existing projects 


Keeping Up Momentum to Implement UN SDG 14.3

Dr. Peter Swarzenski, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) OA International Coordination Centre

o   Call to Register Updated Voluntary Commitments

o   Supporting UN Decade of Ocean Science

o   Significance of COP26

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Blue Water Summit
Jun
7

Blue Water Summit

OA Alliance at the Blue Water Summit

The Blue Water Summit will broadcast live for one day and will feature nine hours of content gathering more than 50+ of the world’s leading spiritual and environmental thought leaders, ocean advocates, and storytellers, celebrating UN – World Oceans Day, June 8th.

The Blue Water Summit is designed to encourage our global family to think broadly about the ongoing dramatic effects of climate change — and more specifically that 71% of our planet Earth is water. She is our Blue Pearl and we must think more deeply about the universal concerns and actions needed to bring us into balance.

Register here: https://bluewatersummit.org

 

Ocean and Coastline Health in a Changing Climate"

2:00pm PST/ 5:00pm EST

  • OA Alliance has been invited to program “ocean and coastline health in a changing climate” 1 hour segment.


Hello and Introductions: Ms. Jessie Turner, Director of the OA Alliance

Opening Remarks:  United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean Ambassador Peter Thomson  

  •  Climate-ocean nexus

  • Importance of sustaining leadership on SDG 14

  • Importance of integrating ocean mitigation and adaptation across climate commitments

 

Facilitated Panel:  Moderated by Ms. Jessie Turner, OA Alliance

 

  • Department of the U.S. Navy

    • Garth Nagel, AICP, LEED-AP, Senior Planner


  • National Oceanic Atmospheric Institution (NOAA)

    • Dr. Michael Acquafredda, Ocean Acidification Program


  • California Ocean Protection Council

    • Dr. Justine Kimball, Climate Change Program 


  • Secretariat for the Pacific Region Environment Program, Samoa

    • Mr. Espen Ronneberg, Climate Change Adviser


  • Chile California Council

    • Mr. Matias Alcalde, Director

 

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