Dear ORRAA Members and Friends,
Welcome to the latest edition of The ORRAA News!
Greetings from New York Climate Week, and a huge welcome to our newest members: International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits, Mineral Springs, AB Entheos, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, and Fundación Rewilding Argentina!
Conflict, climate change, and a heating Ocean have defined this past quarter. In August, sea surface temperatures set a new record average of 21.1°C and an intensifying El Niño was declared. Climate change is impossible to ignore across every continent. The devastating flood in Nepal and Tibet was linked to the collapse of a glacier; summer heatwaves, severe droughts, and wildfires were seen across North America and Europe; drier-than-average conditions in Latin America; above-average temperatures in Australia and Africa; and the fifth lowest extent on record of sea ice in Antarctica.
That said, and amidst all the economic and political news this week, the message we are hearing is about courage and opportunity – the need to face forward and make the changes that are needed despite the political dissonance. There is an unexpectedly welcome sense of the need to defy political winds and do what is needed for people and planet.
Ocean health now sits at the intersection of geopolitics, public health, food security, national security, and economic security. The thing is, we know what to do. We need to keep focused on achieving net zero and regenerating nature. It’s time to double down and scale up up solutions. It’s also time for us to lace up our boots!
On Monday in New York, we announced a new collaboration with Liverpool Football Club! Just as the Ocean unites us all, so does football. Liverpool FC is one of the world’s most supported football clubs, with fans around the world. ORRAA works with coastal communities on the frontline of climate and Ocean change, as well as with leading finance and insurance organisations to help unlock investment in Ocean and coastal resilience. Together, we will use our complementary reach and expertise to raise awareness, inspire action and help drive meaningful change for the Ocean and the people whose lives and livelihoods depend on it. Stay tuned as we bring together the world of sport, ocean conservation and finance, connecting the beachfront, boardroom and bootroom.
The next several months are packed with biodiversity and climate COPs, and the Ocean is rising (yes, we know that is a bit of a pun – we have to smile now and then) to the top of these agendas with the UNFCCC Standing Committee on Finance focused on the Ocean and Water, and the Turkish Presidency talking about this being a ‘Blue COP’. There is also the PRI in October, where the Ocean is going to debut on the agenda. We look forward to working with all of you to drive positive impact at these global convenings. Look out for upcoming policy briefings on a Blue Climate Finance Pathway.
As always, if you have any questions or would like to set up a call to catch up with the team, please do let us know. In addition, if you have any news you would like us to share/amplify, please send a note to Secretariat@oceanriskalliance.org or post it in the ORRAA LinkedIn Member Community Group.
Karen & the ORRAA team
