UNOC3 DOSI Blue Zone Side Event

Title: Safeguarding Deep-Sea Biodiversity and the Climate: Integrating Science and Policy for a Sustainable Future
Session ID: 123
Date: Friday 13 June 2025
Time: 10:30-11:45 am
Venue: Room 3

Panel:
• Annette Gibbons – DFO Deputy Minister, Canada
• Arnoldo André Tinoco – Minister of Foreign Affairs & Culture, Costa Rica
• Vidar Helgesen – Executive Secretary IOC-UNESCO
• Grethel Aguilar – Director General IUCN
• Anna Metaxas and Lisa Levin – Deep-sea scientists

Moderator:
• Christine Gaebel – BBNJ expert

Additional partners/experts in audience:
• Representatives/experts from AOSIS, Scripps, MBARI, OCP, IPBES, IPOS, science.

Abstract:  The deep ocean contains over 90 percent of the living space for life on Earth, and the remarkable diversity and collective actions of its inhabitants are critical for human and planetary well-being. While it can seem remote and unchanging, deep-sea biodiversity faces clear and increasing threats from human activities such as deep-sea mining, fishing, pollution, and proposed ocean-based climate change mitigation options, as well as from climate change itself. To ensure ocean ecosystems can continue to support a liveable planet, biodiversity, climate and sustainability goals must be aligned. This may require new and enhanced governance partnerships and policy solutions, informed by impartial, up-to-date ocean science. This is becoming especially important in light of the new challenges faced by the global science community and established governance structures. In this session, a panel of deep-sea scientists and policy experts will shine a light on linkages between the many different ocean governance processes that can benefit from a greater understanding of how the deep ocean works.  There is a growing recognition that  joined-up thinking is required at the nexus of biodiversity, climate, food, health and water, to ensure effective and sustainable management across sectors, supported by robust international laws. A new and unprecedented level of science and policy diplomacy will be required for success.