What is the UN Ocean Decade: Everything you need to know

We’re halfway through the UN’s Decade of Ocean Science

2025 is the year NASAs Artemis III mission hopes to land the first people on the moon since 1972, we’ll welcome the year of the Snake in the Chinese New Year, there will be a total eclipse visible across some of North America, Greenland and Europe – and 2025 marks the halfway point in the Ocean Decade.  

What is the Ocean Decade? 

In 2017 the UN General Assembly announced something exciting. 2021- 2030 would be the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, or (much catchier) the Ocean Decade.  

Its vision is encapsulated in the phrase, ‘the science we need for the Ocean we want’. 

The science we need for the Ocean we want encapsulates the vision of the UN Ocean decade.

The aims of the Ocean Decade are;  

  • Stimulating Ocean science and knowledge generation 
  • Creating new opportunities for sustainable ecosystem development 
  • Accelerating the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life Below Water which is all about conservation and sustainable use of the Ocean
  • Fostering international cooperation in Ocean science. 

That is a lot of long words to say, the goal of the Ocean Decade is to put the Ocean front and centre.

How is the Ocean Decade helping the Ocean? 

The UN has identified key Ocean Decade challenges and set targets to address them. 10 Ocean Challenges, aiming for 7 Outcomes of collective impact.  

The 10 key UN Ocean Decade Challenges, posted by Ocean Generation.

Here’s a simplified breakdown of the challenges (in reverse order just to keep you on your toes).  

Challenge 10: Restore society’s relationship with the Ocean
Challenge 9: Skills, knowledge, technology and participation for all 
As the great Jacques Cousteau said, “people protect what they love”. Restoring a link between people and the Ocean, instilling stewardship through education, is key to improving its health.  

Challenge 8: Create a digital representation of the Ocean 
Challenge 7: Sustainably develop the Global Ocean Observing System  
7 and 8 offer how to deepen that knowledge of the Ocean and use technology to further it and share it. Making models, exploring further and don’t forget to tell everyone about it. 

Challenge 6: Increase coastal resilience to Ocean and coastal risks
Challenge 5: Unlock Ocean-based solutions on climate change 
We can enlist the Ocean as an ally. It already absorbs up to 89% of our excess heat and has taken up 40% of carbon dioxide emitted. However, intensification of storms and rising sea levels threaten communities closest to the sea. Challenges 5 and 6 look at the practicalities of our relationship with the Ocean. 

The goal of the UN Ocean Decade is to put the Ocean front and centre.

Challenge 4: Develop a sustainable, resilient and equitable Ocean economy
Challenge 3: Sustainably nourish the global population 
Beyond that, our Ocean can be a cornucopia, providing food and resources. To ensure it is, these two aim to tackle the management and guidance needed to avoid a harmful relationship with the Ocean and benefit everyone. 

Challenge 2: Protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity
Challenge 1: Understand and beat marine pollution 
Finally, Ocean Decade challenges 1 and 2 aim to protect and restore. Undo the harm that has been done to our Ocean, and tackle how it is still being damaged.  

For a healthy planet, we need a healthy Ocean. 

These challenges cover the full range, from prompting a sense of responsibility in people to tackling the specific threats.  

The goal is simple – nurture an Ocean that is healthy, resilient, clean, productive and safe, but also predictable, accessible and inspiring. These are the outcomes the Ocean Decade targets. (Read: Why is the Ocean so important?

For a healthy planet, we need a healthy Ocean. Posted by Ocean Generation.

We are all part of the Ocean Decade 

Ocean Generation’s mission is to bring the Ocean to everyone, everywhere.  

We translate complex Ocean science into engaging content and run three youth engagement programmes for 3 – 25-year-olds. Our Ocean Intelligence approach is endorsed by UNESCO as an Ocean Decade Project; making us part of Ocean Decades solutions.  (Which challenge are we meeting?).

Look through the challenges, see if you can engage with any.

UN Ocean Decade: First look complete 

Over the coming year, we’ll check in with the Ocean Decade. We will explore the plans it has, discover how it ties in with the different elements of the work we do, and summarise the progress it has made in a final check up at the end of the year.  

We are all part of the UN Ocean Decade.

The way of the water

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