Satellite eventsOn-site

Empowering Women for the Ocean Decade: Achieving Gender Equality in Ocean Sciences and Policy Making

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

The Satellite Event will deliver research results and generate knowledge to achieve gender equality in ocean sciences and policy-making for the Ocean Decade. It will present compelling research results on the participation and equality status of women scientists in selected intergovernmental organizations, including concrete examples from three projects. The Event aims to provide the baseline for actors engaged in the Ocean Decade to establish an enabling environment that allows for the equal and fair participation of women from different backgrounds and on all levels of ocean sciences, including decision-making roles as a critical condition to deliver the science we need.

Zhen Sun: zs@wmu.se

Turn ideas into action. The Mediterranean Lighthouse as a pilot to upscale the challenges of the Decade from local to global

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

This event provides a platform for multi-stakeholders from cities and local communities engaged in the Ocean Decade to showcase impactful solution-oriented initiatives in preventing and eliminating pollution in the ocean and waters that are accessible, reliable, scalable, and transferable from the local to the global scale. This event provides a high-level overview of current actions and initiatives with key examples that have been collected in the framework of the EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030’ starting from the Mediterranean Lighthouse.

Carolina Pérez Valverde: cperezv@amb.cat

The EAF-Nansen Programme – Science serving sustainability

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

The event brings together different partners and key stakeholders from governments, academia, NGOs, intergovernmental organizations, and the general public to present the aspirations of the new phase of the EAF-Nansen Programme (2024-2028). A panel will discuss the critical role of the Programme, operating at the nexus between science and management, plays in strengthening ocean management and governance. In particular, it will serve as a platform for highlighting the work being done by partners in Africa and the Bay of Bengal to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and support the objectives of ongoing initiatives such as the Ocean Decade, whilst establishing networking and partnerships for the same.

Merete Tandstad: merete.tandstad@fao.org

Emelie Martensson: emelie.martensson@fao.org

Ocean insights: Marine ecosystem modelling and new technologies for tomorrow's climate decisions

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

Climate change challenges how marine ecosystems are managed and conserved. Addressing this challenge requires scientific innovation, transformational advances, and collaborative approaches to support effective management and policy-making. Join the FAO and NOAA in presenting the FAO-FishMIP (Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Model Intercomparison Project) technical paper on marine ecosystem modelling applications and NOAA’s ASTER^3 (Advanced Sampling Technology for Extinction Risk Reduction and Recovery) as Ocean Decade Actions. This workshop will highlight international collaboration and engage discussion on the latest scientific developments to conserve and restore ecosystems, assess and reduce ecological and socio-economic risks, and to inform climate-smart solutions.

Tarûb Bahri: tarub.bahri@fao.org

Camilla Novaglio: camilla.novaglio@fao.org

Lindsey Stadler: Lindsey.Stadler@noaa.gov

Co-designing ocean observing system for better societal services – Pan tropics and basin use areas

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

Building a transformative and solutions-oriented ocean observing system is critical to the success of the Ocean Decade. The design of such systems should follow the principles of co-design, working with stakeholders across the value chain and integrating their needs into the process. We will discuss these principles and observational needs of (a) a pan-tropical observing system; (b) a suite of “exemplars” including boundary currents, tropical cyclones, and marine carbon. Our event will commence with a short presentation followed by a “speed-dating” session. Attendees will meet with focus-area leadership to discuss regional involvement and collaborations from across the value-chain.

Ann-Christine Zinkann: ann-christine.zinkann@noaa.gov

Blue finance: Barriers and opportunities to financing a sustainable ocean

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

Currently the estimated financial support needed to reach the objectives of SDG14 account to USD 175 billion per year. Despite significant work to promote ocean-related opportunities with the financial community (e.g. EU Blue Invest Report, ICMA Blue Bond Framework), out of all SDGs, projects that contribute to SDG14 ‘Life Below Water’ received the least investment to date. Why do we not see more public and private capital flow towards a ‘sustainable ocean’? To answer this question and work towards solutions, it is important to understand the unique challenges financial flows face in the context of the ocean. This session will discuss key barriers as well as the opportunities to finance a sustainable ocean economy. To facilitate a rich dialogue, this session brings together leading scientists, local community leaders in SIDS and LDCs, government representatives and financial sector participants.

Lea Reitmeier: l.reitmeier@lse.ac.uk

Moving from science to action on ocean acidification—Why does it matter? How is it being achieved?

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

Ocean acidification (OA) has gained increasing recognition across international frameworks including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Convention on Biological Diversity as well as national climate strategies or ocean policy. However, to move forward with meaningful mitigation and adaptation responses to OA, governments need guidance on the type of data and information that is available—or that must be further invested in—to aid specific management and decision-making outcomes. This side event will discuss a need for OA awareness, the importance of capacity building programmes in increasing regional science and policy response, pathways forward for OA action and commitments to OA actions under the Ocean Decade.

Jessie Turner: Jturner@unfoundation.org

Global seafood loss and waste: Key strategies for industry transformation

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

This event is dedicated to raising awareness about seafood loss and waste, and to discuss potential interventions to address this challenge. It features a panel discussion with representatives across the seafood industry including business, research, and innovation. The focal point is the promotion of pre-competitive collaboration, exemplified by the newly established Namibia Ocean Cluster, and the launch of a new report quantifying global loss and waste across the seafood value chain. Breakout groups will facilitate targeted discussions, identifying collaborative interventions for increased socio-economic benefit of seafood. This event marks the initiation of a global network for addressing this widespread challenge.

Abigail Frankfort: abigail.frankfort@wri.org

How to harness private sector data to boost ocean science and drive a sustainable ocean economy – Guidelines and benefits

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

This event will highlight the need and the benefits of harnessing industry-owned ocean data to fill priority data gaps. Expected improvements in ocean knowledge, modelling and prediction using this data will benefit scientists, businesses and policymakers alike and underpin the blue economy. We will demonstrate this through two use cases focusing on bathymetry and biodiversity data, while providing guidelines for private companies and government organizations to mainstream this process. We will also take stock of industry’s role in this ocean data enterprise to date and discuss with industry leaders how to incentivize data sharing in a variety of industries.

Louis Demargne: l.demargne@unesco.org

How will Ocean Decade biological observation programmes address the Vision 2030 recommendations for Challenge 2 “Protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity”?

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

This workshop aims to bring together the communities contributing to two major Ocean Decade Programmes addressing biological and biodiversity observations in the ocean and coastal waters: the Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network (OBON) and Marine Life 2030 (ML2030). While the Ocean Decade is now developing a broad (and growing) portfolio of Projects that are grouped under broader thematic Programmes, there has so far been little scope for interaction and collaboration between Programmes. This joint event will explore recommendations of the Vision 2030 Challenge 2 White paper, supporting common solutions for collective impact.

Sophie Seeyave: ssve@pml.ac.uk

Propelling science for ecosystem-based management (EBM) in Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) in partnership with the Ocean Decade

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

The event, organized by the Global Environment Facility's (GEF) International Waters Learning Exchange and Resource Network (IW:LEARN), aims to strengthen collaboration and partnerships between the Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) community, the GEF International Waters (IW) LME portfolio and Ocean Decade partners, by raising awareness of the GEF IW community on the outcomes and achievements of the Decade, and showcasing scientific advances and innovations in LMEs as the basis of ecosystem-based management and the uptake of science. It will also offer opportunities to enhance technical and managerial capacities at the regional level that could be fostered by IW:LEARN.

Claudette Briere Spiteri: c.spiteri@unesco.org

The BBNJ Agreement and its linkages with the Ocean Decade

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

This event will raise awareness of the synergies between the Ocean Decade and the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). A moderated panel discussion will bring together speakers from governments and other stakeholders to identify priority actions needed to support their harmonious implementation, and inspire new partnerships and initiatives amongst diverse stakeholders.

Bingzhuo Li: bingzhuo.li@un.org

Coastal futures: Charting priorities for coastal resilience

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

Building on the strategic objectives of the Decade Collaborative Centre for Coastal Resilience, this event will feature coastal community stories and recent insights, including the release of the European Knowledge Hub on Sea Level Rise’s first assessment report and Sea’ties’ policy recommendations for coastal cities’ adaptation to sea level rise. The public launch of CoastPredict's GlobalCoast initiative will showcase an ambitious collaboration between Pilot Site, private and Programme partners to establish an integrated coastal ocean observing and predicting system, accelerated by innovative computing capacity. Audience input is central to this event to identify priorities for communities and equitable coastal resilience.

Sara Pasqualetto: difa.dcc-cr@unibo.it

Tackling plastic pollution together

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

More than 12 million tonnes of plastic waste pollute our ocean each year and this could triple by 2040 if we do not act. As the negotiations for a new global plastic pollution treaty continue, science remains critical in understanding the challenge and driving effective solutions. Join us and a panel of experts at this networking and knowledge sharing event with capacity building and international collaboration at its heart. Make new connections as we showcase science that is helping us to build our understanding of the challenge and guiding effective solutions to beat plastic pollution.

Christopher Green: christopher.green2@defra.gov.uk

Connecting science and policy: The case accounting for the ocean

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

The ocean economy is expanding rapidly, leading to increasing pressures and posing threats to our future prosperity and well-being. Sustainable Ocean Plans are essential for equitable and inclusive sustainable development. This transformational approach requires decision-making underpinned by environmental, social and economic data. That can be achieved by implementing ocean accounting, which provides a standardized system to organize, integrate and track relevant information about the ocean. The system enables scientific data to be aggregated in such a way to ensure decision-making relevance. This event will explore this connection, explain what is needed from science and connect this to the policy discussion.

Philip James: phil.james@unsw.edu.au

Advancing the United Nations World Ocean Assessment: Supporting future ocean sustainability and informing decision making and ocean policy

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

This event is expected to: (1) increase awareness of the World Ocean Assessment (WOA) in bridging the science-policy interface; (2) highlight the new components of the third WOA, specifically the integration and consideration of socio-ecological systems and development of sustainability pathways for ocean sectors; (3) identify synergies and opportunities for collaboration with relevant UN bodies, other intergovernmental processes and the Ocean Decade community on these topics; and (4) gather input and feedback from the Ocean Decade community on development of the digital platform for delivery of the third WOA to ensure it is fit for purpose.

Marco Boccia: marco.boccia@un.org

How can a healthy ocean improve human health and enhance wellbeing in a changing planetary environment?

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

Understanding relationships between ocean health and human health, societal wellbeing and the global economy is an emerging area of research. The latest available evidence, summarized by a new Ocean Panel Blue Paper, suggests that the ocean holds great, though still largely unrecognized and unrealized, opportunities to improve human health, support mental health and wellbeing, create economic opportunity and advance social justice. This event will provide a forum to explore and discuss relationships between ocean health and human health from diverse perspectives, including the healthcare sector, intergovernmental organizations, national governments, business and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

Oliver Simon Ashford: oliver.ashford@wri.org

Clare Brennan: clare.brennan@wri.org

The seabed data we need for the ocean we want

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

This event will examine the benefits of increased investment in ocean mapping and will explore the economic value chains that seabed data underpins. It will feature case studies on countries gathering ocean data, its economic effects and data strategy development. The event will launch a report on IHO and OECD work on seafloor mapping and the ocean economy and will examine the requirements for a sustainable framework for global seabed mapping. The goal is to provide an evidence base to support the large scale investment necessary to provide the seabed data we need for the ocean we want.

Sarah Jones Couture: sarah.jones.couture@iho.int

The Ocean Decade and the new Agreement for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ): Opportunities to support ratification and implementation

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

After nearly two decades of exceptional effort, a new international agreement for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) was adopted in 2023. Currently, this new agreement awaits ratification by 60 nations before it enters into force, marking a pivotal moment for the international science and policy community to contemplate the next steps. This panel will bring together a range of perspectives to discuss the BBNJ agreement, how it can accelerate action to deliver a healthy ocean, and how the Ocean Decade can support ratification and effective implementation.

Christine Gaebel: Christine.Gaebel@ed.ac.uk

Nathalie Rey: nathalie@communicationsinc.co.uk

Supporting a global collective vision for ocean science by matching regional priorities

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

Regional structures play a key role in guiding activities to support the achievement of the global Ocean Decade Challenges. For the first time since the start of the Ocean Decade, different regional ocean science organizations and initiatives (European Marine Board, IOCAFRICA, IOC-WESTPAC, IOCARIBE, IOCINDIO, and the Southern and Arctic Ocean Task Forces) will present their research priorities for the end of the decade, providing the pieces of the puzzle of the global ocean. The discussion will focus on matching, comparing and finding synergies between these priorities with the Ocean Decade Vision 2030 and finding avenues for future regional collaboration to deliver this vision.

Ángel Muñiz Piniella: amuniz@marineboard.eu

Science requirements to meet the Global Biodiversity Framework for coral reefs

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

Coral reefs are considered the first ecosystem at risk from functional extinction under climate change and other human impacts. This projection seems to render impossible to deliver for corals the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (K-MGBF) to halt biodiversity losses by 2050 and restore 30% of degraded habitats by 2030. This event will discuss how the Ocean Decade can support the K-MGBF for corals. We expect to develop a roadmap of priorities for Science and Technology that can be mobilized under the Ocean Decade but also build synergies between different Decade Programmes to contribute to achieve the goals.

Carla Lourenço: carla.lourenco@kaust.edu.sa

Ocean and water governance: Towards sustainable blue economies in cities and regions

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

Against the backdrop of the Ocean Decade and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, there is increasing momentum for boosting sustainable blue economies while strengthening the resilience of coastal, marine and freshwater ecosystems. Building on the results of an OECD Global Survey gathering insights from 80+ cities, regions and basins from 41 countries, this high-level event will launch a new OECD report on the Blue Economy in Cities and Regions focusing on the link between ocean and water governance to unlock the potential of a resilient, inclusive, sustainable and circular blue economies.

Oriana Romano: oriana.romano@oecd.org

Ocean Census: Discovering marine life

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

Ocean Census is a pioneering biodiversity project initiated by The Nippon Foundation and Nekton, with an ambitious goal of discovering 100,000 new species in the next decade. Building on the legacies of The Census of Marine Life and others, the endeavor is a global collaboration undertaken by a diverse and inclusive network of partners, accelerating species discovery, enhancing data sharing, inspiring public engagement and driving impactful policy changes addressing the urgent biodiversity crisis. This 90-minute symposium spotlights esteemed speakers and delves into the Ocean Census' strategies and scientific objectives, highlighting collaborations with prominent organizations like UNEP-WCMC, Schmidt Ocean Institute and PADI.

Kira Coley: kira@oceancensus.org

Looking SEAWARD: African oceans and the Ocean Decade narrative

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

The Satellite Event, co-designed by the African Ocean Decade Taskforce and ECOP Africa, will provide a platform to present the aspirations of these organizations in implementing the Ocean Decade Africa Roadmap. Additionally, it will serve as a forum for highlighting the work being done by different Ocean Decade stakeholders in Africa and the Adjacent Island States, whilst establishing networking and partnerships for the same.

Edwin Mwashinga: e.mwashinga@unesco.org

Science – The key to unlocking change

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

Join global scientists and policymakers at this event highlighting the pivotal role of Regional Seas Conventions in advancing the goals of the Ocean Decade. Discover how international collaboration is essential for addressing transboundary challenges as OSPAR, HELCOM, the Barcelona Convention and the Black Sea Commission showcase how their holistic assessments inform policies aimed at combating climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. Explore how these conventions foster economies of scale, share best practices, build capacity and champion top-tier science, contributing to Ocean Decade Actions and steering a course towards a sustainable future.

Lucy Ritchie: lucy.ritchie@ospar.org

Technology and innovation showcase

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

A diverse cohort of 10 presenters will provide 3-min presentations as “pitches” and “reverse pitches” aligned against the 10 Ocean Decade Challenges. Pitches will be from technology providers encompassing startups, corporations and research labs. Reverse Pitches will be from end users who need new solutions. This will be followed by a panel discussion featuring funders, workforce development and policy experts to give practical advice and discuss the barriers to implementing new solutions. Attendees will rapidly learn about new ocean technologies, while also broadening their network in the technology community.

Jyotika Virmani: jyotika@schmidtocean.org

The Coral Reef Breakthrough

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

An urgent call to action for 25% of life in the ocean. The Coral Reef Breakthrough aims to secure the future of at least 125,000 km2 of shallow-water tropical coral reefs with investments of at least USD 12 billion to support the resilience of more than half a billion people globally by 2030. The panel will discuss why it is instrumental in achieving: Ocean Decade vision of "the science we need for the ocean we want", SDGs particularly SDG14 "Life Below Water", and how the coral reef community can use the Breakthrough as a tool to deliver on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Margaux Monfared: margaux.monfared@icriforum.org

Deepening the Decade: Deep Ocean Actions for a sustainable ocean

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

The event highlights a set of communal goals for the deep ocean developed by the Ocean Decade’s Deep Ocean Research and Management Community of Practice (approximately 18 Decade Programmes, Projects and Centers). The session will consist of a series of 3 to 4 panels, each with a brief introductory presentation (5 min), panel discussion and audience interaction. Panelists will represent 15 or more of the Decade Actions that target or incorporate the deep ocean. Discussions will feature cross-cutting early career, capacity development, data and knowledge generation achievements and actions that produce ocean solutions and address the Decade Challenges.

Elizabeth Hetherington: ehetheri@ucsd.edu

Insights into the regional and thematic coordination of the Ocean Decade

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

Meet the groups coordinating the Ocean Decade and learn how you can engage with them.

Blue Carbon Dialogue: Accelerating blue carbon-driven restoration and conservation actions

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

The event will center around the newly launched JPI Oceans Knowledge Hub on Blue Carbon, the aim of which is to minimize uncertainties, exchange knowledge and create management tools to enhance the advantages of blue carbon (BC). This Satellite Event will enable a dialogue to explore how BC-driven restoration and conservation actions can be accelerated. This will include sharing progress made in addressing knowledge gaps and evaluating the effectiveness of coastal blue carbon ecosystems as carbon sinks worldwide. Another objective is to meet representatives from relevant BC projects and initiatives to build a BC network, discuss the use of BC technologies and share knowledge on the current state-of-the-art.

Yekaterina Astafyeva: yekaterina.astafyeva@jpi-oceans.eu

Coastal cities and communities joining Tsunami Ready

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

The IOC/UNESCO Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme (ODTP) aims to significantly enhance the existing global tsunami warning system by reducing timeliness and the uncertainty of the tsunami warning, while increasing the readiness of coastal communities through initiatives like the IOC/UNESCO Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme (TRRP). Objectives of this Satellite Event include: (1) promote partnerships, collaboration and understanding of how to co-design actions to enhance the readiness of coastal communities for tsunamis in a multi-hazard context; (2) showcase the benefits of the IOC/UNESCO TRRP; (3) acknowledge new cities and communities recognized as TRRP; and (4) call for new countries and communities to join TRRP.

Denis Chang Seng: d.chang-seng@unesco.org

How to understand and beat marine pollution by 2050: an action plan

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

Pollution is one of the greatest threats to the marine environment. To ‘beat’ ocean pollution, it is critical to first understand it. Yet, in 2024, almost halfway through the Ocean Decade, it is still nearly impossible to glean a clear picture of the impact pollution (beyond plastics) has on ocean ecosystems, human health and economies. This interactive discussion will set out a path to understand — and beat — ocean pollution by 2050.

Henrik Enevoldsen: h.enevoldsen@unesco.org

Building a strong scientific community in support of a sustainable Atlantic Ocean

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

The All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) aims to enhance marine research, innovation and cooperation throughout the Atlantic Ocean basin, building upon other international ocean science efforts including the Ocean Decade. This Satellite Event will bring together AAORIA partners and the broader Atlantic Ocean community, as well as highlight initiatives such as the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation and the EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030’ (with a focus on the Atlantic-Arctic Lighthouse) to discuss opportunities for cooperative, solution-based ocean science that can contribute to ensuring a healthy and sustainable Atlantic Ocean for future generations.

Carol Adly: DFO.EOS2024AtlanticForum-2024ForumAtlantiqueSEO.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Building Ocean Leadership: Networking and Expanding Career Opportunities

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

This Satellite Event will start with an engaging session by our special guest, a professional business coach, who will provide tips on networking, start-ups, communication and marketing skills, and search for funding. Participants are encouraged to come prepared with their burning questions for a better event experience. Then, several representatives of the Edinburgh Ocean Leaders will share their stories to inspire participants and to provide them with specific lessons learnt on leadership, networking, resilience, and creativity, that they gained from their own experience.

Evgeniia Kostianaia: e.kostianaia@unesco.org

Meriwether Wilson: ocean.leaders@ed.ac.uk

Effective co-design for the science we need: Perspectives from across the UN Ocean Decade

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

“Co-design” represents a central pillar of the Ocean Decade. Endorsed Programmes and participants are charged with developing collaborative, transdisciplinary, inclusive approaches to knowledge generation that advance solutions for major challenges facing the ocean and people that depend on it. Developing and implementing projects that are co-designed, however, is not straightforward, and requires close coordination and collaboration among various experts, rights holders and stakeholders. This lunch panel session will present an introduction to the concepts around co-designed research and then give examples of how it shows up in practice from the perspectives of many of the constituencies involved in the Decade. By sharing information and experiences from projects on the ground, the panel discussion will provide actionable examples of how other programmes, projects and activities can integrate co-design into their endorsed Actions. The session will be structured as a moderated panel and group discussion.

Jason Landrum: jlandrum@pewtrusts.org

The contribution of the International Seabed Authority to the scientific objectives of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

At the current event, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) shall launch a report that will demonstrate the breadth and depth of the ISA mandate in relation to marine scientific research in the Area (see art.143 of UNCLOS) and will take stock of the contributions to the Ocean Decade that ISA facilitates, anchored in its mandates awarded by UNCLOS. The ISA's Action Plan for Marine Scientific Research will be consolidated as a global framework informing the deep-sea research agenda. Researchers will pitch their work and panelists will debate the status and future of marine deep-sea science, technology, and the advancements in capacity development in light of the activities the ISA facilitates.

Noemie Wouters: nwouters@isa.org.jm

Ocean carbon: The knowns and unknowns

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

This breakfast event will illustrate and discuss the importance of integrated ocean carbon research, which aims at filling knowledge gaps in ocean carbon science for sustainable development by designing and promoting the implementation of a new generation of underpinning research to support emerging ocean-climate policy. Ocean Decade Programmes and activities such as the Global Ocean Decade Programme for Blue Carbon (GO-BC), Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability (OARS) and Integrated Ocean Carbon Research (IOC-R) are clarifying aspects of the ocean carbon cycle by focusing on the abiotic uptake of CO2 by the ocean, the biological carbon cycle and how coastal areas can be either a carbon sink or a source depending on different management strategies.

Kirsten Isensee: k.isensee@unesco.org

An Ocean of Food: Science and solutions for ocean-climate-food challenges

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

This Satellite Event will bring together Ocean Decade Actions that are working to address Challenge 3: “Sustainably feed the global population”. The event will showcase diverse efforts and solutions from blue food-related Decade Actions (based on the Vision Working Group 3 White Paper) as well as the ambitious research conducted under the H2020 ASTRAL project, focused on integrated multi-trophic aquaculture. This event aims to reach a greater appreciation of the pivotal role that the ocean and ocean science play in shaping sustainable food systems, and the knowledge, funding, technology and implementation gaps currently hindering opportunities to strengthen that role.

Natalia Ospina-Alvarez: natalia.ospina@aircentre.org

Toward a 100% integrated Blue Pacific management: Leveraging the benefits of the UN Ocean Decade for the Pacific Islands

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

The Satellite Event will: (1) facilitate a platform for member countries of the Pacific Community (SPC) to effectively share their stories, ensuring robust representation and voice amplification at the upcoming global conference; (2) highlight SPC’s profile globally as the premiere and trusted science partner in the Pacific and key contributor to the Ocean Decade; and (3) elevate awareness, support, and attract funding to ocean science and the Ocean Decade in the Pacific. This event will showcase examples of sustainable ocean management using scientific data to inform decision-making in the Pacific and will call for scaling-up ocean actions in the region.

Jerome Aucan: jeromea@spc.int

Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Community-Engaged Ocean Science

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

Recognizing the need to work across borders in partnership with Indigenous communities to broaden ocean knowledge, this event will amplify the voices of Indigenous knowledge holders from Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands. It will highlight innovative Indigenous-led approaches to marine governance and management, and outline models of meaningful engagement for the science community. It will also highlight challenges that Indigenous peoples face when engaging with scientists. Panelists will share the histories and connections of their communities to the ocean, promoting holistic and enduring approaches to science. Audience members will have the opportunity to engage with the panelists at a reception on Friday evening.

Zoe Compton: zoe.compton@ccunesco.ca

Ocean Decade in the tropical Americas and the Caribbean region: Joint action to achieve a sustainable ocean future

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

The “Ocean Decade in the tropical Americas and the Caribbean region” event aims to showcase the activities and actions carried out on the Ocean Decade in the tropical Americas and the Caribbean region. Under the slogan “Joint action to achieve a sustainable ocean future,” it seeks to promote awareness and collaboration to ensure a sustainable ocean future in the region. It highlights initiatives that contribute to the preservation and protection of the ocean, promoting joint cooperation to address environmental challenges and move towards sustainable ocean development in the region.

Lorna Inniss: l.inniss@unesco.org

Towards a scenario on the global ocean by 2050: The roles and places for biodiversity in future socio-ecosystems

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

In the context of the Ocean Decade, The Belmont Forum wants to build on the successes of the Collaborative Research Action (CRA) “Transdisciplinary Research for Ocean Sustainability” (OCEANS2018) and work toward a new call for action, OCEANS2, geared toward the development of scenarii that would help to comprehend, mitigate and adapt to the threats on oceanic systems. This session will present the core objectives of OCEANS2, its articulation with OCEANS2018 and the 10 Ocean Decade Challenges, and contribute to build a network of scientists, funders, stakeholders and policy-makers for the scoping of this new CRA.

Eric Pante: eric.pante@cnrs.fr

Towards the integrated ocean science we need for the Arctic Ocean we want

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

The Arctic region is vulnerable and also an area of increasing economic interest. Melting sea ice combined with technological advances opens the area for shipping routes, resource extraction and other human activities. To balance protection and use, it is crucial to bridge Indigenous and local knowledge with science and stewardship. We will discuss specific challenges of the Arctic region and opportunities to achieve the goals of the Ocean Decade. Further, we highlight best practices in the form of selected collaborative projects and initiatives. Finally, we discuss concrete measures towards advancing the international contribution for the region under the Ocean Decade aiming to deliver transdisciplinary, holistic, co-designed and solution-oriented research.

Kjersti Fjalestad: ktf@forskningsradet.no

Welcome to NGOs!

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

Join us to make the Ocean Decade NGO-friendly! This event will introduce the new Manual for NGOs in the Ocean Decade. A dialogue with Non-Governmental Organizations will explore the critical role that NGOs can play in the Ocean Decade, at the interface between science, policy and society, and how the diversity of NGOs is matched by a diversity of opportunities to participate. This is a joint initiative by the NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee and IOC/UNESCO to make the Ocean Decade NGO-friendly.

Olivier Dufourneaud: o.dufourneaud@unesco.org

Long-term engagement in the Polar oceans: A decade of international action

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

The panel will showcase the achievements of the Southern Ocean community and the Decade Collaborative Centre (DCC-SO), and highlight an upcoming initiative – Antarctica InSync. The session will carry forward the work started by the Prince Albert of Monaco II Foundation’s Polar Initiative and Polar Symposium, ICED, and other largescale initiatives that will directly feed into, support, and benefit from the implementation of the Ocean Decade, and IPY. Initiatives like Antarctica InSync, addressing the need for collaborative science, synchronous observation, data sharing and protection of the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, as well as Arctic DCC, and ICARP IV process.

Stefanie Arndt: stefanie.arndt@awi.de

Renuka Badhe: renuka@cantab.net

Exploring the nexus of strategic ocean communications and ocean literacy

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

Join us for a dynamic event exploring the nexus of strategic ocean communications and ocean literacy. Drawing insights from the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference’s Ocean Literacy Dialogues and Ocean Communications Symposium, this interactive expert discussion opens a wider debate on how to leverage research-led communication and literacy initiatives to advance Challenge 10 of the Ocean Decade: reshaping humanity's relationship with the ocean. With the special participation of UNESCO Champion for the Ocean and Youth Maya Gabeira and Goodwill Ambassador Oskar Metsavaht, the event will push the global community to harness evidence-based approaches to foster citizens’ deeper understanding of and stronger action on ocean issues. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with leading voices driving state-of-the-art research and impactful change in ocean literacy and communications toward building a global ocean culture.

Francesca Santoro: f.santoro@unesco.org

Vinicius Lindoso: v.lindoso@unesco.org

Natalie Hart: natalie@communicationsinc.co.uk

What can National Decade Committees do for you? Linking global and national priorities through stakeholder engagement

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

The Ocean Decade is supported by National Decade Committees (NDCs), “voluntary, inclusive, multi-stakeholder platforms set up to coordinate, support and increase a country’s participation in the Ocean Decade by mobilizing the whole ocean community at the national level”. There are currently 38 NDCs with a number of other countries expressing interest in establishing an NDC. This event aims to encourage stronger collaboration between NDCs and other Decade stakeholders and provide a forum to increase the visibility of NDCs within the Ocean Decade community. It will also provide the necessary information and showcase best practice in order to support NDC establishment.

Matthew Frost: mafr@pml.ac.uk

Bridging billions to Barcelona: The Indian Ocean event

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

This event is a follow-up action to the Indian Ocean Regional Decade Conference 2024 that the Decade Collaborative Centre for the Indian Ocean Region preemptively hosted as an official prelude to the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference. During this Satellite Event, discussions and networking for the Indian Ocean (IO) region will be furthered and partnerships will be strengthened for furthering towards the Vision 2030 process. All the stakeholders of the IO-region are welcome. This event will also be open to the media and public to amply showcase what ocean scientists are pursuing for the well-being of the billions residing in the IO-region. The scientists may hail from, or they could be professionally connected to, the region.

Tummala Srinivasa Kumar: dcc-ior@incois.gov.in | srinivas@incois.gov.in

Ocean science, a fundamental ally for the management and protection of the marine environment in Spain

00 April 2024 00:00h Room

The science-policy interface is identified as a key element for ocean sustainability, with most policies and management decisions occurring at national level. The Satellite Event will show key elements of the science-policy interface in Spain: a good ocean science production, adequate legal frameworks, ocean research institutions with a mandate on policy advice, and formal channels of communication within and between the scientific and policy actors. The event will conclude with a presentation of success stories, such as fisheries management, the Marine Protected Area network, the assessment of the status of ocean ecosystems or the management of environmental disasters, and a discussion on challenges.

Rafael González-Quirós: rafael.gonzalez-quiros@ieo.csic.es