Conference
UN Ocean Conference - CCB side event: "Quiet Seas in a Climate Transition: Aligning decarbonisation with Ocean Health"
11 June 2025
Conference
UN Ocean Conference - CCB side event: "Quiet Seas in a Climate Transition: Aligning decarbonisation with Ocean Health"
Start date: 11 June 2025
End date: 11 June 2025
Time: 11:30-13:00 CEST
Place: Nice, France
Address: Location: Le LABO Coworking 6 Rue du Congrès, 06000 Nice, France
Description
The CCB side event "Quiet Seas in a Climate Transition: Aligning decarbonisation with Ocean Health" took place in Nice, France, on 11 June 2025, under the UN Ocean Conference 2025.
Our event aimed to foster dialogue among stakeholders from industry, government, and civil society to explore solutions to reduce underwater noise, focusing on the Baltic and North Seas, while addressing climate-oriented technologies such as offshore wind energy, cleaner shipping, and carbon capture and storage (CCS). It raised awareness of underwater noise impacts on marine ecosystems, highlighting the need to align decarbonisation with marine protection. Through expert presentations, a panel discussion, and an interactive dialogue, the event engaged participants in identifying integrated approaches and cross-sectoral partnerships that support biodiversity and a sustainable climate transition—contributing to the SDG 14, through marine conservation, sustainable use, and science-based solutions.
Outcomes
- Technological solutions for clean shipping and offshore wind are important steps towards decarbonisation and should address reduction and monitoring of underwater noise.
- Cordination, ecosystem-focused financing and stakeholder involvement are key to reduce noise pollution from different sources and close data gaps
- Carbon capture and storage, involving seismic activities, is not a solution against climate change, but a marketing coup to continue bussiness-as-usual actions linked to oil and gas activities.
- We know that climate efforts are necessary but not at the expense of ocean health.
- Marine protection should not go against climate action. In fact, reducing noise and increasing marine protection are also climate actions!
Agenda
11:30 - 11:45 Welcome & introduction "How to reduce underwater noise while increasing Ocean Climate Action?"
- Anda Ikauniece, Senior Researcher and Head of the Marine Monitoring Department - Latvian Institute of Aquatic ecology (LHEI);
- Andrea Cervantes, Biodiversity Officer - Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB)
- Bettina Taylor, Head of the Marine team - Friends of the Earth Germany-BUND / Co-chair - Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) (Presentation in PDF)
11:45 - 12:20 Thematic tables:
1) Shipping - Led by:
- Ram Ganesh Kamatham, Head of Programmes - Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI)
2) Offshore wind energy - Led by:
- Martin Sjöberg, Senior Blue Economy Expert / Mission Ocean Manager - Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL)
3) Seismic activities (CCS, oil and gas) - Led by:
- Marie-Louise Abshagen, Head, Sustainable Development - German NGO Forum on Environment and Development
- Nicolas Entrup, Director of International Relations - OceanCare
12:20 - 12:55 Reporting of thematic tables + interactive panel discussion (fish bowl). Panellists:
- Ram Ganesh Kamatham, Head of Programmes - Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI)
- Martin Sjöberg, Senior Blue Economy Expert / Mission Ocean Manager - Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL)
- Dr. Bev Mackenzie - Head of Intergovernmental Engagement, BIMCO
- Marie-Louise Abshagen, Head, Sustainable Development - German NGO Forum on Environment and Development
- Open panellist seat for the audience
12:55 - 13:00 Closing remarks
*Coffee and snacks are available throughout*
Photos
Credit: CCB
Contact person
If you have any questions, please write to Andrea Cervantes, CCB Biodiversity Officer: andrea.cervantes (at) ccb.se
CCB´s participation is co-funded by
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor CINEA can be held responsible for them.
Our event aimed to foster dialogue among stakeholders from industry, government, and civil society to explore solutions to reduce underwater noise, focusing on the Baltic and North Seas, while addressing climate-oriented technologies such as offshore wind energy, cleaner shipping, and carbon capture and storage (CCS). It raised awareness of underwater noise impacts on marine ecosystems, highlighting the need to align decarbonisation with marine protection. Through expert presentations, a panel discussion, and an interactive dialogue, the event engaged participants in identifying integrated approaches and cross-sectoral partnerships that support biodiversity and a sustainable climate transition—contributing to the SDG 14, through marine conservation, sustainable use, and science-based solutions.
Outcomes
- Technological solutions for clean shipping and offshore wind are important steps towards decarbonisation and should address reduction and monitoring of underwater noise.
- Cordination, ecosystem-focused financing and stakeholder involvement are key to reduce noise pollution from different sources and close data gaps
- Carbon capture and storage, involving seismic activities, is not a solution against climate change, but a marketing coup to continue bussiness-as-usual actions linked to oil and gas activities.
- We know that climate efforts are necessary but not at the expense of ocean health.
- Marine protection should not go against climate action. In fact, reducing noise and increasing marine protection are also climate actions!
Agenda
11:30 - 11:45 Welcome & introduction "How to reduce underwater noise while increasing Ocean Climate Action?"
- Anda Ikauniece, Senior Researcher and Head of the Marine Monitoring Department - Latvian Institute of Aquatic ecology (LHEI);
- Andrea Cervantes, Biodiversity Officer - Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB)
- Bettina Taylor, Head of the Marine team - Friends of the Earth Germany-BUND / Co-chair - Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) (Presentation in PDF)
11:45 - 12:20 Thematic tables:
1) Shipping - Led by:
- Ram Ganesh Kamatham, Head of Programmes - Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI)
2) Offshore wind energy - Led by:
- Martin Sjöberg, Senior Blue Economy Expert / Mission Ocean Manager - Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL)
3) Seismic activities (CCS, oil and gas) - Led by:
- Marie-Louise Abshagen, Head, Sustainable Development - German NGO Forum on Environment and Development
- Nicolas Entrup, Director of International Relations - OceanCare
12:20 - 12:55 Reporting of thematic tables + interactive panel discussion (fish bowl). Panellists:
- Ram Ganesh Kamatham, Head of Programmes - Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI)
- Martin Sjöberg, Senior Blue Economy Expert / Mission Ocean Manager - Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL)
- Dr. Bev Mackenzie - Head of Intergovernmental Engagement, BIMCO
- Marie-Louise Abshagen, Head, Sustainable Development - German NGO Forum on Environment and Development
- Open panellist seat for the audience
12:55 - 13:00 Closing remarks
*Coffee and snacks are available throughout*
Photos
Credit: CCB
Contact person
If you have any questions, please write to Andrea Cervantes, CCB Biodiversity Officer: andrea.cervantes (at) ccb.se
CCB´s participation is co-funded by
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor CINEA can be held responsible for them.