Marine conservation in the fight against climate change

On July 26, 2023, the Columbia Global Center’s Climate Hub in Rio de Janeiro will host the event "Ocean and Climate – Marine Conservation in the Fight Against Climate Change in Brazil". The discussion will provide an overview of the ocean’s critical link to climate and will outline concrete actions that can be taken in the region to mitigate the impacts of climate change on marine and coastal ecosystems. This includes the importance of creating protected marine areas, reducing marine pollution, and recovering degraded areas as priority actions in reducing anthropic impacts and increasing the resilience of ecosystems in the face of climate change. 

The event will be live-streamed from 10 am to 1:30 pm (Brasilia time). No prior registration is required.

“The climate debate needs to look at the relevance of the oceans in temperature regulation and the impact of the effects of the climate crisis on marine life. We don't preserve what we don't know.”, said Camila Pontual, project manager at the Climate Hub Rio.

In 2021, the United Nations announced the Decade for Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Several initiatives have been promoting the Ocean's fundamental role in producing oxygen and food and for climate regulation. Many have already understood why we need to protect it.

Among the guests are authorities, specialists, and leaders in the environmental area, such as:

• Sylvia Earle, oceanographer, and Mission Blue founder
• Sergio Besserman, Climate Reality Project Brazil
• Ana Paula Prates, Director at Brazil's Ministry of Environment
• Alexandre Turra, USP Oceanography Professor
• Anna Carolina Lobo, WWF-Brazil Conservation Manager

The event is co-organized by Climate Hub Rio, Ilhas do Rio Project, and the Marine Life Nucleus of the Municipal Secretary for the Environment and Climate of Rio de Janeiro.

PROGRAM

10:30 to 11:20 - Panel 1: The Interconnectivity of the Ocean
Moderator: Dr. Jemilli Viaggi (Clean Ocean Network - RJ, UNESCO Chair for Ocean Sustainability)

Speakers:
Dr. Leticia Cotrim (University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rede CLIMA)
Dr. Priscila Lange (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro)
MSc. Camila Pontual (Climate Hub | Rio, Columbia Global Centers)

11:20 to 12:10 - Panel 2: The ocean we want – a Shift from Desire to Action
Moderator: Prof. Sergio Besserman (Climate Reality Project Brazil)

Speakers:
Specialist Anna Carolina Lobo (WWF-Brazil)
Dr. Alexandre Turra (Oceanographic Institute - USP; UNESCO Chair for Ocean Sustainability)
Dr. Ana Paula Prates (Department of Ocean and Coastal Management/SMC/MMA)

12:10 to 12:30 - Coffee break

12:30 to 13:10 – Keynote speeches by the special guests
Dr. Sylvia Earle (Founder of the International Mission Blue Alliance)
Hélio Wanderley (Undersecretary for Biodiversity, Municipal Secretary for the Environment Climate of the City of Rio de Janeiro)