EMB’s 5th Forum, the Oce
an-Climate Nexus took place yesterday in the European Parliament in Brussels. Hosted by MEP and former EMB vice-Chair, Ricardo Serrão Santos, and in the context of the upcoming COP21 talks, the Forum focused on the critical role of ocean science as part of the societal response to climate change. The Forum programme featured presentations from HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and President of the US based Consortium for Ocean Leadership, Sherri Goodman, delivered via video message. Scientific presentations covered ocean circulation and climate change (Mojib Latif, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR), Germany) and ocean acidification and its impacts on marine ecosystems (Ceri Lewis, University of Exeter, UK). A key output of the Forum was the Ocean Nexus Consensus Statement. Presented at the Forum by lead author Michael Schulz (Centre for Marine Environment Sciences (MARUM), Germany), the Consensus Statement was drafted by a working group nominated from EMB member organizations and the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, and reflects a consensus view from marine research communities in Europe and North America on the key priorities for ocean research in the context of global change. Following the presentation of the Consensus Statement a panel discussion took place featuring the speakers who were joined by Vladimir Ryabinin (Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanography Commission of UNESCO) and Andrea Tilche (Head of the Climate Action and Earth Observation Unit, European Commission). A full recording of the Ocean-Climate Nexus event is available for viewing here.
Picture features from left to right: Andrea Tilche (European Commission), Mojib Latif (GEOMAR, Germany), MEP Ricardo Serrão Santos (European Commission), Ceri Lewis (University of Exeter, UK), Jan Mees (VLIZ, Belgium), Michael Schulz (MARUM, Germany), Vladimir Ryabinin (IOC UNESCO).