

COP27: Whose Ocean is it Anyway? Why Ocean Heritage Matters for Climate Change Mitigation
Yesterday morning, Edinburgh Marine Archaeology (EMA) and the Ocean Decade Heritage Network’s (ODHN) Cultural Heritage Framework Programme (CHFP), co-organised an event at COP27’s Virtual Ocean Pavilion, discussing the impacts of climate change on marine cultural heritage (MCH), and why including MCH in coastal and ocean sustainability initiatives is not just advisable, but essential.
The effects of a changing climate are disproportionately affecting coastal communities in the global south. Yet, when climate mitigation plans are put in place, they typically follow western frameworks which often disregard the role of coastal and marine heritage and heritage practices in ocean resource use and sustainability. This event presented the necessary evidence of the essential role played by marine natural and cultural heritage for sustainable and effective climate action towards mitigation and adaptation strategies in the coastal and marine zone, for the benefit of the people who depend on it.
The opening remarks from the Chair of ODHN, Dr. Athena Trakadas, discussed the primary ambition that by the end of the UN Ocean Decade, the historical dimension of people’s relationships with the sea must be integrated within ocean science and policy, for the ‘ocean we want’. Following this, various presentations from maritime archaeologists, heritage specialists, and ecologists, gave numerous examples of how MCH can contribute to a sustainable ocean over the course of the UN Ocean Decade.
Dr. Georgia Holly introduced the theme of MCH as a key contributor to global ocean challenges in the first presentation, using examples from the University of Edinburgh’s Rising from the Depths Network to give evidence for bottom-up, community-led MCH initiatives for the benefit of coastal communities in East Africa. In doing so, Dr. Holly highlighted the importance of both tangible and intangible heritage for climate mitigation and management.
The second presentation, given by Professor Paul Lane at the University of Cambridge, discussed the value of understanding trajectories of change and human-environment relations in the past for developing sustainable resilient futures. Professor Lane emphasised the use of the phrase ‘Sustainable Living’ over ‘Sustainable Development’ to spotlight the centrality of sustainability and livelihoods within communities, over large-scale industry and development.
The direct effects of coastal erosion and sea level rise on MCH, and the importance of citizen science and community involvement was highlighted in the talk ‘Coastal Heritage and Climate Change along the East African Coast: Past, Present, and Future’, by Dr. Elgidius Ichumbaki at the University of Dar es Salaam. Dr. Ichumbaki shed particular light on the power of local people to protect and celebrate MCH.
Following the discussion on the benefits of citizen science and community projects, we talked about TEK with Chepkemboi Labatt, from the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), who discussed the importance of Traditional Ecological Knoweldge (TEK) in decision making tools for fisheries, conservation, the blue economy, and marine spatial planning. Ms. Labatt emphasised the current threats to TEK, a knowledge source which remains largely unwritten, undefined, and undervalued in the scientific world, and called for greater recognition of this dynamic and holistic resource within management and planning.
Dr. Jonathan Sharfman, from the New York University in Abu Dhabi and the African Centre for Heritage Activities, emphasised the importance of community and community practices and knowledge in his discussion of Local Maritime Cosmologies, and the necessity of identifying historical approaches to mitigating environmental challenges. Dr. Sharfman highlighted the potential to embed ocean resource management into social codes of practice, as small coastal communities offer micro solutions to mitigate the impacts of vast environmental uncertainties.
Finally, the talks were concluded by the president of the ICOMOS Scientific Committee on Underwater Cultural Heritage (ICUCH), Dr. Chris Underwood with a focus on ‘Catalysing Public Support and Engagement within the Ocean Decade’. Dr. Underwood underlined the importance of public involvement in the Decade of Ocean Science, identified as being critical to the success of the decade during the first planning meetings of the Decade in Copenhagen, 2019. How citizen scientists and heritage professionals can improve knowledge of ocean processes and contribute data related to underwater cultural heritage and climatic change was exemplified and stressed.
The final discussion was moderated and summarised by Dr. Arturo Rey da Silva, at the University of Edinburgh. Dr Rey da Silva emphasised the themes of transformation, particularly of education systems and policies; adaptability and dialogue, particularly between academia and policy, industry, and communities; ecosystem approaches, which engage with both traditional ecological and heritage knowledge; and the legitimisation of traditional regulatory systems into both local policy, international organisations, and transboundary systems such as Marine Spatial Planning, Integrated Coastal Zone Management, and Marine Protected Areas.
By evidencing the vast amount of work being conducted between the disciplines of marine cultural heritage and climate science, it is hoped that the role of heritage within sustainable living and climate mitigation will stop being seen as a niche cause, and will be recognised as an essential pillar of the Decade of Ocean Science. If one point is to be taken away from this panel, it is that people and the environment have always been intertwined, and ignoring the vast cultural heritage which has both moulded, and been moulded by the natural environment, ultimately ignores the people who depend on it the most.
It is hoped that these discussions will be the first of many interactions between the marine cultural heritage practitioners, ocean scientists, policy makers and communities in the framework of COP’s aspirations, and the challenges of the Decade for Ocean Sciences. The ODHN’s Cultural Heritage Framework Programme aims to strengthen and enhance these discussions within the marine sciences, marine economic sectors, governments, and the public throughout the coming years.
To watch the webinar, simply register with COP27’s Virtual Ocean Pavilion (https://cop27oceanpavilion.vfairs.com/), find us on the agenda for the 9th of November, and click ‘watch’.


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