On December 5, 2017, the United Nations proclaimed the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, to be held from 2021 to 2030. The Decade will provide a common framework to ensure that ocean science can fully support the actions of government and diverse groups of other partners to sustainably manage the ocean and, more particularly, to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
To mark the start of the Decade, ECO Magazine and IOC-UNESCO have partnered to produce a digital magazine to showcase upcoming activities that contribute to the Decade’s seven outcomes that characterise the ocean we want by 2030.
“After three years of intensive and inclusive preparations, we are excited to start the Ocean Decade together with partner governments, philanthropies, businesses and scientific institutions whose commitment and innovative actions will use ocean knowledge to address major challenges we face, from the decline in the ocean health to climate change. Partnerships like the one with the ECO Magazine are crucial to strengthen humanity’s relation with the ocean, reflecting its key role in maintaining a more sustainable world,” emphasized Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary of UNESCO’s IOC.
Available in May 2021, the edition will be distributed at Decade-related conferences between May and September 2021, including the 2nd UN Ocean Conference which will be held in Lisbon, Portugal.
“We are incredibly excited to be supporting the Ocean Decade by providing a global platform for ocean stakeholders to share impactful stories about their activities. This coming Decade will be vitally important for progressing ocean science and developing an effective framework that helps us achieve a truly sustainable blue economy,” said Kira Coley, senior editor of ECO Magazine.
ECO and IOC-UNESCO invite ocean stakeholders participating in activities in all fields related to the Ocean Decade to submit an interest to contribute.
How do I contribute?
ECO and IOC-UNESCO are interested in written, video, and audio submissions related to initiatives, new knowledge, partnerships, or innovative solutions that are relevant to the following seven Ocean Decade outcomes:
- A clean ocean – whereby sources of pollution are identified, quantified and reduced, and pollutants removed from the ocean
- A healthy and resilient ocean – whereby marine ecosystems are mapped and protected, multiple impacts (including climate change) are measured and reduced, and provision of ocean ecosystem services is maintained
- A predicted ocean – whereby society has the capacity to understand current and future ocean conditions, forecast their change and impact on human wellbeing and livelihoods
- A safe ocean – whereby human communities are protected from ocean hazards and where safety of operations at sea and on the coast is ensured
- A productive ocean – whereby the ocean ensures the provision of food supply and alternative livelihoods
- An accessible ocean – whereby all nations, stakeholders and citizens have access to ocean data and information, technologies, and have the capacities to inform their decisions
- An inspiring and engaging ocean –whereby society understands and values the ocean
Please submit your 150 word story summary via this link by January 25, 2021. We will aim to contact you during the week commencing February 1, 2021 to inform you if your story has been accepted into the edition.
On acceptance, we ask that you submit your completed article by March 08, 2021.
“We have been delighted to collaborate with ECO Magazine since mid-2019 to raise awareness about the Ocean Decade, and now I am thrilled to work with the magazine to showcase exciting stories about the people across the globe who are already generating science-driven impact and helping deliver the Decade’s vision of The Ocean We Want,” stated Vinicius Lindoso, Communication Officer of UNESCO’s IOC.