Navigating the Ocean Challenge - Brazilian Perspectives and the AIR Centre

On September 16, 2024, leading voices from Brazil’s ocean research community, the Atlantic International Research Centre (AIR Centre), and international partners gathered for a groundbreaking event at Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro. Titled "The Brazilian Perspective of the Ocean Challenge and the AIR Centre", this event, live-streamed via YouTube, addressed the environmental and economic challenges facing the Atlantic Ocean.

The panel featured Paulo Gadelha, President of the Board of Directors of the AIR Centre and former President of Fiocruz, Madalena Alves, Presidente of the General Assembly of the AIR Centre and President of the Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) and Miguel Miranda, Executive Director of the AIR Centre, along with representatives from Brazilian organizations like INPO (National Institute for Ocean Research) and INPE (National Institute for Space Research).

The meeting started with Paulo Gadelha emphasizing the urgency of the current global situation. "We face a great challenge with the planetary crisis – namely the climate crisis", Gadelha stated. He further noted that despite Brazil's strong connections to the ocean, there is still a need for greater awareness about ocean-related issues and their relevance in finding solutions to the planetary crisis. Gadelha also highlighted Brazil's foundational role in the AIR Centre, mentioning "Brazil was one of the founders of the AIR Centre during the Florianópolis Declaration." This statement underscores Brazil's long-standing commitment to international cooperation in ocean research and management. Miguel Miranda also stressed Brazil's essential leadership within the AIR Centre, noting that the collaboration between countries with varied economic realities is crucial to advancing ocean management and underscoring the country’s role in creating bridges across the Atlantic. He highlighted how the AIR Centre brings together diverse partners, fostering cooperation between countries with different economic realities, and making strides in linking people, resources, and ideas to create impactful solutions. The transformative power of science, the need to combat fragmentation and coordinate effort, and the importance and potential of the synergistic of collaboration echoed by several speakers throughout the event. As Madalena Alves noted, "when actors come together, the result is 'more than the sum of its parts'". The second part of the event included discussions about the activities of the AIR Centre hubs from Nigeria, Cabo Verde and Brazil (located in Bahia, Ceará, and Amazonas). Representatives from these regional hubs shared their ongoing projects, focused on coastal erosion, offshore energy, and community resilience to environmental challenges. The Nigerian representative pointed out the challenges faced in informing governments about the economic importance of the ocean and the need for coordinated efforts between different ocean-related institutions. He also emphasized the AIR Centre's pivotal role in fostering a sense of belonging and collaboration among Nigerian stakeholders, creating a platform for collective action. The event called for connection and underscored the complex nature of ocean challenges. It highlighted the need for coordinated international efforts and increased investment to ensure the sustainable management of ocean resources and address the planetary crisis. The significant gap between the ocean's crucial role in economic sustainability and the funding dedicated to ocean research and conservation efforts remains a challenge. Addressing this discrepancy is essential for promoting sustainability. As Paulo Gadelha summarized, there is a "contradiction between the relevance of the ocean issue and its role in the economy, and what is invested in research and interventions to ensure sustainability." This landmark event successfully showcased Brazil’s leadership in ocean research and reaffirmed the AIR Centre’s role as a bridge-builder between nations, institutions, and sectors. As the participants demonstrated, collaboration across borders, economies, and disciplines is the only way to ensure a healthy, sustainable future for the Atlantic Ocean.