The event is co-hosted by the IAEA, OA Alliance, and NOAA in partnership with GOA-ON and OARS.
This event is open to all conference participants, and will feature discussion focused on the need for OA awareness, the importance of capacity building programs in increasing regional science and policy response, pathways forward for OA Action and commitments to OA Actions under the UN Decade of Ocean Science.
The Ocean is a victim of ocean acidification, ocean warming and oxygen loss, resulting in severe consequences for marine ecosystems and the communities and societies who depend on them. But the Ocean, covering 70% of Earth’s surface, can also be a vital part of the solution and our ally to mitigate and adapt to climate change. This half day event will delve into the latest research on climate change impacts on the ocean and discuss potential ocean-based approaches to help address them, alongside imperative efforts to reduce emissions. Moderated panel discussions with experts from science, economy, conservation, policy and business will debate the potential benefits and disadvantages of such measures, with a special focus on protecting and restoring blue carbon ecosystems (a nature-based approach) and on “ocean alkalinity enhancement”, the addition of alkaline materials to the sea with the goal to increase the ocean’s potential to absorb carbon (a technological approach).Continue reading ‘Marine carbon dioxide removal: from blue carbon to ocean alkalinity enhancement (text & video)’
“The Monaco Ocean Week provides a unique forum for discussions, meetings, experimentation and opportunity” (HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco)
Monaco’s historical commitment to the ocean
Marine ecosystem awareness and conservation have been an integral part of the Principality of Monaco’s history since the end of the 19th century. Passionate explorer and dedicated scientist, Prince Albert I, was one of the founders of modern oceanography.
Commitment to the oceans has continued throughout the 20th century; a perfect example being when France, Monaco and Italy signed the RAMOGE Agreement in 1976 to protect Mediterranean coastal waters. The Principality of Monaco was one of the very first States to sign the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982.
When the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation was created in June 2006, Monaco immediately adopted solid commitments such as the 2008 appeal to stop Mediterranean bluefin tuna consumption (at the time in danger of becoming extinct) and the 2009 Monaco declaration on ocean acidification, in cooperation with 150 scientists from 26 countries. The Foundation also created the Monaco Blue Initiative (MBI) in 2010: a thinktank where members focus on current and future global ocean management and conservation issues. In 2013 we created an Environmental Fund to manage Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean. The BeMed project was launched in 2015 to combat plastic pollution in the Mediterranean; during the Paris COP21 we played a key role in the edition of the Because the Ocean climate regulation declaration by highlighting the importance of the ocean in climate regulation – the declaration has now been signed by 33 countries; and in 2016, the Principality of Monaco initiated the IPCC Special Report on oceans and cryosphere which was officially launched in Monaco in past September 2019.
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Ocean conservation takes centre stage at the Monaco ocean week
The need for a week of meetings, debates and mobilisation for the ocean was blatantly obvious: leading marine sector stakeholders need to share their key marine environment conversation findings and take action to preserve the oceans. During the next edition of the Monaco Ocean Week, from 18 to 22 March 2024, local and international experts, the scientific community, voluntary sector, and public authorities will once again unite in the Principality of Monaco.
Over the past editions, many ocean initiatives were presented and key commitments were sealed, such as the Monaco Manifesto for the Ocean published and signed by HSH the Sovereign Prince with the French and Italian ministers in charge of the marine environment. Furthermore with the signature of the Sanctuary Pelagos headquarters’ agreement and the Natural Marine World Heritage in the Arctic Ocean publication’s launch highlighting seven sites in the Arctic region that might be of outstanding universal value and potentially eligible for World Heritage status.
The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is essential to slow down the velocity of climate change. Likewise, the complementary implementation of other mitigation and adaptation strategies is equally important to increase environmental, social, and economic resilience. In coastal areas, one strategy is to focus conservation and management actions on foundation species of marine macrophytes, such as seagrasses and macroalgae. First, the capacity of these ecosystems to store carbon in the long term (blue carbon) makes them important carbon sinks at global scales. Second, their capacity to enhance organisms’ resilience, by minimizing environmental stress through the generation of chemical habitats, makes them important ecosystems to consider as local ocean acidification refugia. However, the complexity and high dynamism of biogeochemistry in coastal seawater, and the scarcity of comprehensive studies, have created uncertainty regarding the generality of potential benefits. Thus, the role of seagrass and macroalgal ecosystems as climate change refugia or hotspots of carbon sequestration is largely unresolved. This talk will show a synthesis of the latter research on these topics and will give a glance at how these concepts can also be applied to seaweed aquaculture as an effective measure to fight climate change in coastal areas.
Join us for a discussion about “Exploring Our Changing Ocean: Impacts and Response to Ocean Acidification in the US,” a collaborative project supporting aquaria in place-based storytelling about the importance of addressing climate change in communities they serve.
Who:
Juliana Corrales, Communications Lead and Creative Consultant for the OA Alliance
Edith Mari, Project Co-Creator and Consultant for the OA Alliance
Dr. Liz Perotti, NOAA Ocean Acidification Program Education and Outreach Coordinator
Leaders representing U.S. aquarium within the Aquarium Conservation Partnership
Kirstin Wakefield, Co-Coordinator of the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Acidification Network
The GOA-ON SAROA hub will be hosting an international meeting on Feburary 1-2 2024 in Kolkata, India focusing on ocean acidification and linking science with society. Several international experts are invited to give their perspectives on this critical topic, including Dr. Vengatesen Thiyagarajan, Prof. Steve Widdicombe, and Prof. Jan Newton.
The GOA-ON SAROA hub will be hosting an international meeting on Feburary 1-2 2024 in Kolkata, India focusing on ocean acidification and linking science with society. Several international experts are invited to give their perspectives on this critical topic, including Dr. Vengatesen Thiyagarajan, Prof. Steve Widdicombe, and Prof. Jan Newton.
The GOA-ON SAROA hub will be hosting an international meeting on Feburary 1-2 2024 in Kolkata, India focusing on ocean acidification and linking science with society. Several international experts are invited to give their perspectives on this critical topic, including Dr. Vengatesen Thiyagarajan, Prof. Steve Widdicombe, and Prof. Jan Newton.
The GOA-ON SAROA hub will be hosting an international meeting on Feburary 1-2 2024 in Kolkata, India focusing on ocean acidification and linking science with society. Several international experts are invited to give their perspectives on this critical topic, including Dr. Vengatesen Thiyagarajan, Prof. Steve Widdicombe, and Prof. Jan Newton.
The ocean is the planets’ largest carbon reservoir. Interest in using marine spaces to facilitate CDR for climate change mitigation must be based on solid science and address environmental impacts, risks, co-benefits, technical feasibility, cost effectiveness and political/societal acceptance.
Speakers: Christopher Pearce (NOC, UK); Shaun Fitzgerald (Cambridge, UK); Ken Buesseler (WHOI, USA); David Koweek (Ocean Visions, USA); Margret Leinen (Scripps, USA); Paul Holtus (WOC, USA); Sarah Cooley (Ocean Conservancy, USA); Nianzhi Jiao (Xiamen, China); Miranda Böttcher (SWP, Germany)
UN Climate Change – Events, YouTube, 11 December 2023. Video & text.
The IAEA Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre (OA-ICC) held an engaging event addressing ocean acidification impacts and solutions on the sidelines of this year’s UNFCCC climate conference (COP28) at Expo City Dubai, UAE. The side event highlighted the success stories and lessons learned, emphasized current and projected challenges to marine food chains, human sustenance, economic activities and seafood security, and discussed sustainable pathways for effective adaptation and mitigation solutions.
Date and time: 3 December 2023, 14:00-15:45 (GMT +4)
Location: Blue Zone, IAEA “Atoms4Climate” Pavilion, Zone B7, Building 88 (watch online streamed via YouTube here)
Event description:
The abundant coral reefs found in the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, which provide countless ecosystem services for millions of inhabitants of coastal areas, are some of the most climate change-vulnerable ecosystems in the global ocean. Since 2012, the IAEA Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre (OA-ICC) has successfully collaborated with scientific communities and governance structures in the region to address ocean acidification. The side event will highlight the success stories and lessons learned, emphasize current and projected challenges to marine food chains, human sustenance, economic activities and seafood security, and discuss sustainable pathways for effective adaptation and mitigation solutions.
The IAEA Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre (OA-ICC) joined this year’s Virtual Ocean Pavilion running on the sidelines of the UNFCCC COP28 in Dubai, UAE, from 22 November to 12 December 2023.
Our exhibition booth, located under the Exhibit Hall area of the pavilion, offers all visitors relevant information on the main project activities in the areas of science, capacity building and communication, also emphasizing the role that the IAEA plays in ocean acidification research through the use of nuclear sciences and technology, its leadership in coordinated global action and potential solution design. The booth gives access to useful resources developed under the project (news stream, bibliographic database, data compilation on the biological response to ocean acidification), publications, videos and links to other relevant information platforms curated by OA-ICC’s partners.
Dr Richard A. Feely, NOAA Senior Fellow at the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, will give lecture on the chemical and ecological impacts of ocean acidification.
Please join us on Friday, Dec. 1, at 11:30 a.m. in Trabant Theater for a special School of Marine Science and Policy seminar on the chemical and ecological impacts of ocean acidification: “The Combined Effects of Ocean Acidification and Respiration on Habitat Suitability for Marine Calcifiers Along the West Coast of North America”.
The lecture will be followed by a reception in Trabant Multipurpose Rooms A/B.
The GOA-ON South Asia Regional Hub on Ocean Acidification (SAROA) will hold its fourth in a dedicated series webinar later this week. The invited guest speaker, Dr Patrick Martin, Associate Professor at the Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, will address the broader topic of changes in the coastal carbonate system in the region. The main focus of Dr Martin’s research is carbon cycling and understanding how it is processed biogeochemically at sea and what effects it may exert on marine communities and ecosystems.
Location:Old City Hall, 121 Prospect Street, Bellingham, 98225 United States
Join Dr. Brooke Love, oceanographer, and WWU associate professor, for a discussion about how ocean acidification and climate change are unfolding in our local Washington waters. Ocean acidification is driven by the carbon dioxide being added to the atmosphere, which then changes the chemistry of the oceans. These changes can influence how hard it is to make a shell or how easy it is for plants and algae to grow. Ocean acidification can affect anything from the survival of tiny oysters to the sense of smell in fish, affecting marine food webs in varied and unpredictable ways. Brooke will teach us about some of the more common responses among different kinds of organisms in the Salish Sea, and she will also tell us how people and policymakers are addressing these oceanic changes.
We are excited to share the launch of the COP28 Virtual Ocean Pavilion, a free to access online platform dedicated to raising the visibility of the ocean and showcasing why the ocean matters in climate negotiations and to all life on our planet. You can access live and on–demand ocean and climate events, including high level speakers, explore exhibition booths, watch on-location COP28 reporting and interviews with delegates, take educational quizzes, earn certifications of attendance, access valuable networking opportunities and discover the treasure trove to learn more about the ocean and climate connection. The pavilion aims to democratize the ocean at COPs and promote unity and inclusivity, whilst increasing knowledge, commitment, and action for the ocean-climate nexus at key events during the UN Climate Conference (COP28) in Dubai, UAE, 30 November-12 December 2023. It is also a key tool in increasing transparency and equitable access to climate discussions and information. To aid this process you can find an overview of the ocean events taking place at the COP28 itself with livestreaming links where available.
The COP28 Virtual Ocean Pavilion is in its third year running and co-organized by the Global Ocean Forum and Plymouth Marine Laboratory with further collaborating partners from across the globe. The diversity of organizers and collaborating partners ensures a wide range of perspectives on ocean and climate issues and provides opportunities for forging cross-sectoral cooperation and collaboration on ocean-climate action at the national, regional, and global levels.
The continued growth of CO2 emissions poses a grave threat to marine species, food chains and economies in the form of ocean acidification. 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 stem emissions, it will continue to rise. This will have detrimental impacts on the chemistry of the oceans, threatening the well-being of the marine ecosystems, coastal industries and the human communities that depend on them.
Commonwealth countries are highly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of ocean acidification. Of the 56 Commonwealth members, 49 have marine coastlines, and 25 are small island developing states (SIDS). Around the United Kingdom, the effects have already started to show in the North Atlantic Ocean and seas of the North-West European Shelf, putting many marine species and the fishery industry at high risk. Recognising the gravity of the threat, the Commonwealth Blue Charter established an Ocean Acidification Action Group, under the leadership of New Zealand, to address its impacts and share knowledge about how to mitigate them.
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 14 calls for conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources. One of its key targets is to address and minimise the impacts of ocean acidification through co-operation at all levels. The Blue Charter’s Ocean Acidification Action Group has taken actions in support of this, including the publication of a policy handbook to assist Commonwealth governments. But there is much more to do.
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.
Ocean acidification: Time for action is a report written by Economist Impact for Back to Blue, an initiative of Economist Impact and The Nippon Foundation. The purpose of this report is to highlight the organisational efforts being taken by national and subnational governments, as well as other organisations, to address the threat to marine ecosystems posed by ocean acidification and the role of action plans in those efforts Read the report here: https://backtoblueinitiative.com/ocea…
ABOUT THE BACK TO BLUE INITIATIVE ‘Back To Blue’ marries Economist Impact’s global audience and its reputation for objective, independent analysis with The Nippon Foundation’s global reputation for supporting ocean science, data and evidence. This unique initiative aims to have a measurable impact on ocean health.
Date and time: Tuesday, 14 November 2023, 3-7 pm GMT (in-person) / 3-6 pm GMT (YouTube)
Location: Marlborough House, Commonwealth Headquarters, London / online (YouTube)
Ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference COP28, experts and government officials will discuss the ongoing threat of ocean acidification, and its damaging impacts on marine and coastal ecosystems, blue food systems and sustainable blue economies.
This event will take place in person at Marlborough House, the Commonwealth headquarters in London, and also broadcast live on YouTube.
Our session is aimed at using work from around the region, especially with the latest update from OSPAR, to discuss linkages between science and policy, discuss improvements for future regional assessments, discuss good dataset coverage, including getting an update on the development of regional CRMs. We aim to inspire the NEA hub community to coordinate monitoring and data efforts, but also to inspire other regional hubs to conduct monitoring in a policy context.
Moderator
Helen Findlay
Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UK
Speakers:
Jos Schilder
Rijkswaterstaat (NL)
Jessie Turner
OA Alliance
Exploring Marine Management and Policy Response to OA in Europe
Maribel I. García-Ibáñez
Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM), CSIC, Spain
Progress towards an integrated carbonate system reference material production system in Europe
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