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Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee

VLIZ

The Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) promotes the strengthening of marine knowledge and excellence in marine research in Flanders.

Lobbying Activity

Response to Climate Law

1 May 2020

Flanders Marine institute (VLIZ) welcomes the proposal for a EU Climate Law and congratulates EU/AC on the initiative, in particular the intention to maintain international leadership in this crucial and determining matter for sustainable future. VLIZ would like to explicitly refer to: * The EU Initiative on INTERNATIONAL OCEAN GOVERNANCE (https://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/policy/ocean-governance_en) and the recognition by the EU, in this initiative that (quote) "Healthy oceans are essential for humankind, as climate regulators....,....oceans produce half of the oxygen in the earth's atmosphere and absorb 25 per cent of C02 emissions. * The importance of the expression "as early as possible and by 2050 at the latest"". By using this statement consistently throughout the future regulation, the EU (EC) expresses the true conviction that early(earlier) adoption and development of new technologies and innovations will result in integrative gain. By putting in place the innovation-disruptions as early as possible we can to create a buffer for unforeseen situations (very cold winters, reneawable energy shortage, pandemias ... position on the international carbon market) * It is unacceptable for a credible future regulation not to refer explicitly to the ocean as carbon sink (it does refer to forest, wetland, agricultural land,..): the EU has the largest EEZ area in overseas territories * Take into account the explicit recommendations by the IPCC in the report on Ocean and the cryosphere, and its summary for policy makers * it is unacceptable for a credible future regulation not to refer to carbon-subsided imports and the external dimension of a climate law Thank you, vliz
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Response to Farm to Fork Strategy

17 Mar 2020

Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) is the platform for marine/maritime research and innovation, representing aproxiamtely 1500 marine researchers in Flanders. It advises the Flanders (Belgium) government in matters of marine research and science to policy, and is mandated by the govt. to support the blue growth with sound science advice. * VLIZ strives for an integrated and trans-disciplinary approach and through sustainability science, as promoted in the publication 'Navigating the Future V' of the European Marine Board: https://www.marineboard.eu/sites/marineboard.eu/files/public/images/publications/NFV/NFV%20factsheet3.pdf. This includes science-based management and well-informed decision-making. * In this context VLIZ supports the transition to a more integrated approach, the full-fledged adoption of the SDG's and the Agenda2030, and the transition to a carbon-neutral society through the adoption of the GreenDeal. VLIZ draws the attention to the earth system, with a indivisible connection between climate-ocean-biodiversity. Specific suggestions on the Roadmap 'Farm to Fork Strategy': " ..the strategy should cover every step in the food supply chain from production to consumption..": The strategy should also clearly embrace the principles of ecosystem based approach, covering aspects in which the food supply chain is framed, but not implicit part of the value chain (e.g. for seafood supply chain the importance of the Marine Spatial Planning directive) * the F2F strategy: should complement sustainable fisheries and agriculture policies, but also support and align with - enable and strengthen the objectives of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive MSFD and marine ecosystem protection measures. *the roadmap refers explicitly to the IPCC report on Climate Change and Land; kindly note that the IPCC also published the Special Report on Ocean and the Cryosphere, with similar conclusions related to the significant changes in productivity in coastal and marine zones (eg where most of the productive fisheries and aquaculture are situated). * include social sciences to develop effective communication strategies to achieve long-lasting behavioural changes. * develop smart and transparent labeling, informing consumers about environmental/climate impact of consumption behaviour * include sustainable food packaging strategies * underline importance of traceability of food! * integrative approach to environmental and human health: (eg. importance of pollinizers in food production,..) * Make a link with other (EU) initiatives such as the Strategy for Data (supports single market principle, traceability, interoperability * Link with smart observations, and the Internet of Things (cfr also 'Ocean Internet of Thinks and 'Digital Twin' models of the production environment) * capacity development in the sector to train professionals * take into account the external dimension of the F2F strategy! Hoping these constructive comments and suggestions can be take into account in the future communication Farm to Fork, VLIZ congratulates the EU with the efforts and remains at the disposal to support this process with science to policy.
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Response to EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy

20 Jan 2020

Flanders Marine Institute welcomes the initiative on the roadmap on EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the ambition to lead in the preparations to the post-2020 global Biodiversity Strategy. The role of the Ocean and marine biodiversity (genes, species, habitats) plays a crucial role in climate regulation and crucial ecosystem services to humans. It is crucial to take into account: - underline the need for a coherent research plan to underpin the Strategy needs - underline the need for sustained ocean biological observations and international collaboration for that matter - ocean observation by nature requires international collaboration: this is an opportunity for the EU in international context - underline the need of international collaboration on generation of sound data, data standards and interoperable dataystems - expanding and strengthening the current network of marine protected areas, in all forms and beyond the natura 2000 sites - support the 30x30 target (30% protection by 2030) as in the Aichi target 11, cfr proposal COP15. Belgium has expressed its high level support to this target, together with other countries (Brussels Declaration on Climate and Ocean, 2019) - recognize the role of the ocean in carbon cycle, and carbon uptake: blue carbon - importance of restoring crucial habitats/species/ecosystems, with particular attention for those with major contribution to climate mitigation and blue carbon capture. Also making sure that these restored ecosystems are safeguarded from future new developments e;g. through marine spatial planning practices. - seek synergies with existing legislation and initiatives at EU level (MSFD, EU Ocean Governance, Blue growth Strategy, Plastics Strategy, Invasive species Strategy, green deal,..-) Add to 'evidence base and data collection': "UN First Global Integrated Marine Assessment, or “World Ocean Assessment I (WOA-I)” and reference to Regular process for the WOA II
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