In this episode of "Doing What Works: Exploring the Blue Economy," Dr. Jo Tavares and Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins dive deep into the topic of the blue economy and its intersection with climate action, policy, education, and community engagement. Through insightful conversation, they explore the power of individual actions versus systemic change, the role of policy in addressing climate change, and the importance of inclusive collaboration in shaping a sustainable future. The episode highlights successful restoration efforts in wetland areas and emphasizes the need for ongoing education and industry collaboration to foster opportunities in the blue economy sector.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
- The significance of policy in addressing climate change and the role of individuals in policy-making processes.
- The importance of balancing individual actions with systemic changes through policies and collaborative efforts.
- The impact of education-industry collaborations, such as the BCAP project, in providing hands-on experience and career opportunities in the blue economy.
- Success stories in California's blue economy, particularly in wetland restoration projects.
- The vision for an inclusive and sustainable blue economy that prioritizes community engagement and environmental protection.
About Our Guest
Jo Tavares, a passionate marine biologist and educator, is dedicated to fostering ocean literacy and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards. As the Director of Dive Programs and Volunteer Engagement, she designs immersive experiences that actively involve people in the underwater world. Jo's work strongly emphasizes hands-on learning, community involvement, and the importance of protecting our marine ecosystems.
Impactful Quotes
"So, I started my first job teaching English as a second language in Brazil to people of all ages, including little kids. And I think for me, it really helped me initiate this long commitment to education in general as a way for us to all really understand humanity, like this process of learning and teaching each other things. So teaching for me has always been this opportunity to learn."
– Jo Tavares
Aquaculture is something that most people don’t think about as a solution for climate change, but it is. It’s part of a group of solutions for climate change because it can actually serve to remove carbon from the atmosphere
– Jo Tavares
"Over, you know, 90% of the heat that has been created on this planet because of human activities has actually gone into the ocean. If it weren’t for the ocean, the planet would already be boiling up."
– Jo Tavares
"We know that folks who live in what we call frontline communities, low-income communities normally, that’s going to be mostly people of color, women, the elderly, children, they suffer the effects of climate change disproportionately. And so that’s one of the things that at the center we’re able to now discuss, how can we address all those things in an integrated way."
– Jo Tavares
"The future that we're co-creating right now is the ability to have everyone participate in it, as inclusive and democratic as possible."
– Jo Tavares
