Advancing Ocean Sustainability for Climate-Resilient Change

Abstract

The United Nations (UN) Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development spans from 2021 to 2030 as a global call to action for marine scientists and Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) to collaboratively create, implement, and communicate science-based solutions to the critical challenges faced by our shared ocean. The Decade integrates science, policy, and international engagement of a broad base of civil society stakeholders through interdisciplinary research challenges aimed at establishing sustainable marine practices to confront issues related to climate change. This paper presents a synopsis of the UN-led initiatives that culminated in the launch of the Ocean Decade and describes the global vision articulated in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing on Sustainable Development Goal 14, Life Below Water. The critical need for multidisciplinary ocean research and innovation, collaborative sharing of findings grounded in data, and recommendations for global mitigation and policy development are discussed. The Global Ocean Ship-based Hydrographic Investigations Program (GO-SHIP) is recognized as an exemplary Ocean Decade endorsed action, offering collaborative research experiences and opportunities to contribute to data-driven recommendations influencing policy development on an international scale. Enhancing ocean literacy through the dissemination of precise, data-driven information is essential for advancing ocean sustainability for climate-resilient change and safe-guarding the well-being of our ocean.