COMMITMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
our ocean conference
Ocean Acidification was raised as a major issue at the 1st Our Ocean Conference in 2014. Active scientific research and coordination on OA has been occurring since the early 2000s and progress has been made in bringing OA to the attention of policy makers and reflected across international policy development. This includes inputs into the IPCC, UNFCCC, UN Sustainable Development Goal Agenda, and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Several science and policy leaders were instrumental in ensuring that OA and other climate change impacts were highlighted across the Conference agenda and communicated in briefing documents for policy makers.
The OA Alliance was launched in 2016 at the 2nd Our Ocean Conference held in Washington D.C. under the leadership of then U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
The 7th Our Ocean Conference took place in Palau on April 13th and 14th of 2022, co-hosted by the governments of the Republic of Palau and the United States. Building on momentum of previous Our Ocean Conferences, the OA Alliance was proud to make ambitious new commitments to advancing OA policy, financing and coordination including:
Support the creation of 10 new national & subnational OA Action Plans.
Support national government members in seeking climate-ocean financing through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Green Climate Fund (GCF).
Share and promote inclusion of ocean acidification mitigation and adaptation actions throughout the UNFCCC, the Global Stocktake, UN Sustainable Development Goals 13 (climate) and 14 (ocean) and the UN Decade of Ocean Science OARS programme.
On March 2-3, 2023 the OA Alliance attended the 8th Our Ocean Conference which took place in Panama City, Panama. The Conference was the first OOC hosted by a Central American country and supported dialogues between heads of state, private sector, civil society, and academic institutions with special emphasis on implementation of actions that protect our ocean and coastal communities.
Executive Director of the OA Alliance, Ms. Jessie Turner, was an invited panelist on March 2 focusing on climate change, impacts, solutions, and response strategies. During her remarks Ms. Turner shared:
“OA is quickly moving from a science and technical issue to a policy and resource management issue—this comes with challenges, but also opportunities.
There are things that governments and non-government actors can be doing now that will increase adaptation and resilience of vulnerable ecosystems or species and the human communities that depend on them.
We need ensure OA information is continually underpinning decisions across climate, marine and coastal management agendas and seafood grower practices.”
Additional panelists included:
Vladimir Ryabinin - Executive Secretary and Deputy Director General of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO Panelists
H.E. Steffi Lemke - Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, Germany
H.E. Miguel Ceara Hatton - Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Dominican Republic
Ms. Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF Development Bank of Latin America
Ms. Aulani Wilhelm, Assistant Director for Ocean Conservation, Climate and Equity at the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President
Ms. Melissa Garvey, Global Director, Ocean Protection, The Nature Conservancy
Laura Dihuignidili Huertas Thompson – Guna Yala Indigenous Coastal Community
On March 3, 2023, 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.
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.