Workshop on Climate, Biodiversity and Marine Protection in Latin America

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)

The workshop was tailored for government and policy leaders from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama and Peru.   Suitable for climate and environment leads, water quality and monitoring programs and marine managers.

Regions and local communities are already experiencing the impacts of climate change to fisheries and aquaculture, food security, economies and livelihoods and cultural practices and traditions. Multiple high-level reports through the IPCC, FAO and other climate, biodiversity and ocean fora confirm these impacts will worsen in the future without urgent action.

 In the coming decade, it is imperative that governments and civil society continue to advance 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 targets set forth under the UNFCCC, UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Convention Framework on Biodiversity and government commitments to entities like the High Ambition Coalition, Race to Zero, High-Level Ocean Panel, Because the Ocean Initiative, OA Alliance and more.