The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development will span the years 2021-2030. This “Ocean Decade” is an opportunity for ocean actors across the world to come together to generate knowledge and foster the partnerships needed to support a well-functioning, productive, resilient, sustainable and inspiring ocean.
Goals for a clean ocean in 2030 include: Reducing and removing top-priority forms of pollution (e.g., marine debris) by 50-90 per cent; increasing public engagement with access to information associated with behavioural shifts favouring the motto of “reduce, reuse and recycle”; encouraging participation in citizen science as part of events involving sailing, surfing, and other activities dependent on a clean ocean.
The importance of oceans was also underscored at a major conference this past June at the UN Headquarters, in New York.
However, the cumulative effects of human activities on this vital important, including the impact of pollution, warming and acidification are yet to be fully evaluated scientifically and surveying the ocean requires costly ships and equipment, satellite imaging, underwater robots and remotely controlled vehicles.
It also requires thousands of scientists collecting and analysing the data, either in laboratories or in marine environments.
“One of the priorities of the Decade will be to strengthen and diversify financial sources, particularly for small island developing States and least developed countries,” said UNESCO.
“This Decade, will provide a framework for international coordination and partnership to reinforce research capacities in marine sciences and the transfer of technology,” it added.
Credit : United Nations
Picture Credit : Google
