Presenter: Assoc Prof Emily Ogier (IMAS/CMS)
Title: Novel marine-climate interventions: Understanding the current global status of their use and how we can govern them responsibly
Description: Novel marine-climate interventions – such as ocean alkalinity enhancement, assisted evolution of marine species, assisted migration of marine species, regrowing targeted species, restoring habitat, and aquaculture for carbon sequestration – are being rapidly implemented to address both the causes and consequences of warming oceans. A recent survey revealed five types and 17 sub-types of interventions proposed or deployed in 37 marine systems globally. There is low consensus in climate goals being pursued by these interventions, however, and there is limited assessment and management of the broader ecological, cultural and social risks and benefits. This webinar will present the types of novel interventions being developed or deployed, their geographic distribution and stage of development (i.e., pilot or full deployment at regional scale), types of climate goals and benefits pursued, and current arrangements (if any) for responsible governance. Recommendations for responsibly governing these interventions at both pilot and upscaled deployment – such as robust evaluation of opportunity cost of alternative actions, bioethical and cumulative impact assessment at pilot scales, and building in triggers for downscaling or exits based on community monitoring – will also be discussed.
Recording date: 16 Oct 2025
Hosted by: Open Communication for the Ocean (OCTO)
By Dr Helena Solman (Wageningen University)
Summary: As offshore wind expands in the North Sea, balancing renewable energy development with marine biodiversity protection becomes critical. This seminar explores the governance challenges and opportunities in integrating offshore wind with ecosystem conservation. It examines policy frameworks, stakeholder dynamics, and digital innovations shaping biodiversity-friendly offshore wind planning. Drawing on fieldwork with experts and stakeholders in the North Sea Region, I highlight best practices, regulatory gaps, and emerging digital solutions for sustainable offshore wind deployment. Finally, I propose a collaborative and ecosystem-based governance approach for offshore wind and biodiversity and would like to open up a discussion about issues and solutions for offshore wind and biodiversity in Australia.
CMS Director Prof Gretta Pecl (AM) recently had a Q&A session with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), during Seafood Directions 2024 in Tasmania.
Prof Gretta Pecl discusses her career and mentors, as well as topics like climate change, food security, and protecting marine ecosystems. Gretta highlights the need for adaptive marine management and reflects on the emotional challenges of climate work and the hope she draws from younger generations advocating for change.
Check out the interview here:
MSC Blog post: In conversation with Professor Gretta Pecl AM | Marine Stewardship Council (msc.org)
MSC Fresh Catch Newsletter (Oceania): Oceania Fresh Catch Newsletter (mailchi.mp)
MSC video interview: https://youtu.be/DBsuI0fZEwM
By Dr Danilo Urzedo (CSIRO)
Summary: Digital advancements are increasingly influencing knowledge production to suggest ways of enhancing the efficiency and precision of conservation practices and policies. From environmental big data to generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), a rising number of technological conservation developments are designed and deployed to inform decisions, mobilise participation, and automate labour-intensive tasks. By drawing on Global South perspectives of decoloniality, this talk will present formulations on environmental data justice and how data-driven AI tools shape the legitimacy of conservation expertise. While these conservation technologies seek to facilitate the accessibility and effectiveness of informed decisions, data-driven AI systems can also reinforce or exacerbate power asymmetries and critical injustices. This talk will emphasise the case of chatbot developments and their associated epistemic consequences for conservation decisions across varied contexts and sites.
By Regina Weiss (Derwent & Tamar Chambers)
Summary: 'Ecocide' refers to the destruction of the environment by humans, which is thought to have found its origins in the description of the use of Agent Orange in the Vietnam War. Fast forward more than half a century and the Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide has proposed the legal definition for 'Ecocide' to be the "unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts". Global discussions are underway for the crime of Ecocide to become a crime for which individuals can be held criminally responsible before the ICC, with recent support from the European Union and other States to do so. Regina discusses in an open forum at IMAS topics including jurisdiction of the crime of ecocide before the ICC, the proposed definition, where it should sit in the ICC's governing treaty - the Rome Statute, procedural/evidentiary considerations and the obligations of Member States including Australia if it were included in the Rome Statute.
Bio: Regina Weiss is a Tasmanian barrister who previously served as prosecution trial lawyer at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for nine years on cases emanating predominantly from east Africa before returning to Tasmania in 2021. Since her call to the Bar, Regina was listed on the exclusive ICC List of Counsel for Victims and Defence and is the ICC Bar Association (ICCBA) Focal Point on sexual and gender-based violence. Regina was recently appointed as Chair of the ICCBA Working Group on Ecocide, which was formed to consider key issues and provide advice in the international arena on the proposed inclusion of the crime of Ecocide in the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court, the Rome Statute.
Every morning from 11-15th December 2023, CMS & IMAS hosted a special online webinar series titled 'The Long Hot Summer: Getting Ahead of the Heatwave'.
Please see original event page for the webinar series here: The Long Hot Summer: Getting Ahead of the Heatwave (CMS Events)
Background: Australia's southeast is currently up to 4 degrees warmer than expected, with a projected marine heatwave that is expected to be off the scale, raising the prospect of significant impacts to conservation, fishing and aquaculture. This necessitates extensive climate-related communications and sharing of knowledge from (and among) industry, government, researchers, NGO’s and others. Whilst communication is necessary, it unfortunately also raises legitimate concerns regarding increasing anxiety of individuals. Current research suggests that communication regarding climate extreme events needs to include examples of tangible actions that people can do that are constructive and helpful – this can help people feel like they have a degree of agency and are empowered.
Presentation slides and recordings can be accessed below:
Monday 11th December: Hot seas ahead: current and projected ocean and coastal conditions for Tasmania
Ocean and coastal changes and future projections – Chaired by Prof Mary-Anne Lea
Further resources:
Playback 'Day 1' video recording of the webinar series here: Webinar Series: The Long Hot Summer (Day 1) - Video Recording
Tuesday 12th December: Turning up the temperature - impacts on the ecosystem
Biological & ecological changes associated with warming & heatwaves – Chaired by Assoc Prof Kerrie Swadling
Playback 'Day 2' video recording of the webinar series here: Webinar Series: The Long Hot Summer (Day 2) - Video Recording
Wednesday 13th December: From the ocean to the plate - impacts & hot tips for seafood
Implications for fisheries & aquaculture – Chaired by Dr Katie Creswell
Playback 'Day 3' video recording of the webinar series here: Webinar Series: The Long Hot Summer (Day 3) - Video Recording
Thursday 14th December: Heatwave help - what action is happening & what else can we do?
Risks and hazards, preparedness – Chaired by Dr Emily Ogier
Playback 'Day 4' video recording of the webinar series here: Webinar Series: The Long Hot Summer (Day 4) - Video Recording
Friday 15th December: Communicating climate with authenticity to drive action (& minimise anxiety!)
What to communicate and how – Chaired by Prof Gretta Pecl
Further resources:
Playback 'Day 5' video recording of the webinar series here: Webinar Series: The Long Hot Summer (Day 5) - Video Recording
Congratulations to the Curious Climate Tasmania (CCT) team who were a finalist, and one of two ‘highly commended’ awards in the International Green Gown Awards, part of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, in the ‘Benefiting Society’ category.
CCT delivers public-powered scientific engagement, bridging the gap between experts and audiences with credible, relevant information about climate change. CCT is different from most science communication projects in that content is driven by its participants. It asks the Tasmanian community what they want to know about climate change, and responds directly to their questions.
The Curious Climate Tasmania team is a collaboration across UTAS but led by Professor Gretta Pecl (IMAS/CMS) and Dr Chloe Lucas (GPSS/CMS) and is a novel and highly successful science engagement program that links experts and the broader community to provide credible, relevant information about climate change but is importantly driven by public interests.
Read more and watch a short video here: University of Tasmania, Australia | Green Gown Awards.
CMS was lucky to have a fourth year Arts student from Beaux-arts de Paris, Sarah el Idrissi, spend several weeks with CMS. Here is a short video she made during a visit to Maria Island with CMS Director Professor Gretta Pecl, and marine ecologists Professor Sean Connell and Adriana Vergés. The video is set to music from the Bahrain pearl divers men’s choir
Supported by CMS, this film explores Tasmanian Aboriginal connection to kelp forests. The film also features CMS affiliate Dean Greeno, and was released January 6th at an amazing launch event. Watch the film and see the pics here.
Prof Gretta Pecl is an Ambassador for Business Events Tasmania
