Sorbonne College Abu Dhabi (SUAD), in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Regulation of the Nationwide College of Singapore (APCEL NUS) will host a global symposium on Tuesday, October 14th at its campus on Al Reem Island.
Titled ‘Ocean Futures: Advancing Decarbonisation and Innovation in Transport and Marine Biodiversity via Regulation, Coverage, and AI’, the symposium is held in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland to the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the MENA Oceans Initiative by Goumbook.
A part of SUAD’s Yr of Ocean, the occasion displays the college’s broader dedication to advancing marine analysis via SUAD’s Ocean Institute, launched at COP28. It should convey collectively world specialists to discover how coverage, legislation, and innovation can safe a extra sustainable future for the world’s oceans.
Transport carries over 80 p.c of worldwide commerce and contributes round 3 p.c of worldwide greenhouse gasoline emissions, in response to the International Maritime Discussion board. On the similar time, maritime exercise locations rising strain on biodiversity, from noise air pollution and habitat disruption to the unfold of invasive species. In opposition to this backdrop, the symposium will concentrate on three interconnected themes: decarbonisation within the transport trade, the safety of marine biodiversity, and using AI, robotics, and nature-based local weather options to strengthen ocean governance.
The programme will function keynote addresses from leaders in sustainability, with panels inspecting the Worldwide Maritime Organisation’s revised greenhouse gasoline discount technique, authorized and coverage measures to handle the ecological impacts of transport, and the function of AI and robotics in marine biodiversity preservation. Discussions can even discover biodiversity monitoring throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) area, together with the deployment of autonomous applied sciences for conservation and analysis. The day will function a stay demonstration of Blue AI, an modern citizen science platform designed to deal with plastic air pollution in Gulf marine environments.
Professor Nathalie Martial-Braz, Chancellor of Sorbonne College Abu Dhabi, mentioned: “As a part of our Yr of Ocean initiative, this symposium displays our mission to convene data, coverage, and innovation to handle the pressing challenges dealing with our shared seas. By bringing collectively various voices, we goal to advance dialogue and generate sensible suggestions, primarily based on scientific data that may affect coverage and encourage collective motion throughout the area and past.”
Dr. Jolene Lin, Affiliate Professor on the School of Regulation, Nationwide College of Singapore (NUS) and Director of APCEL highlighted: “The collaboration between APCEL NUS and SUAD continues to strengthen annually, reflecting our shared dedication to safeguarding a sustainable marine atmosphere. Collectively, we try to generate regional advantages that hyperlink Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Center East, fostering cooperation throughout our oceans.”
“Decarbonising the maritime sector isn’t an finish in itself — it’s a pathway to safeguarding ocean well being,” mentioned Tatiana Antonelli Abella, Founder and Managing Director of Goumbook and Chair of the MENA Oceans Initiative. As Regional Engagement and Supply Companion for the UN Local weather Excessive-Stage Champions Workforce’s Maritime Breakthrough, Goumbook’s MENA Oceans Initiative recognises the significance of cross-sectoral, multi-stakeholder collaborations in direction of embedding biodiversity and ecosystem safety into maritime transition plans for lasting advantages to local weather, nature, and communities.
Anticipated outcomes of the symposium embrace the publication of a coverage transient on the three key subjects explored in the course of the occasion, a peer-reviewed tutorial article, and the institution of future analysis initiatives and collaborations between authorized students, UAE policymakers, and trade leaders.
The occasion is open to all, with participation inspired from policymakers, lecturers, NGOs, trade leaders, college students, and the broader neighborhood. To register and study extra, please go to https://sorbonne.ae/events/ocean-futures