As the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (‘Ocean Decade’) enters its midpoint, a new batch of 39 Decade Actions is setting the stage for transformative ocean solutions. With momentum building toward the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in 六月, these Actions exemplify the collaborative spirit driving ocean sustainability worldwide.
The newly recognized Decade Actions strengthen the existing portfolio of hundreds of initiatives endorsed by the Ocean Decade since 2021. With lead institutions spanning 21 countries – from Australia to Nicaragua, Nigeria, and Greece – the new initiatives address ocean pollution, coastal resilience, hands-on citizen science, and a sustainable ocean economy. They are primarily led by research institutions, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.
“Decade Actions embrace a diverse range of profiles – some generate knowledge to fill critical gaps in our understanding of the ocean, while others build capacity and seek to influence decision-making,” said Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC). “With these initiatives targeting regional and thematic priorities for ocean action, including marine microbiome exploration, light pollution, marine energy, and coastal ecosystems, we continue to expand the role of the Ocean Decade as a global coordination and cooperation mechanism for ocean science across the globe.”
Tackling priority areas for ocean science
Three new Decade Programmes were officially acknowledged for their work towards the achievement of Challenge 1 – Understand and beat marine pollution, Challenge 4 – Develop a sustainable, resilient and equitable ocean economy, and Challenge 5 – Unlock ocean-based solutions to climate change.
Invisible yet vital to the Earth’s well-being, the ocean microbiome makes up over two-thirds of the ocean’s biomass. Led by Shanghai Ocean University, China, Deep Ocean Microbiomes and Ecosystems (DOME), which will focus on the polar regions and the little-known hadal trenches of the ocean, will work closely with other already endorsed Programmes working on similar issues such as the Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network (OBON), Challenger 150, Deep Ocean Observing Strategy (DOOS), and Marine Life 2030 to give a voice to this hidden majority of the ocean. By creating a global research network, DOME will explore deep ocean microbial diversity, ecosystem processes, and the ocean’s role in sustaining life amid climate change.
Closer to the surface, coastal cities, offshore oil rigs, and ships flood the ocean with artificial light, disrupting natural rhythms and threatening marine habitats. Headed by the University of Plymouth, UK, the Global Artificial Light at Night Network (GOALANN) provides insight into this often-overlooked form of pollution. The Programme convenes leading ocean experts to develop initiatives and tools, including open-access datasets, interactive maps, and policy briefings, to mitigate this growing issue.
Powering the Blue Economy – Global (PBE-Global) under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office, is unlocking energy solutions for a sustainable ocean economy. Marine energy – harnessing power from waves, currents, tides, and temperature changes – is the world’s largest untapped renewable resource. PBE-Global shares knowledge, fosters collaboration, and builds capacity to advance marine energy technology for greater sustainability of industries and coastal communities.
Four Decade Projects implemented in and for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Africa focus on enhancing coastal resilience through video gaming, conserving kelp forests, engaging communities in wastewater management, and managing coastal pollution. Three additional Projects aim to address gender inequalities, inspire youth to become green ambassadors, and strengthen Indigenous leadership in decision-making.
A new and exciting area of deep ocean science under the newly endorsed ‘Dark oxygen production in the deep sea’ project will investigate how oxygen is produced on the abyssal ocean floor, along with its significance and broader implications. Led by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) and supported by The Nippon Foundation, a long-standing partner of the IOC, this initiative seeks to deepen our understanding of deep-sea ecosystems and their essential role in sustaining life. For additional information on this groundbreaking discovery, see the recent coverage in Oceanographic Magazine here.
UNESCO-IOC, the only UN body dedicated solely to ocean science and the lead agency for the Ocean Decade, is adding two new Projects to its extensive list of Decade Actions – the largest of any UN organization. Implemented by its Regional Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) and Yunnan University, ‘Ocean Solutions in the East Asian Seas’ provides vital data on marine stressors to inform regional sustainable strategies and strengthen science-based conservation efforts. The Project ‘Enhance Coastal Resilience to Sea Level Hazards‘ will scale up UNESCO-IOC’s Tsunami Ready initiative in both existing and new countries, strengthening hazard preparedness in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) through improved assessment, measurement, and forecasting.
Building knowledge and capacity for sustainable ocean management
Eleven new Decade Contributions have received official endorsement to support the implementation of the Ocean Decade. These initiatives will provide necessary funding or in-kind resources for global coastal resilience, marine sustainability, and ecosystem conservation with a focus on underrepresented groups and regions.
Among these, the OceanX and OceanQuest Around Africa Mission, led by OceanX, will support the Ocean Decade in tackling the pressing ocean challenges facing Africa. The exploratory mission will increase understanding of ocean circulation, ecosystem health, and marine biodiversity for sustainable resource management in this region.
Under its ‘Climate & Biodiversity Initiative,’ the C&BI – Ocean & Coastal Ecosystems co-branded call for projects by the BNP Paribas Foundation will fund initiatives exploring the climate-biodiversity nexus, science-driven solutions for ocean challenges, and adaptation strategies to scale up ecosystem-based management.
These new endorsements bring the total number of Ocean Decade Actions to 628, implemented on all continents and covering all ocean basins.
The current Call for Decade Actions No. 08/2024 is open until 31 一月份 2025, aiming to bridge science and knowledge gaps in coastal resilience, society’s relationship with the ocean, and the ocean-human health nexus.
欲了解更多信息，请联系
海洋十年宣传小组(oceandecade.comms@unesco.org)
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关于海洋十年
联合国大会于 2017 年宣布了联合国海洋科学促进可持续发展十年（2021-2030 年）（"海洋十年"），旨在促进海洋科学和知识的创造，扭转海洋系统状况的恶化，为这一巨大的海洋生态系统的可持续发展创造新的机遇。海洋十年 "的愿景是 "我们需要的科学，我们想要的海洋"。海洋十年 "为来自不同部门的科学家和利益攸关方提供了一个召集框架，以发展必要的科学知识和伙伴关系，加快和利用海洋科学的进步，从而更好地了解海洋系统，并为实现2030年议程提供以科学为基础的解决方案。联合国大会授权教科文组织政府间海洋学委员会（IOC）协调 "十年 "的筹备和实施工作。
关于教科文组织政府间海洋学委员会：
教科文组织政府间海洋学委员会（UNESCO-IOC）促进海洋科学领域的国际合作，以改善对海洋、海岸和海洋资源的管理。政府间海洋学委员会通过协调能力建设、海洋观测和服务、海洋科学和海啸预警方面的计划，使其 150 个会员国能够共同努力。政府间海洋学委员会的工作有助于履行教科文组织的使命，即促进科学进步及其应用，以发展知识和能力，这是经济和社会进步的关键，也是和平与可持续发展的基础。
