On December 18th, 2020, the Atlantic International Research Center will hold a very special session on "The Ocean Decade: a framework for transformative change at the regional and national level". After years of thoughtful design and strongly participative preparation, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development will start January 1st, 2021. The following 10 years will be key to "reverse the cycle of decline in ocean health and gather ocean stakeholders worldwide behind a common framework that will ensure ocean science can fully support countries in creating improved conditions for sustainable development of the Ocean".
The program will cover several aspects of the Ocean Decade:
- 1:00 PM UTC | Welcome and housekeeping, Luis Pinheiro, Chairman, Portuguese Committee for IOC
- 1:05 PM UTC | Opening remarks, Minister Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Portugal
- 1:15 PM UTC | Video – Ocean Decade preparation phase
- 1:20 PM UTC | Update on the Ocean Decade and launch of the report ‘Engaging and Empowering Regional Stakeholders: Synthesis of Regional Consultation Workshops (2019–2020)’, Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary, IOC
- 1:30 PM UTC | Co-designing the science we need for the ocean we want at the global and regional level, Susanne Moser, Expert in collaborative research and co-design, IOC Consultant
- 1:50 PM UTC | Panel discussion moderated by Luis Pinheiro: Translating the Ocean Decade to regional and national action, with Cesar Toro, Co-Chair, Western Tropical Atlantic Taskforce; Karen Silverwood-Cope, Brazil National Committee; Taylor Goelz, Research Associate NOAA, Early Career Ocean Professional Working Group
- 2:15 PM UTC | What's next for the Decade?, Alison Clausen, Programme Specialist, IOC
- 2:30 PM UTC | Closing Concert with Jazz Pianist Mário Laginha
This session will be held in English language with simultaneous interpretation to Portuguese, French and Spanish. More information on the session is available here