Fifteen experts from 13 countries will take part in the multi-stakeholder Decade Advisory Board to assist UNESCO-IOC in coordinating the UN Ocean Decade 2021-2030.
The fifteen experts selected by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the UN body tasked with coordinating the Ocean Decade, come from government, private sector, philanthropy, civil society, and the scientific community. Hailing from 13 countries, they will serve on the Decade Advisory Board in their individual capacities, for a period of two years.
“The Decade Advisory Board, with its rich diversity of cultural, geographical, skills and stakeholder backgrounds, is well poised to help the Ocean Decade ride the strong momentum of the first year of implementation of the Decade,” said Vladimir Ryabinin, IOC Executive Secretary. “I am pleased to see such a star line-up of professionals committed to helping deliver on the Ocean Decade vision.”
On behalf of the IOC Secretariat, Vladimir Ryabinin convened a Selection Panel composed of the IOC Chair, Ariel Troisi (Argentina), five IOC Vice-Chairs and the Past IOC Chair. The 15 experts were selected from over 240 nominations put forward by governments, UN, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations, as well as self-nominations. In addition to a diversity of skills and geographic backgrounds, the selection panel also considered gender and generational diversity in the selection of members.
“The number and quality of the applications submitted is a clear example of the interest, vocation, and commitment to meet the challenges our Ocean is facing while responding to the demands of society. We are on a determined path towards transformation and I am fully confident that, with the advice of this superlative team, we will lay solid foundations to reach the Ocean we need from a holistic, participatory, and inclusive perspective.”
Among its key roles, the Board will provide advice to the IOC Executive Secretary on the endorsement of global and major regional programmes that will form the building blocks of Decade action over the next ten years.
The Board will also provide strategic advice to the IOC Governing Bodies on Decade implementation including identifying major gaps or priorities to scope future Calls for Decade Actions, advising on resource mobilisation strategies, and supporting broad engagement and outreach.
The Decade Advisory Board will hold its first meeting in January 2022.
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Meet the Members of the Decade Advisory Board
About the Ocean Decade:
Proclaimed in 2017 by the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) (‘the Ocean Decade’) seeks to stimulate ocean science and knowledge generation to reverse the decline of the state of the ocean system and catalyse new opportunities for sustainable development of this massive marine ecosystem. The vision of the Ocean Decade is ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’. The Ocean Decade provides a convening framework for scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to develop the scientific knowledge and the partnerships needed to accelerate and harness advances in ocean science to achieve a better understanding of the ocean system, and deliver science-based solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The UN General Assembly mandated UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to coordinate the preparations and implementation of the Decade.
About the IOC of UNESCO:
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) promotes international cooperation in marine sciences to improve management of the ocean, coasts and marine resources. The IOC enables its 150 Member States to work together by coordinating programmes in capacity development, ocean observations and services, ocean science and tsunami warning. The work of the IOC contributes to the mission of UNESCO to promote the advancement of science and its applications to develop knowledge and capacity, key to economic and social progress, the basis of peace and sustainable development.