With the webinar “Biodiversity and Climate Change: Lessons for the Mediterranean Sea?” EMEA launched a new research initiative related to bio-economics and its integration into Mediterranean Blue Economy policies.
The webinar was moderated by the Founder and President of EMEA, Prof. Rym Ayadi, with the participation of Sylvia Earle, oceanographer and explorer, famous for her research on marine algae and her books and documentaries, who explained her vision as Biologist about the oceans as a “life support system”.
Ralph Chami Assistant Director in the Institute for Capacity Development (ICD), at the International Monetary Fund, Member of the Advisory Board, EMEA, and co-author of the well-known study “Nature’s Solution to Climate Change” explained the recent approach to analysing the economic value of whales and marine mammals. Patricia Morales, explained the experience of Foundation Meri with the protection of Whales in Chile’s shore.
Yara Saab, Coordinator of Operations of SCP/RAC of UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan provided the legal approach, and Alessandra Sensi Head of Sector Environment and Blue Economy – UfM talked about the UfM Environment and Blue Economy Agendas.
Closing the event, Prof. Rym Ayadi highlighted that “we must accelerate the move from today’s machine centric production and addicted consumption models to human and responsible models for production and consumption underpinned in eco awareness driven behavior”. She also underlined that “Wild-life in the oceans and seas must be protected and their value of decarbonizing the atmosphere must be recognised with no delay -applying the appropriate value.”
The webinar was broadcasted Live by the EMEA Facebook page with great success. The video of the event achieved 6,000 views, and reached over 23,000 Facebook members.
