Oceans, climate and security are fundamentally related. Scientists and policy-makers across disciplines are raising awareness about the effects of a changing climate on national and human security. Impacts such as ocean acidification and warming, melting polar ice and sea level rise each pose critical threats to human populations, natural systems and global security. Understanding the inter-connectedness between oceans, climate and security is increasingly crucial to our collective future.<\/p>\n
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Some threats are direct, such as impacts to global food security through drought or changes in ocean chemistry and temperature, or damage to civilian and military infrastructure caused by sea-level rise and increasingly frequent or intense storm events. Other threats are significant but less direct, such as decreased agricultural productivity, forced migration of coastal populations, and destabilizations of economies due to the ocean\u2019s reduced capacity to regulate climate and provide for human needs. These conditions have the potential to disrupt societies around the world and force nations to change the way they keep population safe and secure.<\/p>\n
The Global Conference on Oceans, Climate and Security (GC ’12) will address the current state and future direction of science and policy that is guiding international, national, and local responses to these issues in a discussion-driven conference that addresses the theme \u201cCollaboration and Action to Address the Impacts of Climate-related Ocean Change on Human, National and International Security.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through distinguished keynote speakers, expert panels moderated by leading practitioners, and discussion sessions that engage expert international, national and local perspectives, GC\u201912 provides a unique opportunity to assess the current state of global climate change science and policy, and participate in developing recommendations for action. The conference proceedings and recommendations will be developed as a white paper to be submitted for peer-reviewed publication, and will be used as a blueprint to guide development of subsequent action plans by conference partners.<\/p>\n