FACT-O: French Ameri-Can Talks on Oceans
Impacts of Climate Change on the Ocean: Focus on Deep Ocean and Biodiversity
The French Ameri-Can Climate Talks – Oceans (FACT-O) will be traveling to Vancouver to hold a conference highlighting the impact of the climate change on the biodiversity in deep ocean from the perspectives of France and Canada. Held at Beaty Biodiversity Museum, in partnership the Alliance Française of Vancouver, the conference will welcome a variety of panelists from France and Canada to discuss the issue in detail.
FACT-O Vancouver will be held on the closing day of the COP 23 held in Bonn, Germany under the Fiji presidency.
Reserve your spot for this event here.
FACT-O initiative
For scientists and the general public, FACT-O is a series of targeted events in emblematic places of research or dissemination of science to the public. These workshops bring together scientists, representatives of NGOs and institutions in charge of ocean protection and aim to disseminate knowledge, share experiences and foster Franco-Canadian partnerships.
Continue the Momentum: FACTS and COP21
The FACTS (French-Ameri-Can Climate TalkS) program was launched at the end of 2014 by French embassies in the United States and Canada to mobilize civil society for COP21. In order to continue the mobilization post COP21, the FACTS program continued in 2016 and is now focusing on Ocean, a priority theme for France and Canada.
The integration of the ocean in the Paris Agreement demonstrates the recognition of its integrity as part of the climate balance. The ocean, long forgotten by climate negotiations, was mentioned for the first time in the preamble to the Paris agreement (“noting the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems, including oceans …”).
Protecting the Oceans
The oceans today constitute a crucial subject of scientific study in the field of the environment. Oceans study involves a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines from marine geology, to physical and chemical oceanography, including marine biology and social sciences. Knowledge on oceans, however, is not commensurate with their vital importance: the oceans, which cover 71% of the earth’s surface, play a decisive role in the history of life and they are a reservoir of resources, they provide essential ecosystem services necessary for life on earth. In particular, the oceans play a major role in the functioning of the climate system and in return they suffer the effects of climate change: sea level rise, acidification … To these effects are added the degradations driven by human activities, overfishing, pollution by oil extraction… All these elements call for enhanced international action on oceans.
In addition to ocean and climate issues, the issue of marine resources and the protection of marine ecosystems are at the heart of national research strategies in France and Canada. The sharing of exploration resources and research resources and the coordination of public policies are essential to better assess the state of the oceans and propose lasting solutions for the protection of an area that represents 80% of the world’s biodiversity.