With a packed agenda of events at COP28, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (‘Ocean Decade’) is working to place the ocean centre stage in global strategies for climate action. This year, the Ocean Decade is contributing to the high-level climate negotiations through two groundbreaking initiatives: sharing a pavilion with OceanX and partnering with the Ocean Pavilion.
From 30 November to 12 December, world leaders from over 200 countries will convene in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for the largest annual international climate gathering. The Ocean Decade, coordinated by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), will be present at COP28, hosting and co-organising a wide variety of events, including at the Ocean Decade + OceanX Pavilion and the Ocean Pavilion.
“COP28 is a crucial platform for the Ocean Decade to ensure international policymakers recognise the pivotal role of the ocean in regulating the Earth’s climate,” said Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, the agency charged with coordinating the Ocean Decade. “The Decade will use its platforms at the conference to emphasise the importance of multidisciplinary cooperation to tackle climate change and develop innovative, knowledge-based ocean solutions to climate challenges on the road to 2030.”
The Ocean Decade is partnering with OceanX to host a space for in-depth discussions around the ocean-climate nexus. The inaugural Ocean Decade + OceanX Pavilion in the Blue Zone of COP aims to promote the role of science, media, technology and education to achieve ocean solutions for climate action and sustainable development. Over 10 days, the diverse programme will highlight the individual climate actions as well as the collective ocean efforts through Ocean Climate Solutions Dialogues, daily Ocean Climate Spotlights events, and Special Events around Ocean Decade Challenges.
As an official partner of the Ocean Pavilion, the Ocean Decade is hosting a multi-stakeholder flagship event ‘Ocean Decade 2030: Science, Action and Partnerships for Climate Action through the Ocean Decade’ in the Blue Zone on 3 December at 9.30 am. The interactive 2.5 hour session will explore the complete ocean science value chain, from observations and data to the applications essential for addressing the most urgent climate issues. This event will spotlight the remaining priorities, challenges, and progress to date in the Ocean Decade, and outline the future perspectives, feeding into the Decade Vision 2030 process.
Additionally, the Ocean Decade is co-organising a set of partner event taking place in Blue Zone and in the margins of COP28. The events aim to showcase endorsed Decade Actions spanning all ocean basins to develop ocean knowledge-based solutions.
Visit our webpage for the full details of the Ocean Decade’s scheduled activities at COP28.
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.