How can we strengthen the oceans’ resilience in the face of environmental emergencies that require rapid action, innovation and cooperation? This was the central question posed at the second Ocean Resilience Summit, held on September 4 in downtown Rio de Janeiro.

Organized by OceanPact in partnership with the International Spill Control Organization (ISCO) and the Association of Oil, Gas and Renewable Energy Companies of Latin America and the Caribbean (ARPEL), the meeting brought together domestic and international experts to discuss topics such as the use of dispersants, recent experiences involving emergency response and international cooperation, and management of offshore environmental emergencies.

OceanPact CEO Flavio Andrade highlighted the importance of establishing this meeting as a recurring milestone in the industry’s calendar. “What we discuss here at the Ocean Resilience Summit should echo in universities, companies and the press to generate concrete changes,” he said.

The discussions featured specialists such as Mark Ploen and Josh Clifford from QT Environmental, Lucas Fantinato and Victoria Broje from Shell and ARPEL, Marcelo Amorim and Cintia Bonfim from the Brazilian Environmental Protection Agency (IBAMA), Thomas Sturgeon from ITOPF, Carlos Sagrera from ISCO, Katia Oliveira from IGP&I, Marcus Lisbôa from ARPEL, Valeria Ruoppolo from consulting firm Aiuká, Leandro Brandão from PRIO, Philip Cole from Agile Spray Response Ltd, Fagner Magalhaes from OSRL, and Taisa Dantas from Espírito Santo Federal University. They all shared their practical experience and innovative solutions in the sector.

According to Érik Cunha, OceanPact’s commercial and marketing director, the event took place in a decisive moment for Brazil. “The country is at a crucial moment for discussing international cooperation. There is still much to be done, but a meeting of experts like this, addressing these issues, shows how much progress we can make in emergency management and response, and in global cooperation,” he said.

First held in 2023, the Ocean Resilience Summit has established itself as a strategic platform that connects science, technology, regulation and international collaboration, strengthening protection of the oceans and preparing society for the environmental challenges of the future.