- This event has passed.
The 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) will be a critically important event for the global community.
At this meeting, Parties will discuss key issues on marine and coastal biodiversity, and set out the system for monitoring, reporting and assessment of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). In addition, it will be an important gathering at which the global community can share experiences in efforts for planning and implementation of the Framework, share important developments and new resources that can support its implementation and monitoring, and build and strengthen networks and partnerships for the achievement of the Goals of the Framework.
A key component of the official programme coordinated by the CBD Secretariat, Ocean Day will take place on 27 October, and feature sessions organized around the central theme of the ocean as connector. It will bring together actors from across the world and across the spectrum of those doing important work on research, planning, conservation, and sustainable use of the ocean at all scales – global, regional, national, and local. It will connect stakeholders from governments, international organizations, Indigenous peoples and local communities, civil society, the private sector, and the science community.
As part of the official Ocean Day and in its role as implementing agency of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (‘Ocean Decade’), UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) is delighted to be holding a dedicated session on the role of the Ocean Decade in supporting the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework as well as coordinating a flagship session on science, technology and action, and invites all COP16 participants to join the discussion.
The Ocean Decade and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
Sunday 27 October ⏰ 08:00 – 08:45 local time 📍 UN Pavilion 🟦 Blue Zone
This session will provide an overview of the ways in which the Ocean Decade is contributing to the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework. Building on the outcomes of the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference, it will then present future perspectives for the Ocean Decade to further support State Parties and non-State actors to generate and apply science and knowledge to meet the vision and targets of the Framework, with a particular focus on the lead-up to the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference.
Speakers include:
- Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of the UNESCO-IOC and Assistant Director-General of UNESCO
- Gideon Henderson, Chief Scientist, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) of the United Kingdom, Decade Advisory Board Member
- Alumita Sekinairai, Fellow, Ocean Voices
- Malu Nunes, Executive Director, Boticario Foundation
High-level Opening Session
Sunday 27 October ⏰ 09:00 – 10:00 local time 📍 GBF Pavilion 🟦 Blue Zone
Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of the UNESCO-IOC and Assistant Director-General of UNESCO, will take part in the official opening session of Ocean Day.
Ocean Day Session: Science and Technology for Action
This session is organized as part of the official Ocean Day event that will be held in the GBF Pavilion from 9am local time onwards on 27 October. Details of the full programme can be found here and at the end of this page.
Sunday 27 October ⏰ 14:30 – 15:30 local time 📍 GBF Pavilion 🟦 Blue Zone
Co-organizers: UNESCO-IOC, ISA, UNEP
The event will focus on transformative approaches and innovation, including technology that is being used by the IOC and Ocean Decade partners, to enhance the usefulness (i.e. quality, quantity, coverage, precision, etc.) of knowledge for GBF implementation, and highlight remaining gaps that the IOC and Ocean Decade can fill. It will also explore user perspective from across society – success stories of where policy and decision making has been successful because of science and knowledge.
The event will also launch a major new publication showcasing success stories from Ocean Decade Actions in achieving the ambitious of targets of the GBF.
Programme
Welcome and introduction by Alison Clausen, Programme Specialist and Ocean Decade Deputy Coordinator, UNESCO-IOC
Keynote opening by Susan Gardner, Director, Ecosystems Division, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Generating knowledge: Observations, data, and scientific knowledge for GBF implementation:
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- Sophie Seeyave, CEO, Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO)
- Paula Cristina Sierra-Correa, Information and Research Coordinator, INVEMAR
- Gideon Henderson, Chief Scientist, UK DEFRA
Using knowledge: Success stories of use of science and knowledge for GBF implementation
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- David Obura, Founding Director, CORDIO East Africa
- Cesar Peñaherrera, Science Director, MigraMar
- David Barrios, Science Manager, MarViva
Closing remarks by:
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- Jose Dallo, Director, Office of Environmental Management and Mineral Resources, International Seabed Authority (ISA)
- Juan Camilo Forero Hauzeur, Executive Secretary of the Colombian Ocean Commission and Vice-Chair of UNESCO-IOC
Linking Sustainable Ocean Plans (SOPs) with the Global Biodiversity Framework: Focusing on Targets 1, 3, 5, and 10
Monday 28 October ⏰ 09:40 – 10:40 local time 📍 CAF Pavilion: Latin America and the Caribbean – Biodiversity Unites Us 🟦 Blue Zone
Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of the UNESCO-IOC and Assistant Director-General of UNESCO, will take part in this panel discussion to highlight the importance of SOPs in achieving 100% sustainable ocean management.
Moderator: Cynthia Barzuna, Director, Ocean Action 2030
Speakers include:
- Peter Thomson, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean
- Tore O. Sandvik, Minister of Climate and Environment of Norway
- H.E. Razan al Mubarak, President of the IUCN, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28
- Alicia Montalvo Santamaría, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, Corporate Vice Presidency of Strategic Programming.
- Mark Lambrides, Director, Department of Sustainable Development Organization of American States
- Nicholas Hardman-Mountford, Commonwealth Secretariat-Sustainable Ocean management in the Commonwealth
- Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of the UNESCO-IOC and Assistant Director-General of UNESCO
