Overview
The annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP) will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from November 30 to December 12, 2023.
The Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI), led by Dalhousie University, will elevate the role of the ocean in the fight against climate change by convening events and meetings with leaders in science, industry, policy, and philanthropy.
The need for an ocean observing system
Armed with our new $400 million Transforming Climate Action research program that will investigate the role of the ocean in climate change, OFI will push to expand and improve ocean observations worldwide to:
- improve climate forecasting to inform government and industry climate strategies
- enable responsible marine carbon dioxide removal to achieve climate mitigation at scale
The strategic place to start is with our proposed North Atlantic Carbon Observatory (NACO). The Observatory would provide permanent and urgently needed ocean observations in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The role of the ocean in climate change
The ocean plays a critical role in regulating Earth’s climate. It has absorbed more than 90 per cent of the excess heat and almost 30 per cent of the excess carbon dioxide caused by human activity.
Consequences of these changes include extreme weather events, rising sea levels, ocean acidification, coral reef mortality, and an increase in low-oxygen zones. Despite this, international investment in ocean observing systems has not kept pace with the need for critical information to guide decision-making.
The urgency
As the planet continues on a path to exceed 1.5°C increase over pre-industrial temperatures, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has concluded that society will need to bolster emissions cuts with carbon dioxide removal to meet the goals laid out in the Paris Agreement.
To achieve this responsibly and successfully, the world needs baseline ocean data, which can only be achieved through robust and integrated ocean observation.
North Atlantic Carbon Observatory
(Co-organized with GEOMAR)
The North Atlantic has absorbed about 30 per cent of anthropogenic carbon. It is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Despite relevant initiatives, an integrated and coordinated international observing system does not exist today.
A North Atlantic Carbon Observatory (NACO) would connect and enhance ocean observation and modelling efforts to allow for more measurements of the ocean’s ability to absorb and store carbon, creating stakeholder-relevant information.
Panelists
Dr. Emmanuel Salmon (moderator)
Head of Strategy & International Cooperation, Integrated Carbon Observation System
Dr. Toste Tanhua
Senior Scientist, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Dr. Ed Hill
Chief Executive Officer, National Oceanography Centre
Dr. Anya Waite
Chief Executive Officer and Scientific Director, Ocean Frontier Institute
Co-Chair, Global Ocean Observing System
Dr. Wilfried Rickels
Director, Global Commons and Climate Policy, Kiel Institute for the World Economy
Dr. Antoine Petit
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, French National Centre for Scientific Research
Earth Information Day
(Organized by UNFCCC)
Earth Information Day will provide a dialogue for exchanging information on the state of the global climate system and developments in systematic observation. It will include a plenary session with an opening segment and three panel sections, as well as a World Café (WC) session.
Our Chief Executive Officer and Scientific Director, Dr. Anya Waite, will participate in a panel discussion focused on marine observations, including data gaps and how they can be filled.
Panelists
Dr. Anya Waite
Chief Executive Officer and Scientific Director, Ocean Frontier Institute
Co-Chair, Global Ocean Observing System
Lars Peter Riishojgaard
Director of the Global Greenhouse Gas Watch
World Meteorological Organization
Alex Vermeulen
Carbon Portal Director, Integrated Carbon Observation System Chair, Global Atmosphere Watch Programme, Scientific Advisory Group on Greenhouse Gases
Susanne Mecklenburg
Head, European Space Agency Climate Office
Future of Deep Ocean Observation
(Organized by Ocean Frontier Institute)
This panel discussion will focus on surface and deep ocean carbon observation and the opportunity to improve climate forecasts, enrich climate policy, and enable climate solutions (such as mCDR).
Any attempt to manage our planet’s carbon dioxide must start with the ocean. Our panel will provide insights on current challenges and initiatives across different regions, the role of ocean observation in climate policy and how improved coordination and governance will drive environmental and economic value.
Panelists
Dr. Anya Waite
Chief Executive Officer and Scientific Director, Ocean Frontier Institute
Co-Chair, Global Ocean Observing System
Kendra MacDonald
Chief Executive Officer, Canada's Ocean Supercluster
Dr. Werner Kutsch
Director General, Integrated Carbon Observation System
Dr. Tony Worby
Chief Scientist, Minderoo Foundation
