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Arab News
10 hours ago
- General
- Arab News
The ocean is not just a carbon sink
Governments and civil society organizations from around the world are gathering in Nice, France, this week for the UN Ocean Conference. The third such meeting since 2017, it comes at a time when countries are also finalizing their updated nationally determined contributions (decarbonization plans) as required under the Paris climate agreement. The timing is fitting because changes in our oceans have become a familiar barometer for the severity of the climate crisis. Vibrant, technicolor coral reefs, once bursting with life, are being bleached ghostly pale by warming, acidic waters. Island populations, such as the inhabitants of the largest of Panama's Carti Islands, are being forced to abandon their homes in the face of rising sea levels. And many coastal communities, often some of the poorest in the world, are being ravaged by increasingly severe cyclones. As the ones on the front line, small island developing states are also leading sources of climate innovation. We have become test beds for solutions that can guide action globally. From our perspective, the ocean is not just a symptom of a changing climate, but also a major part of the solution. The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (of which the Seychelles is a member) estimates that some 35 percent of the emissions reductions needed by 2050 could come from the ocean. Most of this potential lies in industrial sectors — from decarbonized shipping to marine-based renewable energy. But the protection and restoration of certain 'blue carbon ecosystems' — mangroves, seagrasses, saltmarshes — can also measurably contribute to climate-change mitigation efforts. In our own 2021 nationally determined contribution, the Seychelles committed to mapping and subsequently protecting all seagrasses across our exclusive economic zone — an area totaling 1.3 million sq. km — by 2030. Now, I am proud to say that we have already met that goal, protecting more than 99 percent of our seagrass meadows five years ahead of schedule. In doing so, we have set a benchmark for ocean climate leadership. Other countries across the Western Indian Ocean are now undertaking similar work and outlining their own ambitions for the 2025 nationally determined contributions updates. From our perspective, the ocean is not just a symptom of a changing climate, but also a major part of the solution. Wavel Ramkalawan In addition to serving as a measurable source of carbon storage, these ecosystems are some of the most effective and cost-efficient forms of natural infrastructure available for stabilizing shorelines and buffering storms. They provide a vital first line of defense for islanders and coast dwellers, absorbing wave energy, filtering water and preventing erosion. And they also underpin the blue economy on which billions of livelihoods depend. In fact, seagrasses alone provide valuable habitat to more than a fifth of the world's 25 largest fisheries, including many species that are key to local food security and incomes. Healthy coastal ecosystems mean healthier economies, more resilient communities and greater long-term stability. With healthy mangroves and seagrasses, front-line communities are far more resilient and better able to adapt to climate change. Our experience offers important lessons. While the ocean has long been described as the planet's greatest carbon sink, that is a dated construct. The ocean has indeed absorbed most anthropogenic heat and carbon dioxide emissions since the start of industrialization. But its capacity to do so is not unlimited. There is no magic 'plug hole' where heat and carbon simply disappear. Depicting the ocean this way risks obscuring the tangible, place-based role of marine ecosystems in supporting many communities' cultures, diets, identities and survival. For Seychellois, seagrass meadows are far more important as a habitat for the rabbitfish that sustain artisanal fishers, or as a source of food and shelter for the turtles that attract so many tourists, than they are as carbon sinks. Reducing the value of three-quarters of our planet to the singular role of carbon sink overlooks the ocean's vast contributions to food security, cultural identity and economic resilience. This narrow framing reinforces the inequities baked into how we assess, govern and invest in planetary systems. Ultimately, industrial marine sectors and natural ecosystems are underused tools in addressing climate change and other development needs. As world leaders gather in Nice and prepare for the UN's COP30 climate change conference in Belem, Brazil, they can take inspiration from the Seychelles in championing ocean-based climate action. We must not treat the ocean as an afterthought or a technical fix, but rather as a central pillar of the climate agenda. The ocean's role as a carbon sink has bought us precious time, but at a huge cost in terms of its vibrancy and abundance. For the long-term health of people and the planet, preserving ocean health is essential.
Globe and Mail
27-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
The Climate Solutions Prize Festival Returns to Montreal to Accelerate Global Climate Innovation
Canada's Premier Climate Festival Will Spotlight a Global Community of Climate Innovators and Industry Leaders on June 17-18 in Montreal . MONTREAL , May 27, 2025 /CNW/ - The Climate Solutions Prize Festival, Canada's largest climate innovation award and event and a growing global platform for breakthrough technologies, returns to Montréal on June 17–18, 2025, at the iconic Marché Bonsecours . The two-day Festival will bring together more than 1,500 participants, including startups, researchers, investors, and policymakers from around the world, to highlight the most promising environmental technologies and bold solutions. "Our mission is to accelerate breakthroughs by connecting the brightest minds in science, technology, and business with the funding, mentorship, and networks they need to turn bold ideas into real-world solutions. In just three years, the Climate Solutions Prize Festival has grown from a Québec-based initiative with $300,000 in prize funding to a national platform offering $1.75 million in awards and a global stage for climate innovation," said Galith Levy, Co-founder and CEO of the Climate Solutions Prize. Featured Speakers Include : Fred Lalonde, Co-founder Deep Sky, Co-founder & CEO Hopper Michael Sonnenfeld , Founder and Chairman, TIGER 21 Catherine Bérubé, Partner at Cycle Capital and Chair of the Board at Cycle Momentum Mario Fernandez , Vice President, Head of Catalyst, Breakthrough Energy David Babson , Executive Vice President, Climate & Energy, XPRIZE Foundation Natalie Voland , President, Chief Vision Officer, GI Quo Vadis Rob Johnson , Senior Vice President, Sustainability, Seattle Kraken/Climate Pledge Arena Benjamin Kafri , Global Head of Innovation and Key Stakeholders, BloombergNEF Simon Olivier , Head of Cycle H2O Water Fund, Cycle H2O Water Fund For a full list of speakers, click here. Six Innovation Tracks Driving Real-World Impact The 2025 program will feature keynotes, panels, and pitch competitions across six critical innovation areas dedicated to accelerating climate action: Agricultural Technology, Built Environment (Real Estate), Carbon Removal, Energy Transition, Changemakers/From Lab to Market, and Water H2O. Breaking Barriers to Climate Innovation "We know that risk is often the greatest barrier for startups and researchers working on breakthrough technologies. Through our prizes and ecosystem of support, we're helping to de-risk and accelerate the path from idea to market, enabling innovators to push the boundaries of what's possible," said Levy. As the climate crisis intensifies, traditional funding models often fail to keep up with the urgency and scale of innovation required. Climate Solutions Prize Festival is rethinking this approach, creating a platform where purpose-driven innovation can thrive, accelerate, and scale across Canada and beyond. The 2025 Climate Solutions Prize Festival Will Award Prizes Across Multiple Categories: 2025 Breakthrough Research Prize 2025 Climate Startup Prize by Cycle Momentum 2025 Climate Tech Trailblazer Prize 2025 Canadian Student Entrepreneur Innovation Prize Canadian Energy Innovator Prize Powered by AtkinsRéalis! Each prize is designed to recognize and fast-track the most promising technologies, research, and innovators advancing real-world climate solutions. About the Climate Solutions Prize Founded in 2020, the Climate Solutions Prize (CSP) was created to serve as a catalyst for climate action by accelerating innovation, investment, and collaboration. Through its annual flagship event, the Climate Solutions Prize Festival brings together innovators, investors, academics, policymakers, and industry leaders to spotlight and scale breakthrough environmental technologies and solutions — creating a nexus between innovation and investment to accelerate a sustainable climate future.
Associated Press
07-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Trane Technologies to Present at the Wolfe Research Global Transportation and Industrials Conference
SWORDS, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 7, 2025-- Trane Technologies plc (NYSE: TT) a global climate innovator, today announced that company leadership will participate in a fireside chat at the Wolfe Research Global Transportation and Industrials Conference. They will speak at 9:45 a.m. ET on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. The live webcast will be accessible on the Trane Technologies website at under the investor relations section. An archive of the webcast will be available for 30 days following the event. About Trane Technologies Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane® and Thermo King®, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes and transportation. For more on Trane Technologies, visit . View source version on CONTACT: Media: Travis Bullard, Trane Technologies +1-919-802-2593 [email protected]: Zachary Nagle, Trane Technologies +1-704-990-3913 [email protected] KEYWORD: EUROPE IRELAND UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA NORTH CAROLINA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY ENVIRONMENT OTHER MANUFACTURING MACHINERY HVAC BUILDING SYSTEMS CLIMATE CHANGE MANUFACTURING SOURCE: Trane Technologies Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/07/2025 06:30 AM/DISC: 05/07/2025 06:29 AM
