With less than two weeks to go before the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona, Spain, the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (the ‘Ocean Decade’) has endorsed a new set of 39 Decade Actions to advance science-based solutions for a healthy and resilient ocean.
Extending across 18 countries – from Tanzania and Costa Rica to Chile and the Netherlands – the new Actions join a set of over 480 Decade Actions endorsed throughout these last three years.
These initiatives encompass diverse issues ranging from ocean monitoring, technology and innovation, the ocean economy, deep-sea exploration, open access to data and green investment in ecosystem restoration and conservation. Cross-cutting issues pivotal to the success of the Ocean Decade are also addressed, such as amplifying the voices of women in ocean science and increasing resilience of local coastal communities and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Actions are primarily led by governmental and research institutions, along with non-governmental, educational and private sector organizations.
“Today marks a significant achievement in the Ocean Decade journey – we have surpassed 500 Decade Actions,” pointed out Vidar Helgesen, newly-appointed Executive Secretary of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the UN agency charged with coordinating the Decade. “On the eve of this year’s largest gathering of the ocean community, the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference, the Ocean Decade now stands as the most expansive ocean science movement ever undertaken, solidifying the critical role of the ocean in the global agenda.”
Scaling up impact of ocean solutions on the road to 2030
The newly endorsed Ocean Decade Programme, “Ocean Census”, joins a select group of 52 Decade Programmes. Led by The Nippon Foundation and Nekton Foundation (United Kingdom), this Programme will explore, discover, inspire, conserve and sustain marine biodiversity globally – aiming not only to collect and document marine taxa, but also to raise and galvanise public interest and action.
The result of a co-sponsored call with Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, seven Decade Projects will focus on the observation of oceanic islands, local networks for ocean action, coastal resilience as well as marine toxins and litter.
Six of the newly endorsed Projects will be hosted by the Ocean Decade Programme Global Ecosystem for Ocean Solutions (GEOS). Based on innovative research, investments and collaboration, these Projects centre on ocean and coastal topics, including new technologies and business models, innovative ocean climate solutions, the protection of ocean biodiversity, Arctic ice restoration, and sustainable ecosystem-based management.
The Ocean Decade’s global network to support co-design of ocean science
Five new Decade Contributions have received official endorsement to engage in a long-term perspective for the Ocean Decade. With the aim of facilitating collaboration, co-design, and synergy around sustainable ocean management, these initiatives will provide in-kind or financial resources that support Decade Actions or Decade coordination needs.
Among these, two important Contributions from Decade Implementing Partners Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) and JPI Oceans will respectively unlock funding opportunities and introduce new Decade Actions through a co-sponsored Call.
The Decade Contribution “Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature Grants” from the United Kingdom’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) seeks to help fund community-based initiatives focused on coastal resilience in a changing climate scenario.
The next Call for Decade Actions No. 07/2024 will be open from 15 April to 31 August 2024. New Programmes, Projects and Contributions will be solicited to engage in co-designing transformative ocean science and fill identified gaps in sustainable ocean management. More information will be available soon.
Discover here the full list of endorsed Ocean Decade Actions
For more information, please contact:
Ocean Decade Communications Team (oceandecade.comms@unesco.org)
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About the Ocean Decade:
Proclaimed in 2017 by the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) (‘the Ocean Decade’) seeks to stimulate ocean science and knowledge generation to reverse the decline of the state of the ocean system and catalyse new opportunities for sustainable development of this massive marine ecosystem. The vision of the Ocean Decade is ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’. The Ocean Decade provides a convening framework for scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to develop the scientific knowledge and the partnerships needed to accelerate and harness advances in ocean science to achieve a better understanding of the ocean system, and deliver science-based solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The UN General Assembly mandated UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to coordinate the preparations and implementation of the Decade.
About the IOC/UNESCO:
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC/UNESCO) promotes international cooperation in marine sciences to improve management of the ocean, coasts and marine resources. The IOC enables its 150 Member States to work together by coordinating programmes in capacity development, ocean observations and services, ocean science and tsunami warning. The work of the IOC contributes to the mission of UNESCO to promote the advancement of science and its applications to develop knowledge and capacity, key to economic and social progress, the basis of peace and sustainable development.
