Seagrasses off the Zanzibar coast | Photo: Dieuwke Hoeijmakers, ZMT

27/05/2021 | Human well-being, sustainable development and economic growth depend on a healthy ocean. Many human activities on land and at sea have a direct or indirect negative impact on the ocean. At the same time, the ocean is a valuable source of many resources and plays an important role in climate change. The International Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development from 2021 to 2030, proclaimed by the United Nations, aims to achieve solutions for the protection and sustainable use of the ocean and to involve society in this process.

On Wednesday, 2 June 2021, the German Ocean Decade Committee (ODK) will introduce the UN Decade with a virtual event focusing on exchange between society, science and industry and inviting participation. The event follows the international launch of the UN Decade, which officially begins on 1 June 2021 with an international high-level conference.

"Only if politics and science, business and society work together to find solutions can we succeed in achieving greater sustainability, even with the sometimes indispensable use of the oceans," emphasises Gesine Meißner, Ocean Ambassador, long-serving Member of the European Parliament and spokesperson for the ODK. "We cordially invite everyone to take part in our launch event and exchange ideas on the many ways to make a strong and effective commitment to our oceans."

"We want to bring together knowledge from research and society," adds Martin Visbeck, oceanographer at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and also spokesperson of the Decade Committee. "From the diverse perspectives, innovative ideas and options for action will emerge that will enable us to live more sustainably with the oceans and to maintain or improve their condition."

At the following link, all interested parties can still register for the online event on the Ocean Decade in Germany until 2 June. Participation is free of charge.

https://www.eventbrite.de/e/die-ozeandekade-in-deutschland-tickets-153778093417

Further information on the German Ocean Decade Committee can be found on the official website: https://ozeandekade.de.


PROGRAMME for 2 June 2021: Online event for the Ocean Decade in Germany
Opening for download here.