On May 15, VIU hosted the VIULecture Blue Carbon, Sustainability and Europe, an educational screening of the docufilm Blue Carbon, followed by a thought-provoking debate on the critical role of Blue Carbon and European initiatives to underscore the importance of wetlands. These ecosystems have the potential to contribute significantly to mitigating climate change, aiding adaptation, and promoting sustainable development.
The film showcased coastal ecosystems, like mangroves, that excel at sequestering carbon dioxide from both the atmosphere and the ocean. The subsequent discussion drew comparisons with the Venice Lagoon, home to Europe’s largest coastal wetland.
Jane Da Mosto from We are Here Venice highlighted efforts to restore, maintain, and protect the lagoon’s salt marshes (barene) and seagrass meadows, which offer significant climate benefits but face threats from erosion due to water traffic and other human activities. Coordinated action from policymakers, scientists, and the public, through participatory democratic processes, is essential.
Protecting and restoring wetlands offers clear benefits for nature and communities alike. They provide defense against extreme weather events, support diverse ecosystems, and offer economic benefits through food resources and job creation. Furthermore, they present opportunities for investment from companies aiming to offset their carbon footprint via carbon credit financing, which supports ecological restoration and community capacity building.
Part of the VIULectures series, the event opened with remarks from Michela Galliano of Europe Direct, linking it to the Festa dell'Europa celebrations. The educational screening was made possible by the Wake Up Europe Campaign, with Annalisa Piras, journalist and Director of the Wake Europe project, moderating the debate.
Panelists included Jane Da Mosto, environmental scientist and Executive Director of We are Here Venice, and Ilda Mannino, environmental scientist and scientific coordinator of the VIU TEN Program. Contributions from the audience included insights from Carlo Giupponi, professor of environmental economics at Ca' Foscari and former Dean of VIU.
The event was also part of the Festival dello Sviluppo Sostenibile,an ASVIS initiative. VIU extends its gratitude to all contributors for their valuable participation.
