Biogeographer Miguel Araújo, a member of CHANGE, was recently invited by the Oceano Azul Foundation to join a select group of experts for a working session with French President Emmanuel Macron. The meeting was part of the preparations for the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference, to be held in June in Nice, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica.
During the discussion, Araújo emphasised the intrinsic links between oceans, climate and biodiversity, warning of the growing risks associated with marine ecosystem degradation. He reminded participants that, despite shifting global attention, the oceans continue to bear the brunt of climate change impacts – from ongoing warming to increased extreme weather events and intensified rainfall.
Araújo stressed the oceans' fundamental role as a climate buffer and carbon sink, absorbing over 90% of excess heat and around 25% of annual CO₂ emissions caused by human activity. However, he drew attention to warning signs that this regulatory capacity is reaching its limits, alongside emerging threats such as deep-sea mining, which endangers carbon-rich sediments that have accumulated over millennia.
President Macron showed considerable interest in the issues raised, acknowledging the importance of science-based policy decisions in addressing ocean protection and climate change.
Miguel Araújo also shared current research lines underway at his laboratory, including studies on how climate change affects marine biomass and work on the carbon cycle's role in climate regulation. These projects aim to deepen scientific understanding of how natural systems respond to environmental stress and support more effective conservation strategies.
He also took part in the "SOS Ocean – Paris Meeting", organised by the Oceano Azul Foundation in partnership with the French government and several international institutions. The event culminated with the symbolic lighting of the Eiffel Tower in blue – a striking call for global awareness and decisive action to safeguard the oceans, rooted in scientific knowledge.
The Oceano Azul Foundation, which played a key role in organising the previous UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon (2022), continues to be a central voice in preparing the Nice summit. Miguel Araújo’s involvement in these initiatives reflects the growing recognition of Portuguese science in the global conversation on sustainability and marine conservation.
More information here: maraujolab.eu