Climate-smart Marine Spatial Planning as an opportunity for climate action for people and nature

We are excited to announce the third session of our Coastal Resilience webinar series, titled "Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation for Sustainable Ocean Planning."

This project continues to grow, drawing a wider audience and expanding its network of collaborators. We are pleased to welcome Deltares, a renowned Dutch institute specializing in applied research and advice for delta technology, alongside the DCC and CMCC. Deltares brings together over 800 experts from organizations like Rijkswaterstaat and TNO, offering cutting-edge solutions to address challenges in water, soil, and subsurface management for vulnerable coastal and delta regions. We are confident that Deltares’ collaboration in this series will enrich the content further, offering valuable insights and innovative perspectives to tackle the pressing challenges of coastal resilience.

The January 21 webinar will feature Professor Ana Queirós, a Principal Investigator in marine ecology and climate change at Plymouth Marine Laboratory and Honorary Professor at the University of Exeter. Over the past decade, she has developed advanced modeling tools and decision-support systems to assist policymakers in creating sustainable ocean management strategies. Her work spans the UK, Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Western Indian Ocean, contributing to global initiatives like the UN Ocean Decade.

Professor Queirós will explore the vital role of climate change adaptation and mitigation in achieving Sustainable Ocean Planning. She will share examples of science-policy collaboration, emphasizing the importance of partnerships in meeting global climate goals. Her talk will highlight successful strategies in Marine Spatial Planning, areas of progress, and opportunities for accelerating action at regional, national, and international levels.

Join us on January 21 for an insightful discussion on how Marine Spatial Planning can drive climate resilience for both nature and people.

Full Abstract

Climate change adaptation and mitigation are seen as key steps to Sustainable Ocean Planning. Without adaptation considerations, spatial management of marine resources and protected areas will become ineffective. What’s more, ocean-based climate change mitigation actions are needed to help decelerate and offset the growth of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. Many nations around the world, and high-level policy documents, thus now recognise climate-smart Marine Spatial Planning policies as necessary components of sustainable human activities in the ocean, and of a sustainable future for our planet. In this talk, I will discuss a real-life example of collaboration at the science-policy interface in this space: such examples are seen as a key accelerators towards making this ambition a reality. I will also highlight key solutions developed and co-developed in this space, discussing areas where progress has been made, describing successful strategies, and outlining where further gains could be made at regional, national and internation level, to realise the opportunity that Marine Spatial Planning presents to deliver needed and broader climate action, for nature and for people.

Speaker's Bio

Professor Ana Queirós is a Principal Investigator of marine ecology and climate change at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, and an Honorary Professor at the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter (UK). Professor Queirós has spent the last 10 years developing climate change modelling applications, and transdisciplinary decision support tools, to enable policy-makers and other end-users to make evidence-based decisions towards the sustainable spatial management of the ocean. Her work has focused specifically on Marine Spatial Planning, MPAs, fisheries and blue carbon habitats. Professor Ana Queirós’s work has involved collaborations around the world, with a special focus in the UK, Europe, SE Asia, Australia and the Western Indian Ocean. She is involved in a number of initiatives within the UN Ocean Decade for Sustainable Development, and was the 2022 AXA IM Research Award winner.

More information here.