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 Abril to 31 Agosto 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.
Descubra aquí la lista completa de las Acciones de la Década de los Océanos aprobadas
Para más información, póngase en contacto con
Equipo de Comunicaciones del Decenio de los Océanos(oceandecade.comms@unesco.org)
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Sobre la Década del Océano:
Proclamado en 2017 por la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas, el Decenio de las Naciones Unidas de las Ciencias Oceánicas para el Desarrollo Sostenible (2021-2030) ("el Decenio de los Océanos") pretende estimular la ciencia de los océanos y la generación de conocimientos para revertir el deterioro del estado del sistema oceánico y catalizar nuevas oportunidades de desarrollo sostenible de este enorme ecosistema marino. La visión del Decenio de los Océanos es "la ciencia que necesitamos para el océano que queremos". El Decenio de los Océanos proporciona un marco de convocatoria para que los científicos y las partes interesadas de diversos sectores desarrollen el conocimiento científico y las asociaciones necesarias para acelerar y aprovechar los avances en la ciencia de los océanos para lograr una mejor comprensión del sistema oceánico, y ofrecer soluciones basadas en la ciencia para lograr la Agenda 2030. La Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas encargó a la Comisión Oceanográfica Intergubernamental (COI) de la UNESCO que coordinara los preparativos y la ejecución del Decenio.
Acerca del COI/UNESCO:
La Comisión Oceanográfica Intergubernamental de la UNESCO (COI/UNESCO) promueve la cooperación internacional en ciencias del mar para mejorar la gestión del océano, las costas y los recursos marinos. La COI permite a sus 150 Estados Miembros trabajar juntos coordinando programas de desarrollo de capacidades, observaciones y servicios oceánicos, ciencias del mar y alerta contra tsunamis. El trabajo de la COI contribuye a la misión de la UNESCO de promover el avance de la ciencia y sus aplicaciones para desarrollar el conocimiento y la capacidad, claves para el progreso económico y social, base de la paz y el desarrollo sostenible.
