In the pursuit of advancing our understanding of the ocean, we face a crucial challenge to facilitate equitable access to ocean skills, knowledge, and technology. Challenge 9 “Skills, knowledge, and technology for all” of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (‘Ocean Decade’) stands as a commitment to ensure comprehensive capacity development and equitable access to these resources across all facets of ocean science.
Currently, global disparities persist among nations, with technical infrastructure and capacities concentrated in the Global North. Additionally, there are significant variations in age and gender representation, with only an average of 38% of women involved in the field of ocean science.
The Ocean Decade recognizes these imbalances and the hindrance they pose to scientific progress and the equitable distribution of benefits derived from the ocean. With the aim of addressing these disparities systematically, Ocean Decade Challenge 9 strives to fill the gaps in ocean science recognition, representation, and resource distribution worldwide.
Established within the context of the Vision 2030 process, Working Group 9 is crafting a targeted and strategic ambition for Challenge 9. It is led by co-chairs Brian Arbic, Professor of Physical Oceanography at the University of Michigan, USA, and Edem Mahu, Senior Lecturer of Marine Geochemistry at the University of Ghana, who bring a wealth of experience and research expertise from their fields.
Brian Arbic specializes in supercomputer modeling of oceanic flows to provide valuable information about the ocean’s layers and movements. Edem Mahu’s research encompasses a wide range of areas including past climate reconstruction, coastal upwelling, ocean productivity and nutrient dynamics, pollution of coastal systems, ocean acidification, and nature-based solutions for coastal hazard mitigation. She also leads the BIOTTA project (Building Capacity in Ocean Acidification in the Gulf of Guinea), which coordinates effort in ocean acidification monitoring.
To advance ocean science in West Africa, the two co-chairs jointly lead the annually-held Coastal Ocean Environment Summer School in Nigeria and Ghana, aimed at building capacity in oceanographic and environmental sciences.
Under their guidance, Working Group 9 endeavors to promote international and interdisciplinary collaboration, equitable knowledge sharing, open data policies, and inclusive capacity-building initiatives to ensure that the benefits of ocean science are equally accessible around the globe.
Emphasizing the foundational and interconnected nature of Challenge 9, Brian Arbic said: “Distributing more widely the resources required for high-quality ocean research will make it easier to address all other Ocean Decade Challenges.”
After a year-long collaborative work, the Group has identified the key components of success for Challenge 9 on the road to 2030. Among them, the proportionate and broad distribution of ocean capacity, a more diverse and inclusive community of ocean scientists, as well as increasing equitable funding and educational opportunities. These elements will pave the way for a balanced and sustainable approach to global ocean science that leaves no one behind and recognizes different forms of knowledge.
Edem Mahu, Senior Lecturer of Marine Geochemistry at the University of Ghana.
“Challenge 9 is a critical step in the Ocean Decade, as it provides equal opportunities for all, irrespective of geography, gender, or generation, to participate equally and effectively in ocean science without any barriers or limitations,” explained Edem Mahu.
In this context, Working Group 9 promotes a more inclusive community of ocean professionals engaged in natural science research and human-ocean interactions. It also underscores the need for more targeted Decade Actions that address inequalities in ocean science capacity, calling for increased collaboration between the Challenges to amplify their collective impact.
The call for action is clear – the collective efforts and commitments of the global community are imperative in confronting disparities in ocean science. On the path to 2030, our aspiration is to achieve equitable sharing of ocean resources through access to knowledge, skills, and technology in every corner of the world.
The Ocean Decade transformative journey to 2030
Between 22 1월 and 22 2월 2024, the global ocean community participated in the review process of the white papers developed by the 10 Working Groups of Vision 2030.
The final draft versions will be presented and debated during ‘Session 4 – An Inspiring and Engaging Ocean for All’ on 10:00-11:00 on 12 4월 at the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona, a pivotal event for the Vision 2030 process. The public will be able to follow the session via livestream; the link will be available soon.
The outcomes of discussions will feed into the final version of the documents.
Click here to meet Working Group 9 and find out more about the Vision 2030 process.
자세한 내용은 문의하시기 바랍니다:
비전 2030 팀(vision2030@unesco.org)
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바다 10년 소개:
2017년 유엔 총회에서 선포된 유엔 지속가능한 개발을 위한 해양 과학 10년('해양 10년')은 해양 과학과 지식 세대를 자극하여 해양 시스템의 쇠퇴를 되돌리고 이 거대한 해양 생태계의 지속 가능한 발전을 위한 새로운 기회를 모색하고 있습니다. 해양 10년의 비전은 '우리가 원하는 바다에 필요한 과학'입니다. 오션 스태년간은 다양한 분야의 과학자와 이해관계자들이 해양 시스템에 대한 이해를 높이고 2030 어젠다를 달성하기 위해 해양 과학의 발전을 가속화하고 활용하는 데 필요한 과학적 지식과 파트너십을 개발하기 위한 소집 프레임워크를 제공합니다. 유엔 총회는 유네스코 정부 간 해양위원회(IOC)에 10년간의 준비와 이행을 조율하도록 규정했다.
IOC/유네스코 소개:
유네스코 정부간 해양학 위원회(IOC/UNESCO)는 해양, 해안 및 해양 자원의 관리를 개선하기 위해 해양 과학 분야의 국제 협력을 촉진합니다. IOC는 150개 회원국이 역량 개발, 해양 관측 및 서비스, 해양 과학 및 쓰나미 경보 프로그램을 조정하여 협력할 수 있도록 합니다. IOC의 활동은 평화와 지속 가능한 개발의 기초 인 경제 및 사회 진보의 열쇠 인 지식과 역량을 개발하기위한 과학의 발전과 응용을 촉진하는 유네스코의 사명에 기여합니다.
