GSC Climate Week event
3:30-5:30 pm EDT, September 22, UNGC Boardroom, New-York
Background: Seaweeds help mitigate climate change by absorbing CO2 and nutrients from the ocean, serving as a source material for bioplastics and potentially biofuels that reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and decreasing methane emissions from livestock by as much as 99% when added to their feed. Seaweed-derived bio-stimulants can replace chemical fertilizers, reducing the carbon footprint associated with terrestrial agriculture. By creating sustainable products and restoring ocean ecosystems, seaweed farming offers a nature-based solution for carbon removal without competing for land or water resources used for human agriculture. Seaweed farms absorb excess nutrients (like nitrogen and phosphorus) and pollutants from runoff, improving coastal water quality. Wild and farmed seaweed forests provide habitat and food for marine species, supporting biodiversity. Seaweed farming provides economic opportunities for coastal communities, offering a sustainable alternative to declining fisheries.
The global seaweed sector has grown rapidly over the past two decades, tripling in size and doubling in value to reach over 35 million tonnes (wet weight) and representing half of marine aquaculture production in volume and $1.2 billion in global exports value in 2022.
Yet, despite its potential, the seaweed sector still is not well understood. It is under-supported and lacks the necessary coordination, standardization, and dedicated governance for it to expand globally and to fully contribute to the SDGs.
At UNOC-3, the United Nations Global Seaweed Initiative (UNGSI) was announced under the leadership of the Republic of Madagascar, the Republic of Indonesia, and the Republic of France, and its supporting entities Global Seaweed Coalition (GSC), UNCTAD, FAO, UNIDO, IOC-UNESCO, and UN Global Compact and relevant private sector associations and scientific and civil society actors. The UNGSI, to be launched officially on September 23 at UN HQ, will serve as a collaborative platform for developing the seaweed sector in market, regulatory, scientific, financial, capacity building, and advocacy areas.
This GSC Climate Week event will shed light on the important contributions seaweeds make to mitigating climate change, underscoring the need for global coordination and policy support for this underappreciated sector. In so doing, this event will serve as a precursor to the official launch of the UNGSI the following day, providing an opportunity for diverse seaweed stakeholders to share their perspectives on why a UN Global Seaweed Initiative is important and timely.
Co-organizers: Republic of Madagascar, Republic of France, Republic of Indonesia, Federative Republic of Brazil, Global Seaweed Coalition (GSC), United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), UNESCO-IOC, French National Research Center (CNRS), and Aquatic Blue Food Coalition.
Register here (physical & virtual)
Contacts:
UNGC : doumeizel@unglobalcompact.org
Agenda
Opening (1 min)
Nichola Dyer, Sr Advisor, Global Seaweed Coalition
Welcoming remarks by host (2 min)
Vincent Doumeizel, UN Global Compact
Opening keynotes: Seaweeds & Climate Change (10 min)
HE Paubert Tsimanaoraty Mahatante, Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy, Madagascar
Anoushka Concepcion, GSC Strategic Advisory Council
Conservation policy imperative: The Seaweed Breakthrough (5 min)
Juliet Brodie, Natural History Museum (pre-recorded video)
Seaweed & climate – diverse stakeholder perspectives on the need for global coordination (25-30 min)
France – France’s seaweed strategy (TBC)
Chantal Line Carpentier, UN Trade & Development – COP30, plastics negotiation
Nancy Iraba, Healthy Seaweed Co. Ltd. – private sector perspective on need for global policy coordination and investment in the sector
Andrew Wilkinson, North Coast Seafoods: food system
Felaniana Lantovololona, Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy, Madagascar – impact of climate change on island states producing seaweed
Indonesia – impact of climate change on second-largest global producer (TBC)
Audience interaction (25 min)
Q&A
GSC member contributions
The Road to COP30 (5 min)
Eduardo Sfoglia, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Brazil (TBC)
Announcement of UNGSI co-chairs (2 min)
Sept 23 launch event
Closing (2 min)
Family photo (5 min)
Reception with Seaweedish Meatballs (30 min)
