The UN proclaimed the period 2021-2030 as the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable DevelopmentThis ambitious project is designed to mobilise not only the scientific community, but also politicians, businesses and civil society around a common programme of research and technological development in the ocean field. The main objective is to ensure that science fully contributes to the sustainability of the oceans, an essential resource for life on Earth.
One of the key points of this initiative is the need to Strengthen and diversify sources of financing to research and preserve marine ecosystems. Currently, countries allocate between 0,04% and 4% of their research and development (R&D) budget to ocean sciences – an insufficient amount considering that around 3.000 billion people directly depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. This highlights the crucial importance of increasing investment in marine science to ensure long-term sustainability.
Oceans play a key role in regulating the climate. In fact, they absorb almost a third of the carbon dioxide generated by humans, which helps mitigate climate change. Despite their importance, Science has yet to fully assess the cumulative effects of human activities on the oceans., such as pollution, global warming and acidification. For the Decade to fulfil its purpose, it is essential that new sources of data are generated and research is improved.
The importance of ocean sciences according to UNESCO
La United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) has been an active promoter of the Decade of Ocean Science. According to Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, one of the great challenges is that, although the oceans cover 70% of the planet, we have only explored less than 5% of them. This figure is worrying due to the increasing pressures that humans exert on ocean ecosystems.
Exploring the oceans requires vast amounts of resources, as it requires the use of specialized ships, underwater robots, satellites and submersible vehicles, among other technologies. However, investment in these areas has so far been insufficient, which limits knowledge and the ability to act in the face of global challenges.
Furthermore, one of UNESCO's main objectives is to improve the international collaboration in the field of ocean sciences. UNESCO seeks to strengthen cooperation between various nations to share knowledge, technology and experience. Promoting training and technology transfer will be vital in the coming years.
Key challenges for the decade
During the Decade of Ocean Science, key objectives to be addressed include:
- Marine contamination: Recent research indicates that approximately 8 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year. Part of the challenge will be to identify the sources of this pollution and develop technologies that help reduce its impact.
- Ecosystem restoration: Progress must be made in protecting and restoring ecosystems affected by overfishing and other human activities. An ecosystem approach will be crucial to ensure the regeneration of marine protected areas.
- Sustainable fishing: Achieving a balance between exploitation and conservation of marine resources is essential to feed the world's growing population without putting marine biodiversity at risk.
- Climate change: The oceans have absorbed about 90% of the additional heat generated by human activities. Finding ways to mitigate the effects of global warming and acidification remains one of the most pressing challenges.
The knowledge gap: an almost unknown ocean
Despite advances in scientific research, More than 80% of the ocean remains unexploredThis huge knowledge gap prevents countries from making informed decisions about how to effectively manage and protect the oceans. Studying the seabed, mapping unknown areas and collecting biodiversity data could radically change how we manage this vital resource.
Without immediate action, the effects on the oceans will be devastating. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that if action is not taken by 2050, there could be more plastic in the sea than fish. Even more worrying is the fact that all tropical coral reefs could disappear before the end of this century due to rising water temperatures and acidification.
In order to try to save the oceans, coordinated action between governments, international organisations and civil society is needed. One of the most proposed solutions is the creation of marine protected areas that allow marine ecosystems to regenerate without human interference.
International engagement with ocean sciences
A very recent development in ocean management has been the commitment of 14 countries, representing 40% of the world's coastlines, to manage their coastal areas sustainably by 2025. This commitment can be key to avoiding poverty in many coastal areas and promoting sustainable economic development.
Despite this commitment, governments continue to allocate very few resources to ocean research. On average, countries invest less than 2% of R&D budgets in ocean sciences. This fact is especially alarming, given that we face multiple interrelated challenges, such as climate change, acidification and pollution.
The essential role of technological investment
To overcome the great challenges that lie ahead, investment in technology will be crucial. Technological innovations in the field of marine energy, observation and analysis of underwater data will significantly improve our intervention capacity.
Some of the most anticipated advancements include:
- The development of early warning systems that can detect dangerous ocean changes, such as tsunamis or red tides.
- Underwater mapping: Better mapping of the seabed using satellites and underwater drones.
- Seeking new sources of marine energy such as tidal and wave energy.
These advances are expected to enable future generations of marine scientists to conduct more comprehensive studies, allowing them to make more informed decisions to protect the oceans. In addition, the blue economy, which is based on the sustainable use of the oceans, will generate new jobs and opportunities in emerging sectors.
The Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development is a unique opportunity to restore ocean health and gain the knowledge we need to coexist more harmoniously with our oceans. Over the coming years, the international community must work together to ensure that the ocean continues to provide the vital services on which all of humanity depends.