CIIMAR’s Thalassa Seminar with Sebastian Villasante | Online
In this seminar, Sebastian Villasante explores the transformative potential of initiatives that address the root causes of biodiversity loss and ocean degradation. Villasante argues that current international efforts often fail because they do not tackle underlying drivers such as disconnection from nature, concentration of power, and short-term economic priorities. The presentation highlights five key strategies, including governance reform, economic transformation, and value shifts. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration among governments, civil society, scientists, and the private sector. Case studies, such as co-managed marine reserves and policy innovations, demonstrate that inclusive, cross-scale approaches can generate ecological recovery and social benefits simultaneously.
Sebastian Villasante is Director of the EqualSea Lab, funded by the European Research Council, and a Distinguished Research Professor. His work focuses on transformations toward a just and sustainable world. He is currently serving as an expert for the Earth Commission, contributing to the definition of safe and just boundaries for the ocean. He was Coordinating Lead Author for the IPBES Transformative Change Assessment, the Global Tipping Points Reports and the III World Ocean Assessment.
He also studies how scientific evidence can be translated into actionable guidance to strengthen the implementation and effectiveness of international agreements and national policies.
In case of any questions, please contact CIIMAR’s Seminar team, Marta Monteiro, Miguel Semedo, & Paulo Oliveira, at seminars@ciimar.up.pt
External members of CIIMAR should send an email to slopes@ciimar.up.pt, requesting authorization to enter the Porto Cruise Terminal area
CIIMAR members can also access last seminars recordings through the LINK.
