Transforming Ocean-Climate Action in Canada
Anya Waite explains how the Ocean Frontier Institute, led by Dalhousie University, is driving the science and innovation needed to solve urgent ocean-climate challenges.
The ocean protects us against the worst impacts of climate change. However, emerging science shows that its ability to absorb carbon and regulate temperatures may be changing in ways we don’t understand. This uncertainty critically undermines global climate targets and puts the well-being of our planet, communities, and economies at risk.
Researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders today represent the first generation that is fully aware of the risks of climate change and the last generation that can change the trajectory of the climate crisis. The global challenge of our lifetime is surviving that crisis. For success, we must improve climate forecasts to set smarter climate policies and strategies, and invest in the science and technology of safe, responsible, and scalable climate solutions and supporting infrastructure.
Established in 2015, the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI) is a global leader in ocean research. OFI brings researchers, industry, and government together to solve complex ocean problems. Our projects emphasize a transnational and interdisciplinary approach to research, producing enduring social, environmental, and economic benefits.
Transforming Climate Action
In 2023, Dalhousie University launched a groundbreaking new $397m research program: Transforming Climate Action (TCA). With funding from the Government of Canada and other international partners, the program will be one of the most intensive investigations ever undertaken into the ocean’s role in climate change. Led by Dalhousie’s Ocean Frontier Institute, the TCA program is organized into cross-cutting themes that span natural science, applied science and engineering, and social science. The research focuses on three key objectives:
1. Reducing uncertainty about natural ocean carbon sequestration and storage processes.
2. Improving understanding of the ocean’s role in modulating climate.
3. Developing transformative, science-based solutions for ocean-climate challenges.
Through its collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, the TCA program aims to drive innovation and develop actionable insights that will inform policies and strategies for addressing ocean-climate challenges.
