Connecting Science to Policy Action

Dr. Lubchenco focuses equally on connecting existing scientific knowledge to policy and action and helping discover the new knowledge that is needed to solve big societal challenges. This includes both reframing problems where needed and focusing on specific topical issues such as climate change, biodiversity, fisheries and aquaculture, healthy ocean ecosystems and their connections to each other and to human wellbeing.

A vibrant future for people depends on a healthy ocean (https://science.sciencemag.org/content/364/6444/911) and a healthy planet  (https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-021-01544-8).
Opportunities abound to achieve multiple benefits by protecting biodiversity and ecosystems.  Marine Protected Areas that are highly and fully protected (https://www.protectedplanet.net/c/mpa-guide) can help mitigate climate change, enhance fisheries, and protect biodiversity (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03371-z ). 
The ocean is key to achieving climate (https://bit.ly/3eIldK2) and societal (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03303-3) goals.
Food from the sea offers a pathway to food security https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2616-y
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Dr. Lubchenco discussing the MPA Guide at the 2019 Climate Action Summit
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Jane discussing climate change with Pope Francis at the Vatican, 2018
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Jane discussing the ocean with Chilean President Bachelet, 2015
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Jane advocating for an Ocean Sustainable Development Goal at the UN, 2014
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Dr. Lubchenco with Dr. John Holdren and President Barack Obama at the White House