A new global, multi-stakeholder Decade Advisory Board has been launched to provide strategic advice to UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO) on further steps and priorities for the Ocean Decade implementation over the next two years.
The new Advisory Board contains 10 new global experts and five members staying on for a second term. Hailing from a wide range of backgrounds, including scientific research, policymaking, civil society, private sector, and philanthropy, the experts will be responsible for steering the Ocean Decade’s strategic direction for a two-year period from 2024-2025.
“The new Decade Advisory Board will reflect and enhance the diversity of the Ocean Decade to ensure that the Decade remains adaptable and inclusive. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the members of the previous Board, whose significant commitment laid a solid foundation for advancing the impact of the Decade as it transitions into its next phase of implementation,” said Vladimir Ryabinin, IOC Executive Secretary. “Alongside our esteemed line up of new members, we are delighted to have five colleagues from the first Board staying on for a second term to support new members and provide continuity.”
The Board members were selected from over 300 nominations put forward by governments, UN, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations, as well as self-nominations. Alongside a diverse range of skills and geographic backgrounds, the selection panel prioritized gender and generational diversity in appointing the Board members.
The Decade Advisory Board’s key role is to provide strategic counsel on Decade implementation, including by:
- Reviewing and supporting applications for global and major regional Decade Programmes, Decade Collaborative Centres and Decade Coordination Offices
- Identifying significant gaps or priorities to shape future Calls for Decade Actions
- Assessing resource requirements for Decade Actions and advising on strategies for resource mobilization
- Supporting outreach efforts to raise awareness about the Ocean Decade, particularly with potential resource providers
The members will also provide guidance on the Vision 2030 process and showcase the Decade’s contribution in identifying priorities and filling knowledge gaps across the science – policy – society interface in high-level events, such as the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference that will be held in Barcelona in April 2024, climate and biodiversity COPs, and the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference.
The Decade Advisory Board will hold its first meeting of the new membership in January 2024.
Meet the Decade Advisory Board members
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/UNESCO) to coordinate the preparations and implementation of the Decade.
About 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.
