The All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance participated in the South Atlantic Regional Workshop in support of the UN Decade on Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) which took place on 25-27 November 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The event was co-organised by the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance partner Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovações e Comunicações (MCTIC; Brazil) and gathered 120 stakeholders from Atlantic countries from both sides of the Equator. Stakeholders from academia, governance, private sectors and NGOs discussed research priorities, capacity development needs and future partnerships within the scope of the UN Ocean Decade towards a sustainable use of the ocean.
The All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance sees the Atlantic as one single basin and is therefore working towards the construction of a community of ocean stakeholders from the Arctic to the Antarctica. Hence, it was represented in the South Atlantic Regional event by experts from European countries, Cape Verde, South Africa, Argentina and, of course, Brazil. The Alliance showcased the activities that were developed in scope of the transatlantic cooperation started in 2013 with the signature of the Galway Statement, followed by the signature of the Belém Statement in 2017 and Administrative Arrangements between the European Union and Argentina and Cape Verde in 2018. Last week’s event in Rio de Janeiro also served to show how the Alliance is already contributing to the UN Decade on Ocean Science at the Atlantic level. For more details please check the Alliance’s brochure presented in the event.
The South Atlantic Regional Workshop also counted with the participation of All-Atlantic Ocean Youth Ambassadors from Argentina, Brazil and Cape Verde who presented the campaigns they are developing in their own communities to raise awareness on ocean issues. Earlier this year, the Ambassadors had been trained in a very successful Summer School that took place in Galway, Ireland on 24-27 August. Have a look!
The All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance will continue to develop activities supporting the UN Ocean Decade. The next event will take place in Brussels on 6-7 February 2020 and will gather over 500 experts from across and along the Atlantic Ocean. Join us at the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Forum and witness how policymakers, various stakeholders and many EU-funded projects are collectively impacting the citizens living along the Atlantic since the signature of the Galway and the Belém Statements.
