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