What if the key to fighting climate change was right in front of us? That’s the question at the heart of this event. Through a webinar titled “Advancing Ocean-Based Actions for Climate Change,” it talked about how we can use the ocean—as a solution to tackle the climate crisis—while also supporting the environment and the livelihoods of local communities.
Organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and the World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia in collaboration with the AIS Forum Secretariat, the webinar held online on Thursday, 9 May 2025, brought together policymakers, academics, and ocean advocates and was part of a bigger effort led by the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel), which is calling for sustainable ocean area management. As a bold vision, the Ocean Panel needs more voices for islanders, especially youth, academics, and policymakers, aligned with AIS Forum’s focus on climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as implementation of the blue economy.
Opened by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Arif Havas Oegroseno, he reminded us that protecting the ocean is not just about preserving the coastal environment but also about caretaking our future. He urged countries to integrate ocean-climate strategies into national policies, supported by innovation and partnerships across academia and industry. Likewise, there was an inspiring lineup of speakers, including Eliza Northrop, Director of the Centre of Sustainable Development Reform University of New South Wales, Australia; Hendra Yusran Siry & A. Koswara from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia; I Putu Santikayasa from the Centre of Climate Risk and Opportunity Management in Southeast Asia and the Pacific of IPB University; and moderated by Stephanie Juwana from the Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiatives.
Throughout the discussion, several takeaways are highlighted, including the urgent need to include ocean-based strategies in national policies, the potential of nature-based solutions in protecting coastal areas, and the importance of knowledge and data in shaping effective and efficient actions against climate change. It emphasised that the solutions are not only technical, but the success also depends on collaboration between stakeholders.
Attended by more than 140 participants from across 20 countries, including Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Japan, Singapore, the Comoros, Guyana, Madagascar, Fiji, Timor Leste, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Australia, Spain, the USA, Germany, Kenya, and Nigeria, the audience actively participated to jump in during the live Q&A session, with questions ranging from research to real-life policy and applications. The key message? Ocean and climate action must go hand in hand—and we all have a role and responsibility to play.
As a continuous commitment to supporting archipelagic and island countries across the world, the AIS Forum is encouraged to bring people together to share knowledge and facilitate the space for innovative solutions. This webinar was a great opportunity and reminder that, while the challenges are real, the possibilities are just as huge—especially when we are working together.
