Past Events
France-Western Canada Workshop on Ocean and Polar Sciences
Feb 29 – Mar 1, 2024
University of British Columbia
Presenters: William Cheung & Rashid Sumaila, The University of British Columbia
The France-Western Canada Workshop on Ocean and Polar Sciences focuses on quantitative approaches and analysis in this field. The main goal of the workshop is to identify shared research themes, to explore possibilities for new interactions, and to foster further cooperation between researchers in Canada and in France. It is also a follow up of the first event organized in Halifax in October 2023 by the French Embassy in Ottawa and by Ocean Frontier Institute at Dalhousie University. It focused on the Eastern Canadian research community involved in the “Transforming Climate Action” Research Program recently funded by the Canadian federal government.
William W. L. Cheung: Solving the ocean sustainability challenges at the food-climate-biodiversity nexus
The ocean’s capacity to sustain life and support human wellbeing is increasingly threatened by intensifying climate change that exacerbates other non-climatic human stressors such as overfishing, pollution, and invasive species. Solutions to achieve ‘desirable’ ocean futures that support climate mitigation and adaptation, sustainable food production, and biodiversity conservation are urgently needed. Here, I will present an international and interdisciplinary partnership project that aims to explore solution options to solve the ocean sustainability challenges at the nexus of food security (F), climate change (C) and biodiversity (B) (Solving-FCB Partnership). This Partnership brings together world-leading scholars and practitioners from academic institutes, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, and government agencies to undertake transdisciplinary research that examines policies and human actions at the intersection of achieving food security, climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation goals in the ocean. Case studies from diverse social-ecological contexts include China (kelp aquaculture), Canada (reconciling Indigenous governance), Costa Rica (agriculture-coastal fisheries interactions), Ghana and Nigeria (securing livelihood of coastal communities) and the Netherlands (circular economy and nature-inclusive futures). I will discuss specifically the development and application of innovative quantitative approaches and analysis in the Partnership and their contributions to studying FCB nexus challenges and solutions.
Rashid Sumaila & Ivar Ekeland: Speaking for the seventh generation: Introducing intergenerational justice in bioeconomics
Sumaila begins the session by presenting and motivating the idea of intergenerational justice. He will present a simple discrete model of intergenerational discounting. Ekeland will proceed with the presentation of a continuous case. He will also relate our approach to Chichilnisky and property rights.
9th World Fisheries Congress
March 3–9, 2024.
Seattle, Washington, USA
Presenter: William Cheung, The University of British Columbia
This section provides a platform for an international and interdisciplinary panel to discuss the development of marine and aquatic food-climate-biodiversity solutions that explicitly consider their complex social and ecological contexts.
The panel will highlight case studies in Canada, China, Costa Rica, Nigeria/Ghana and the Netherlands to elucidate different potential pathways towards achieving food security, climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation goals. These pathways include Indigenous reconciliation (Canada), aquaculture (China), land-sea interactions (Costa Rica), eliminating IUU fishing (Nigeria/Ghana) and circular economic (the Netherlands).
These case studies will also illuminate the diverse social, economic, political, cultural and ecological contexts of food-climate-biodiversity challenges and the commonality and differences in their solutions. Panelists from Canada, China, and Costa Rica will discuss how their experiences and knowledge can be integrated to generate the knowledge needed to develop viable pathways to solve nexus challenges, and transfer this knowledge to inform policy-making.
Infinity Fish: The Climate Implications of the Future of Fish and Fisheries
Dec 12, 2023.
Dubai, UAE
Presenter: U. Rashid Sumaila, The University of British Columbia
This event will feature a conversation with Dr. Ussif Rashid Sumaila, professor and director of the Fisheries Economics Research Unit at University of British Columbia’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries. Sumaila is also the recent winner of the 2023 Tyler Prize. During the session Sumaila will discuss his new book, Infinity Fish — Economics and the Future of Fish and Fisheries, and its implications on the climate debate, the valuation of natural resources, and how it all impacts how we make decisions.
The Future of Blue Carbon in Climate Mitigation: Raising Awareness and Unlocking Potential
Dec 9, 2023.
Dubai, UAE
Presenter: William Cheung, The University of British Columbia
Living blue carbon ecosystems, including mangroves, salt marshes, and kelp forests, have emerged as a critical climate mitigation tool. These coastal and marine habitats sequester large amounts of carbon dioxide, making them invaluable allies in the fight against climate change. However, there are still important gaps in knowledge about blue carbon’s potential and limitations in climate mitigation. This event convenes leaders from national governments and oceanographic institutions for and in-depth discussion of the future of blue carbon as a climate mitigation tool, as well as calls for ambition in crucial areas like ecosystem restoration and standardized monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Government leaders are expected to make announcements on national blue carbon strategies, while roundtable participants will draw on their latest findings and case studies to support stronger blue carbon science and policy.
UNFCCC COP27: Virtual Side Event
Thursday 10 November 2022, 09:00-10:30 (GMT)
Virtual/Online
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are among the countries that suffer disproportionately the most from the impacts of climate change. Increased climate resilience and efforts in SIDS is necessary as their existence and survival is to large extent intertwined with the ocean. Aquatic Foods have an important and growing role in nutrition and food security, and high relevance to island communities.
This event will present data and key findings of novel studies commissioned by FAO on climate change impacts on marine resources harvested in SIDS and their implications for nutrition and food security, as well as on the distinct coastal conditions and hazards, and relevant areas for adaptation interventions in SIDS. A panel of experts will discuss responses and opportunities to address climate vulnerabilities and increase resilience of aquatic food production and hazards along the coastlines of SIDS.
Solving-FCB’s Dr William Cheung will present on Coastal fisheries resources under climate scenarios.
