Ocean Decade Conference 2024: India Backs Regional Observation Center

India has called for setting up a region-specific ocean observation centre for better forecasting and understanding of the deep sea ecosystem. The Indian delegation led by Earth Sciences Secretary M Ravichandran made these observations at the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference held in Barcelona, Spain .

2024  Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona

The first in-person Ocean Decade Conference was held in Barcelona, Spain, from 10 to 12 April 2024.

It was organised by the government of Spain with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. 

The theme of the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona was: Delivering the science we need for the ocean we want.

 The main aim of the Ocean Decade Conference was to review the progress made in achieving the goals of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) and to further cooperation amongst the stakeholders.

United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development

In January 2021 the United Nations  launched the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). The aim of the Decade of Ocean initiative was to provide a framework for the stakeholders like governments, research institutions, NGOs, business communities etc  across the world to engage and collaborate to build science-informed policies.

The 10 Ocean decade challenges are ;

1. Understand and beat marine pollution

2. Protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity

3. Sustainably feed the global population

4. Develop a sustainable and equitable ocean economy

5. Unlock ocean-based solutions to climate change

6. Increase community resilience to ocean hazards

7. Expand the global ocean observing system

8. Create a digital representation of the ocean

9. Skills, knowledge and technology for all

10. Change humanity’s relationship with the ocean

India’s Position at the  Ocean Decade 

At the Barcelona conference India called for people-centered multi-hazard early warning systems. It called for utilising the traditional knowledge by involving the local communities, Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), industries in furthering ocean literacy and other related programmes.

Ravichandran also stressed the need to design regional projects, such as ocean forecasting, that are useful for the user communities.

India had convened the Indian Ocean Regional Decade Conference in Hyderabad in February to examine the issues on ocean decade challenges and steps to address the same.