Welcome to the Ocean Decade!

Welcome to another week with ‘Unboxing: What’s Next?’! 

This week I wanted to bring attention to the Ocean Decade and how we, as students, young professionals, and early-career ocean people can contribute to huge initiatives like this.

What is the Ocean Decade?

In 2017 the UN General Assembly declared 2021-2030 the UN Decade for Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, a.k.a ‘the Ocean Decade’.  It approaches issues with the current state of the ocean and incites new opportunities and discussions for sustainable development [2].

There are 10 overarching challenges that are meant to underpin major issues and solutions for sustainable development and ocean science. The 10 challenges are as follows [3]:

1. Understand and beat marine pollution
2. Protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity
3. Sustainably nourish the global population
4. Develop a sustainable, resilient, and equitable ocean economy
5. Unlock ocean-based solutions to climate change
6. Increase community resilience to ocean and coastal risks
7. Sustainably expand the Global Ocean Observing System
8. Create a digital representation of the ocean
9. Skills, knowledge, technology, and participation for all
10. Restore society’s relationship with the ocean

There are 7 outcomes that these challenges work towards: [1]

1. A clean ocean where sources of pollution are identified and reduced or removed
2. A healthy and resilient ocean where marine ecosystems are understood, protected, restored and managed.
3. A productive ocean supporting sustainable food supply and a sustainable ocean economy.
4. A predicted ocean where society understands and can respond to changing ocean conditions.
5. A safe ocean where life and livelihoods are protected from ocean-related hazards.
6. An accessible ocean with open and equitable access to data, information and technology and innovation.
7. An inspiring and engaging ocean where society understands and values the ocean in relation to human wellbeing and sustainable development.

In April 2024 there was an Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona. You can watch recordings and see what they talked about here.

How can you participate and contribute?

This is an exciting time to be a student and/or early-career scientist interested in ocean-related fields, because there is a lot of research/grant money, research, and projects that are being created with these challenges in mind. 

Exciting opportunities! 

Here are some links to Ocean Decade Opportunities:

• Opportunities – Ocean Decade
• Early Career Explorers 2025 Application
• Take Action! | The Ocean Decade
• Sustainable Coastal Growth and Resilience | The Ocean Decade ← Free upcoming course!
  • Application Link: https://oceanexpert.org/event/4609
• Events | The Ocean Decade ← Other upcoming events!
• Sign up | The Ocean Decade ← Request to join the Ocean Decade Network! 
• Prendi parte Archive – Decade of the Sea ← take part in projects, initiatives, and submit your own work here!

UNESCO has a YouTube playlist all about the Ocean Decade. You can find that below [4]:

Here is a podcast episode:

Sources: 

[1] Vision & Mission – Ocean Decade

[2] United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) | UNESCO

[3] United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) | UNESCO

[4] https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWuYED1WVJIN6WMLWFpzDr9zQYvK96xBE&si=J8Ed9DfwToxKQjWS