While there have been numerous achievements in ocean science in the past decades, current levels of funding are insufficient to reverse the decline of the state of the ocean system.

Climate change, unsustainable exploitation of marine resources, pollution, uncoordinated development of the ocean and coastal zone – in the face of increasingly significant threats, the Call to Action affirms the necessity to invest in solutions-oriented science to restore the health of the ocean and achieve sustainable development.

In that regard, the Patrons and institutional members of the Ocean Decade Alliance, which includes Heads of State, governments, leaders of philanthropy and industry, recognize the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (the ‘Ocean Decade’) as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to convene diverse actors to co-design and co-deliver transformative ocean science, from global to local scale.

From robust ocean observation, data and information, the inclusion of Indigenous knowledge, the support to Early Career Ocean Professionals and youth, to setting up comprehensive capacity development and increased ocean literacy, ‘the ocean we want’ can only be obtained through scaled-up, systematic and sustained financing and investment. Indeed, on average States devote only 1.7% of their national research budgets to ocean science (0.03% to 11.8%, depending on the country), a figure that needs

Leading by example, the Ocean Decade Alliance commits to using their networks and influence to raise awareness for the need to increase investment in ocean science and supporting partnerships across all sectors of society as the foundation for collective action.

Established in 2021, the Ocean Decade Alliance is comprised of eminent partners whose mandate is to catalyse support for the Ocean Decade through targeted resource mobilization, networking and influence, leveraging and multiplying financial and in-kind resource commitments.

Click here to read the Call to Action

For more information, please contact:
Vinicius Lindoso (v.lindoso@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) to coordinate the preparations and implementation of the Decade.

About the 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.