Grant: Canada First Research Excellence Fund

Multiple lines of evidence show that carbon-intensive human activity has destabilized critical parts of the Earth system that determine our climate. To date, the ocean has absorbed 40% of fossil fuel emissions through processes collectively known as the “ocean carbon pump”, and 90% of the heat from human-induced global warming. In response, the ocean is changing at an uncertain rate and its capacity to buffer human impact could potentially fail, critically exacerbating climate change and potentially compromising net-zero ambitions. Human adaptation to a changing climate urgently requires better understanding of ocean processes in response to this crisis. The Transforming Climate Action initiative will resolve, identify and demonstrate the transformative solutions required. We propose three interconnected research themes focused on the North Atlantic, which absorbs 30% of global ocean carbon, as we co-produce transdisciplinary and socially-relevant research with Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, governments, and international partners to inform climate action for Canada: 1. Through intensified and intelligent observation of key ocean processes in the North Atlantic, we will reduce critical uncertainties at the ocean-climate nexus, including enhanced observation of air-sea carbon fluxes, deep convection, and seafloor carbon absorption. Recent technological advances will support a higher-level synthesis of ocean data than previously possible. This synthesis will feed directly into climate policies. 2. With rigor made possible by reduced uncertainty (Theme 1), as well as engineering- and nature-based solutions to lower the carbon footprint of ocean industries and boost clean technologies for observation and monitoring, we will develop novel approaches to address climate change through co-designed mitigation actions, including acceleration of natural and artificial carbon absorption in the ocean. 3. We will develop new understanding and practical methods to bolster justice and equity within adaptation at the Ocean-Climate-People nexus. Collaboration with Indigenous and costal communities, novel decision-making, governance and policy approaches will support more equitable and enduring adaptation responses for a transition to a carbon neutral economy. Transformative knowledge mobilization will develop meaningful, impactful, and usable communication and investigate approaches to education for the empowerment needed to translate knowledge into action.