Our researcher Maria João Bebianno and our Master student Farhat Bajwa recently made significant contributions to the global dialogue on ocean sustainability and marine pollution at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Barcelona.
Maria João Bebianno played a crucial role in the inaugural United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development Conference in Barcelona. As a key member of the Portuguese delegation, she served as the deputy coordinator of the National Committee for the Decade of the Ocean and contributed as a member of the United Nations Group of Experts for the State of the Ocean Assessment.
During the conference, Bebianno delivered a presentation at the parallel meeting titled "Advancing the United Nations Global Ocean Assessment," highlighting the progress of the UN Regular Process in producing a comprehensive global report on the ocean's state, encompassing socio-economic dimensions. Additionally, she actively engaged in the inaugural gathering of thirty-nine National Committees for the Decade, sharing insights and experiences through a poster presentation to foster collaboration among participating countries. This conference marked a pivotal moment for international scientific collaboration, setting the stage for coordinated efforts toward ocean sustainability and informed policy-making.
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Farhat-Un-Nisá Bajwa orally presented part of master thesis research, entitled “The Anthropocene dilemma: To eat, or not to eat?”, at the United Nations Ocean Conference during session 1 “Science and Solutions for a Clean, Healthy and Resilient Ocean” in Barcelona, Spain.
Her work was among one of the 100 presentations slots selected to showcase the innovative research carried out on the Ocean Decade Challenge 1 “Understand and beat marine pollution”. She has presented how emerging contaminants might pose a risk to human health through seafood consumption, particularly mollusk bivalves (mussels, clams and razor clams), under the supervision of Dr. Tainá Fonseca.
Her parallel session focused on past and ongoing achievements that contribute to the fulfilment of this Challenge, and the future strategic ambition of the Ocean Decade Challenge to 2030. It included contributions from UK, Italy and Japan, and an open discussion with the co-chairs Rosemary Rayfuse and Vanessa Hadje of working group 1 within the Vision 2030.
