Scientific collaboration on emerging threats to marine ecosystems – Paris, October 2025
CIESM took part in the 52nd session of GESAMP (Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection), hosted by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO in Paris. This annual meeting gathered representatives from international organisations to evaluate new and emerging risks to the marine environment and to strengthen interdisciplinary scientific collaboration.
The session addressed several emerging threats to marine ecosystems, including ocean darkening, pollution from marine coatings, submarine groundwater discharges, and environmental risks associated with ammonia fuel, carbon capture waste, coastal methane emissions, and space debris. These discussions emphasised the importance of developing science-based global assessments and risk management frameworks for future ocean governance.
CIESM reaffirmed its support for interdisciplinary and cross-institutional cooperation to assess and address the most pressing marine challenges. The Commission extends warm congratulations to Dr Wendy Watson-Wright, newly appointed Chair of GESAMP, and to Chrysanthe Kolia, GESAMP Coordinator, and Alessia M. Rodriguez y Baena, Strategic Manager – Open Science at CIESM, who represented the Commission during this session.
