SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Ocean Conservancy CEO Janis Searles Jones (@InVeritas_Jones) will moderate a panel on Friday, September 14^th on the value of partnerships in climate-smart ocean governance at the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS). The conference, convened and organized by Governor Jerry Brown and the state of California, seeks to launch deeper worldwide commitments and accelerated action on climate.

The ocean is the planet’s most effective buffer against climate change, and taking the ocean into account is critical to successfully addressing climate change.  The ocean has absorbed 90% of the excess heat generated by greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to 30% of the CO2 pumped into the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution.

“Ocean Conservancy applauds Governor Jerry Brown, the state of California, and the international leaders gathered in San Francisco for this watershed moment,” said Janis Searles Jones, CEO of Ocean Conservancy. “We know we need to move more quickly to address climate change, and it is heartening to see these commitments being made, in the absence of federal leadership in the US on this issue.  We simply cannot solve the climate crisis without taking into consideration what is big, blue and hiding in plain sight – our ocean.  For the first time at a major climate conference, the ocean will be featured prominently. This gives me hope for the future.”

Ocean Conservancy’s chief scientist Dr. George Leonard (@GeorgeHLeonard), and Dr. Sarah Cooley (@co2ley), a world-renowned expert on ocean carbon cycles and director of Ocean Conservancy’s ocean acidification program, will also attend GCAS.

Ocean Conservancy is also a founding member of the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification, which will convene at the summit to advance its ongoing effort to enable governments and other leaders to approach international policy discussions on changing ocean conditions with both a shared vision and shared values. As a founding member of the OA Alliance, Ocean Conservancy will be releasing its own OA Action Plan, detailing our institutional commitment to bringing the ocean to the table in climate discussions.

All Ocean Conservancy experts are available for media and press interviews.

The Ocean-Climate Challenge: New Approaches, Partnerships and Opportunities

• Panel: Value of Partnerships in Climate-Smart Ocean Governance
• Janis Searles Jones, Moderator
• Date: Friday, September 14^th, 2018
• Time: 3:15-4:00pm
• Press Availability: 4:00-4:15pm

Location: Moscone Center

• 747 Howard St
• San Francisco, CA 94103

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.