UN Decade of Ocean Science – Global Planning Meeting

May 13, 2019 - May 15, 2019
Copenhagen

On 13-15 May 2019, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO convened the 1st Global Planning Meeting in preparation for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. The meeting took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, hosted by the National Museum of Denmark. WOC CEO Paul Holthus was invited to the 1st Global Planning Meeting as Speaker.

The Global Planning Meeting provided a forum to gather approximately 200 thought-leaders/champions/key stakeholders. A mixture of plenary and break-out groups facilitated international, interdisciplinary discussions across sectors (such as: ocean science and technology; ocean policy and sustainable development; business and industry; NGOs and civil society; donors and foundations) to identify concrete deliverables and partnerships to meet the Decade’s six societal objectives:

  • A safe Ocean
  • A Sustainable and Productive Ocean
  • A Transparent and Accessible Ocean
  • A Clean Ocean
  • A Healthy and Resilient Ocean
  • A Predicted Ocean

The Global Planning Meeting offered a crucial opportunity to co-design mission-oriented research strategies in line with the 2030 Agenda, taking advantage of cross-cutting issues such as transforming knowledge systems; accelerating transfer of technology; enabling training and education; and fostering science-policy dialogues.

The Global Planning Meeting aimed to identify:

  • Knowledge gaps and ocean science priorities for the 2030 Agenda
  • Existing relevant partnerships/networks/initiatives and gaps
  • Priorities in capacity-development/training
  • Priority topics and themes
  • Potential partners
  • Links to other initiatives such as regional workshops and meetings

The meeting initiated a global dialogue that will be continued throughout 2019 and 2020 via regional Decade workshops, conference side-events, and further thematic workshops, to inform the planning of the Decade.