Safeguarding ocean and coastal ecosystems
Kristina Rodriguez has chartered her professional course in the nature and sustainability industry, building on her passion to preserve coastal ecosystems. She grew up in Miami, with the ocean as her backyard and it was almost inevitable that she would come to understand the health of the ocean and coastal ecosystems.
The awareness of how rich and pristine these coastal habitats were, and the abundance of biodiversity seemed to nourish a passion for Kristina. With passion came a curiosity that allowed her understanding of just how valuable yet vulnerable these elements of nature were, particularly as more natural disasters threatened their existence. She affirmed to get the knowledge and certification to work in the environmental conservation space.
Years later at The University of Florida then The Yale School of the Environment, Kristina began to see the direction she wanted to take with her career in climate policy and planning. What began as a hobby by virtue of proximity to nature, seamlessly turned into a profession to protect the environment she knew was home to many species and people.
Now as an Oceans Fellow with the High-Level Climate Champion’s Team, Kristina has been working with a diverse team on the delivery of the 2030 breakthroughs agenda on oceans with ocean communities in mind. Her day to day involves mobilising non-state actors to scale up their climate targets and climate actions, which forms part of the implementation of The Mangrove Breakthrough, a policy framework that calls for accelerated action and investment from various stakeholders to protect threatened ecosystems on the planet.
With COP28 being presided over by the United Arab Emirates, a prominent member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), significant and legitimate concerns were raised on the ability of the negotiations to deliver an ambitious enough outcome. Despite mixed feelings on the mitigation and adaptation outcomes, governments and markets are coalescing at unprecedented scales to realise the transformational potential of nature as a driver of climate momentum and resilience.
The ocean was one of the key areas under the Nature Pillar for COP28, and rightfully at the heart of the discussions at COP28, signalling an enhancing recognition of the ocean as a solution to the climate crisis. It was reported that USD 186.6 million in new finance for nature and climate towards forests, mangroves and the ocean was put forward.
It’s clear that the ambition loop is turning for mangrove protection, as ministers and non-state actors assembled to protect and restore 15 million hectares of mangroves by 2030 through USD 4 billion of sustainable finance. 49 governments (representing around 60% of the world’s mangroves) and over 50 non-state actors are supporting the Mangrove Breakthrough targets to restore and protect 15 million hectares of mangroves, and to halt mangrove destruction by 2030.
According to Kristina, political momentum has never been higher to realise mangroves’ massive potential as a carbon sink. She shares that mangroves can sequester four times as much atmospheric carbon as rainforests, protect coastlines, provide habitats, and support local livelihoods. For Kristina, seeing the growing recognition of the ocean and coastal ecosystem’s contribution in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement has been a promising sign of scaling equitable nature-based solutions for both mitigation and adaptation to address the climate and biodiversity crises.
Kristina Rodriguez’s invaluable contribution to ocean conservation and mangrove restoration shows that women in all their diversity are leading change, guided by passion and strengthened by their lived experience. She is raising the SHE Changes Climate flag through her strides and as our Ambassador in the United States.
