Statement of the Steering Committee on Oceans, Islands, and Coastal Zones of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI)

The IAI Steering Committee on Oceans, Islands, and Coastal Zones advocates for a transdisciplinary approach to ocean science in the Americas, emphasizing the 'Blue One Health' framework and the integration of Indigenous and local knowledge. The statement prioritizes the development of a regional research program under the UN Decade of Ocean Science, the management of the Caribbean sargassum crisis, and the expansion of innovative financing mechanisms like blue bonds for Latin America, the Caribbean, and Small Island Developing States.

• The IAI is establishing a regional transdisciplinary ocean research and training program aligned with the UN Decade of Ocean Science to address knowledge gaps and strengthen science-policy interfaces in the Americas.
• The committee promotes the 'Blue One Health' approach, which connects ocean health with human, animal, and environmental well-being, and recommends its integration into global policy frameworks such as the 3rd UN Ocean Conference Declaration.
• The IAI supports the use of coastal blue carbon ecosystems—specifically mangroves, seagrasses, and tidal marshes—as essential tools for nature-based solutions and achieving 30x30 targets.
• There is an urgent need for tailored financing mechanisms for ocean science in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including the use of blue bonds, blended finance, and climate-ocean trust funds.
• The committee emphasizes the necessity of including Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) and valuing traditional knowledge systems to ensure equitable ocean solutions.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2025). Statement of the Steering Committee on Oceans, Islands, and Coastal Zones of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI_Statement_Committee_Oceans-Islands-CoastalZones_COP33.pdf

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Statement of the Steering Committee on Oceans, Islands, and Coastal Zones of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). 2025. https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI_Statement_Committee_Oceans-Islands-CoastalZones_COP33.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Statement of the Steering Committee on Oceans, Islands, and Coastal Zones of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) |date=May 2025 |url=https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI_Statement_Committee_Oceans-Islands-CoastalZones_COP33.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2025statement, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{Statement of the Steering Committee on Oceans, Islands, and Coastal Zones of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI)}}, publisher = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2025}, month = may, url = {https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI_Statement_Committee_Oceans-Islands-CoastalZones_COP33.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }