The United Nations (UN) has designated 2021 to 2030 as the ‘Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development’.
This is aimed at boosting international coordination and cooperation in research and scientific programmes for improved management of ocean and coastal zone resources as well as reducing maritime risks.
According to the UN, this is important as the oceans absorb around a third of the carbon dioxide produced by humans and reduce the impact of climate change.
“Across the world, close to three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity to meet their needs,” said UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation director-general, Audrey Azoulay.
A spokesperson for Unesco noted that surveying the oceans was a costly endeavour and required thousands of scientists to collect and analyse the data.
“One of the priorities of the decade will be to strengthen and diversify financial sources, particularly for small island developing states and least developed countries,” they said.
