He Ocean is essential for life on our planet and for our futurein addition to that of the rest of the beings with whom we share planet and play a vital role in the climate, biotic system and in the water cycle.
He Ocean provides a range of ecosystem servicesIt gives us oxygen to breathe, contributes to food security, nutrition, decent employment and livelihoods, acts as sink and deposit of greenhouse gases and protects biodiversity.
But also, the ocean It is used as a means for maritime transport, including world trade, It is an important part of our natural and cultural heritage And it plays an essential role in sustainable development, a sustainable economy based on oceans and poverty eradication.
Hear the voice of science in favor of oceans
For the first time, the United Nations Conference on Oceans (Nice, June 9-13) They will be preceded by a scientific congress in which experts will raise their voice to conminate the rulers to make decisions based on data and contrasted information.
He Congress ‘One Ocean’ will gather from 3 to 6 in the city of the Costa Azul to more than 2,000 participants from 110 countriesthat lead the motto that the ocean is only one, a common good afflicted with multiple problems, but also offers endless solutions.
The appointment «represents a more than deserved opportunity for scientists or people who have generated information For decision -making, update, exchange and, on that basis, to climb to the second stand that is the conference of the Oceans », The Costa Rican Alejandra Villalobos, one of the four ambassadors of the Congress.
The deliberations that intend to provide the rulers and society an understandable vision on the health of the oceans will be articulated around ten epigraphs. The Integration of knowledge systems, the role of oceans to reach the goals of the Paris Agreementthe protection of marine and coastal ecosystems, the threats that lurk to the deep ocean (+200 m) and the discovery and equitable access to marine genetic resources are some of those issues.
The impact of illegal and unregulated fishing completes the list, the ocean as a basic source of nutrition, plastic pollution, the environmental footprint of maritime transport and international collaboration in the informative and educational spheres.
More than one vision of the ocean
“It’s a duty as citizens to recognize the role of science«, Says Villalobos, who warns:« Ten years ago we did not see the ocean as we see now. In 2015, it was an important ecosystem, but now we have a amount of information that makes science vital with decision making. But in an effective way, ”says Costa Rican, executive director of the Friends Isla del Coco Foundation. His country is coanfrerion of the conference.
The purpose of Congress, therefore, is “to transform science into a road map” To strengthen the initiatives that are already on the table and «that become legitimate«. Nice meetings start from determining data: the ocean absorbs 25 % of anthropogenic CO2 emissions and most of the excess of heat resulting from changes in the radiative imbalance of the earth. This “immense climatic mitigation service,” say the organizers of Congress, “It fulfills it at the expense of deep physical, chemical and biological alterations«.
The debates will be developed in three master conferences, 33 round tables and 500 oral interventions. The objective of all of them will be the same: look for a way to mitigate what is done wrong and commit to protect the ecosystems, that there are, “that still remain extremely pristine,” says Villalobos, who faces the congress determined in that information and education are granted a fundamental role.
«Having the data in an easy -to -access tool is the first step. From there, you have to make a big effort to disseminate research in various languages, scientist and common«, He points out.
The ocean is not a plane
The protection of the richness of the deep ocean will be one of the great foci of Congress, Due to the risks derived from climate changefishing pressure, acidification and pollution. Villalobos regrets that “many still see the ocean flat, without imagining the life that is down.” Therefore, he proposes two ways, one of knowledge and exploration, corresponding to scientists, and another of sustainable management, “that falls on the side of decision makers.”
“Marine funds are the cornerstone of what can happen in terms of the transformation of scientists’ findings into concrete measures,” he says. In the opinion of the Congress ambassador, the participants will be satisfied at their term if they manageto a decision maker, to a professor, to the leader of an NGO or a guard«. EFE