China strengthens its engagement in global efforts to mitigate and build resilience against climate change
The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (‘Ocean Decade’) continues to expand its global coordination network with the launch of the Decade Collaborative Centre on Ocean-Climate Nexus and Coordination amongst Decade Implementing Partners in P. R. China (DCC-OCC).
Julian Barbière, Head of the Marine Policy and Regional Coordination Section at IOC/UNESCO and Global Coordinator of the Ocean Decade, at the DCC-OCC launch.
On 27th and 28th September 2023, Qingdao, China, welcomed more than 300 participants from over 30 countries for the kick-off conference of the Decade Collaborative Centre on Ocean-Climate Nexus and Coordination amongst Decade Implementing Partners in P. R. China (DCC-OCC), under the main theme ‘Bridging the Ocean Decade, Co-building the Blue Future’.
Over the course of one plenary session and six parallel sessions, participants reviewed the progress of the Ocean Decade, outlined medium and long-term visions, and jointly set future priorities on the path to 2030. It was also the occasion to present the recently endorsed best practice recommendation BV Theory for predictable ocean, and latest achievement of the Ocean Decade Programme “Ocean to Climate Seamless Forecasting System (OSF)” - a cutting-edge Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) drifting buoy for improved ocean observation and monitoring.
“With over half of its population residing along the coast, China’s involvement in the Ocean Decade is of strategic importance,” said Julian Barbière, Head of the Marine Policy and Regional Coordination Section at UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and Global Coordinator of the Ocean Decade. “Today we are delighted to have the DCC-OCC on board with us to coordinate Chinese expertise and resources under the framework of the Ocean Decade, and to support actions relevant to ocean and climate change around the world.”
The Decade Collaborative Centre represents the First Institute of Oceanography, which is part of the Ministry of Natural Resources, to safeguarding sustainable ocean development in line with the Ocean Decade’s vision and mission. This initiative underpins China’s dedication to generating new knowledge and solutions for the ocean-climate nexus to mitigate and build resilience against climate change and communicate the information with a wide range of stakeholders to deliver on Ocean Decade Challenge 5
Through partnership, outreach, and capacity development, the Centre aims to identify and fill data and knowledge gaps of ocean-climate relationship, evaluate and screen for the most effective model testbed schemes, and coordinate relevant stakeholders at national and global scale.
The DCC-OCC will play a vital role in catalysing and coordinating Decade Implementing Partners led by Chinese institutions, with local coordination of these partners allowing efficient contribution to the Ocean Decade.
Learn more about Decade Collaborative Centres
For more information, please contact:
Ocean Decade Communications Team (oceandecade.comms@unesco.org)
