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The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) at COP28
The Ocean Decade will be present at COP28, taking place from 30 November to 12 December 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to spotlight ocean science solutions that contribute to climate action in the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
On the road to the 2025 United Nations Conference in Nice, France, and with only five months left until the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference, COP28 stands as a pivotal milestone to highlight progress in identifying priorities and knowledge gaps across the science – policy – society interface, feeding into the Ocean Decade Vision 2030 process.
The Ocean Decade will host and co-organize a series of events, gathering a diverse panel of leaders, philanthropy, industry and civil society to discuss, among others, the crucial role of multidisciplinary cooperation, innovative engineering for ocean resilience, and collaborative efforts for ocean-based climate change mitigation and adaptation. The events will showcase endorsed Decade Actions that are collectively working in all ocean basins to develop ocean knowledge-based solutions.
Addressing climate change is inseparable from preserving and restoring the health of our ocean. At COP28, let’s place the ocean center stage in global climate action strategies!
This year the Ocean Decade is honored to share a pavilion with OceanX and be a partner of the Ocean Pavilion where we will be hosting a flagship event on the 3rd December at 9.30 am.
Scroll down for more details of this event and our partner-led events !
Find out more about the programme of the Ocean Decade + OceanX Pavilion:
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Ocean Decade 2030: Science, Action and Partnerships for Climate Action through the Ocean Decade
Sunday, 3 December ⏰ 09:30 am – 12:00 pm UAE Standard Time 📍 Ocean Pavilion 🟦 Blue Zone
In its role of coordinator of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (‘Ocean Decade’), UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Commission (IOC) is curating a multi-partner, interactive 2.5 hour session that focuses on the critical role of ocean science and knowledge in meeting the climate challenge. Diverse speakers will address issues related to progress to date in the Ocean Decade, the remaining priorities and challenges, and outline the future perspectives for the Ocean Decade as part of the global movement to meet national, regional and global policy aspirations for climate mitigation and adaptation. The event will include discussion and feedback of the initial results of the Ocean Decade Vision 2030 process; the Decade’s flagship initiative to set a strategic, measurable ambition for each of the Ocean Decade Challenges.
The event will look across the entire ocean science value chain from observations to data, through to applications and services needed to solve the most pressing climate issues. It will address the enabling environment required to generate and apply robust ocean science and knowledge including issues such as capacity development, partnerships, resource mobilisation and diversity considerations.
PROGRAMME
| 9.30 – 9.35 | Welcome and Opening | Vladimir Ryabinin Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO |
| 9.35 – 9.50 | Keynote 1 – The state of ocean science for climate action and the role of the Ocean Decade
Keynote 2 – Ocean science in the UNFCCC process |
Margaret Leinen Director, Scripps Institute of Oceanography Niall O’Dea Co-facilitator of the UNFCCC’s Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue, and Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada |
| 9.50 – 10.00 | Q&A | |
| 10.00 – 10.50 | Panel 1: Ocean Knowledge for Climate Action in Ocean Decade
Moderated by Julian Barbière, |
Théophile Bongarts – Sharing Solutions with Coastal Cities to Tackle sea-level rise (SEA’TIES)
Lisa Levin – Deep Ocean Observing Strategy (DOOS) Filipa Carvalho – Joint Exploration of the Twilight Zone Ocean Network (JETZON) Bill Austin – Global Ocean Decade Programme for Blue Carbon (GO-BC) Nianzhi Jiao – Global Ocean Negative Carbon Emission (GlobalONCE) Steve Widdicombe – Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability (OARS) Zhen Sun – Empowering Women for the Ocean Decade Alexis Grosskopf – 1000 Ocean Start-Ups Coalition |
| 10.50 – 11.00 | Break and Networking with Speakers | |
| 11.00 – 11.40 | Panel 2: Ocean Decade Partnerships for Climate Action
Moderated by Alison Clausen, |
Marke Heine CEO, Fugro Ashok Adiceam Global Public Affairs Director, 2025 UN Ocean Conference Alex Dempsey CEO, Living Oceans Foundation Donovan Campbell Professor of Environmental Geography, University of the West Indies, Group of Experts World Ocean Assessment |
| 11.40 – 11.45 | Perspective from the Ocean Decade Alliance | Per Fredrik Pharo, Director for Climate and Environment, NORAD |
| 11.45 – 11.50 | On the road to the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference | H.E. David Mascort i Subiranas Minister of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda, Government of Catalonia, Spain |
| 11.50 – 11.55 | Wrap-up: Looking to 2030 | Julian Barbiere Global Coordinator, Ocean Decade |
| 11.55 – 12.00 | Closing Remarks | Peter Thomson UN SG Special Envoy for the Ocean |
DAFQA open programme at COP28
To generate early momentum at COP28, DAFQA, Community Jameel’s ocean program, aims to facilitate discussions, galvanize action to protect the ocean, and to ensure water and the ocean are prominent in the COP28 agenda. Co-hosted by Community Jameel and the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO), two panel discussions will bring together foundations, experts and artists to explore how we can reimagine our relationship with the seas and how pressing ocean issues in the Arab region can be addressed.
This event is organized in partnership with Community Jameel.
Ocean Decade Foundations Dialogue: Philanthropic Cooperation for Effective Action in Ocean Science for Climate Action
The objective of this event is for philanthropic institutions from the North and the South to exchange experiences on their actions and lines of work in ocean science for climate action and to identify common approaches and best practices for investments. Particular emphasis will be placed on how these organizations work in different national, regional and global contexts, to cooperate and link their strategic projects with the UN processes related to the UNFCCC, as well as with the public sector, the private sector and civil society, in order to ensure the necessary holistic perspective and contribute to climate action through the Ocean Decade.
This event is organized in partnership with VELUX FONDEN, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Philantropy Cortés Solari, and MERI Foundation.
Engineering – Turning Ocean Science into Climate Action
As climate change transforms our oceans, innovative engineering is critical for building resilience. At COP28, Lloyd’s Register Foundation and IOC/UNESCO unite leading innovators driving real-world ocean solutions. Hear how embracing new technologies and cross-disciplinary approaches delivers scalable action for climate resilience. Join us as we explore engineering’s pivotal role in securing ocean health and driving international cooperation for a sustainable future.
This event is organized in partnership with the Lloyd’s Register Foundation.
Coordinating for greater ocean-based climate change ambition: A UN-Oceans perspective
UN-Oceans entities are coordinating for climate-smart, ecosystem focused and sustainable ocean management and planning. With the Global Stocktake (GST) and increased ambition in mind, this side event will showcase how UN-Oceans is building synergies at the national and international levels for ocean-based mitigation and adaptation.
The Role of Industry in the Ocean Decade Data Enterprise
The Ocean Decade Data and Information Strategy will enable a global digital ecosystem for easier ocean data discovery, access, use, and sharing. Cross-sectoral cooperation is essential to the goal. This panel will address the role industry plays in the Ocean Decade data enterprise, focusing primarily on the work of the Corporate Data Group, which was established to develop strategies, equitable frameworks, and best practices for companies to provide public access to their private ocean data.
This event is organized by Fugro.