Professor Phoebe Koundouri kicked off the 2024 Science, Technology, and Society (STS) Forum in Kyoto with the Regional Action on Climate Change Symposium (RACC-16), where she is honored to serve as a member of the International Advisory Committee.
The RACC-16 discussions delved into critical issues related to climate change, oceans and their physical and biological systems, marine food systems under stress, and the impacts of oceans on human health. Additional key topics included critically threatened populations and potential solutions, the economics of ocean impacts, loss and damage, and strategies for monitoring and governing oceans to support sustainable regional resilience.
The plenary session titled “Economics of Ocean Impacts, Loss and Damage, and Responses” was chaired by Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Former VP of the World Bank and Founding Director Emeritus of the Library of Alexandria. It emphasized the essential role of oceans in regulating Earth’s climate and the detrimental effects of human activities on marine ecosystems. Major concerns such as global warming and sea-level rise (SLR) were underscored, particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and coastal delta communities. The session highlighted the need for a comprehensive, holistic approach to assessing the costs and benefits of human activities on oceans.
Professor Koundouri’s panel included notable experts in ocean and climate interactions: Professor Adel El-Beltagy (Ain Shams University), Dr. Richard Damania (World Bank), Mr. Guntur Sutiyono (Climateworks Centre, Indonesia), and Professor Cherry Murray (University of Arizona & Harvard), each providing insights into strengthening our relationship with oceans and adapting economic models to prioritize marine ecosystem health.
In her speech, Professor Koundouri discussed the SDSN Global Climate Hub’s modeling suite, including sea-use and ecosystem services modeling, SDG Reports on progress toward SDG 6, economic valuation versus SDG performance, and the skills essential for advancing the “Blue Transition.” She also introduced AE4RIA’s (Alliance of Excellence for Research and Innovation on Αephoria) ongoing work on incorporating a socio-economic layer into ocean digital twins.
The RACC International Advisory Committee is set to release its 2024 statement soon, addressing these pressing ocean and climate-related challenges.
