The Ocean and Climate Initiatives Alliance (OCIA) was launched on 22nd February 2017, with the support of the Ocean and Climate Platform, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) and the Government of France.
OCIA’s main mission is to preserve the world’s oceans by uniting parallel and ongoing initiatives under a joint action framework. OCIA aims to drive momentum for concrete ocean-based solutions in the implementation of mitigation and adaptation strategies. We support multi-stakeholder partnerships to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement, the Global Climate Action Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
OCIA brings together 20 initiatives, involving 272 members, including 90 Member States, with on-the-ground projects operating in 38 countries. Our member initiatives commit to enhancing scientific knowledge, supporting on-the-ground action, strengthening international and national mobilisation, and significantly raising consciousness of ocean and climate interactions.
IYOR Activities Plan
OCIA’s main objective is to strengthen ocean resilience and to develop strategies of adaptation to protect the most fragile ecosystems and vulnerable populations.
OCIA counts within its members, several initiatives addressing coral reefs preservation and restoration:
– The Global Coral Reef Partnership (UN Environment and the Regional Seas Convention) – aims to secure coral reef benefits in a changing climate by promoting ecosystem-based marine management in coral reef areas.
– The International Coral Reef Initiative encourages the adoption of best practice in sustainable management of coral reefs and associated ecosystems and raises awareness at all levels on the plight of coral reefs around the world.
– The Raja Ampat SEA Centre is dedicated to conserving Raja Ampat’s marine life, and particularly corals, through Science, Education and Awareness.
In this International Year of the Reef, OCIA is determined to promote and gather more initiatives seeking to maintain the functional quality of coral reef ecosystems and encouraging coral reef resilience and restoration. OCIA commits to raising awareness about the critical role of corals for climate mitigation and adaptation by promoting the work of its initiatives in the international fora. For instance, OCIA will participate in a number of national and international events and conferences, including; the International Symposium on the Effects of Climate Change of the World’s Ocean (4-8 June in Washington DC); “Les coraux ne sont pas morts !” (20 June 2018 – Maison des Océans in Paris); the Oceans Actions Day at UNFCCC COP24 (December 2018).
OCIA will also publish a number of policy briefs during 2018, with at least one dedicated to the impacts of anthropogenic activities on coral reefs.