UN OCEAN DECADE CONFERENCE 2024 - Barcelona

Experts from Marine Research Plymouth labs are actively involved with the UN Ocean Decade conference, joining the global Ocean Decade community and partners to celebrate, take stock of progress, and set joint priorities for the future.

Focused on ‘delivering the science we need for the ocean we want’, the 2024 UN Ocean Decade Conference (UNODC), will be hosted by the Government of Spain in Barcelona from 10 - 12 April 2024.

The Conference provides a unique opportunity to convene and prepare existing and future Ocean Decade partners in advance of the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference and the 2025 United Ocean Conference.

Marine Research Plymouth colleagues are playing their part in this conference through a variety of roles including: the development of the Vision 2030 reports, the final drafts of which will be presented at the conference; Conference Programme Committee member; Chair the UK National Decade Committee; co-organising and speaking at satellite events and the conference itself, including a keynote talk.

The series of partner-led and partner-resourced satellite events over the course of five days prior to, and in the sidelines of, the Conference, start on 8 April.

You can also find experts on a dedicated Marine Research Plymouth exhibition booth - No. 1 - in the main conference hall.

Find out more about the UN Ocean Decade programmes Marine Research Plymouth partners are involved with.

Meet the Team

Official and satellite events that we’ll be participating in …

  • The Ocean Decade from a National Perspective: what does success look like?

    Monday 8 April, 9:00

    National Decade Committee members from the participating countries will join Chair of the UK National Decade Committee, Professor Matt Frost in considering the question posed around national perspective, for this event.

    By invitation only

  • Catalyzing source-to-sea synergies towards healthy rivers and a healthy ocean

    Tuesday 9 April, 9:30-11:00

    Join speaker Amy Kenworthy and panelist Professor Steve Widdicombe at this interdisciplinary event connecting source-to-sea action and science. Learn from and engage with a diverse group of experts working to bridge the knowledge gaps between land, water and ocean, developing holistic solutions that accelerate action to counter climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.

    Fellow experts will showcase how Ocean Decade Programmes, such as Healthy Rivers Healthy Ocean (HRHO) and Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability (OARS), address multiple pressures and support source-to-sea initiatives that bring together science and policy.

    Organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the Global Water Partnership and IOC/UNESCO.

    Venue: Margalef room, Institute de Ciéncies del Mar,

    Register here

  • Global Awareness, Research activities and Network to Address Ocean Microplastic Pollution

    Tuesday 9 April, 17:00-18:30

    Dr James Clark is a panelist at this event which aims at increasing the awareness about plastic pollution and provide new insights, knowledge, and solutions.

    It will offer a platform to share recent scientific findings, discuss international initiatives to build capacity around the world (such as the IAEA NUTEC initiative), inform policy-makers and exchange successful examples of how research is contributing to implementing ocean protection by effective input to large intergovernmental organisations (such as the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic pollution).

    Venue: Marie Curie room, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park

    Register here

  • Plenary Session 1: Science and Solutions for a Clean, Healthy and Resilient Ocean

    Wednesday 10 April, 15:00-18:00

    Dr Imogen Napper will be a panel member at this round table discussion, focusing on the focusing on Challenges 1, 2 and 5 - Marine Pollution, Ecosystems and Ocean-Climate Nexus.

    The Conference’s Plenary Sessions commence with a keynote speaker followed by a moderated roundtable discussion providing an overview of achievements, future opportunities and remaining challenges for the issues in question.

    Venue: One Ocean Room, International Convention Centre (CCIB)

  • Parrallel Session 1 - Oral Presentation: Introducing the Global Ocean Artificial Light at Night Network

    Wednesday 10 April, 16:30-18:00

    Dr Thomas Davies will give an oral presentation introducing a global network of light pollution research.

    Light pollution is not well represented on the Ocean Decade agenda, and this event will facilitate new opportunities for networking with existing Decade programmes and projects, and for forming new partnerships with stakeholders from across industry, policy and government, as they work towards feasible management solutions for light emissions into the ocean.

    The Conference’s parallel sessions - Science Solutions Forums - start with a presentation of key elements of the Vision 2030 White Paper for the relevant Challenge and followed by a series of oral presentations on innovative science-society solutions that are contributing to or aligned with the Challenge. The sessions close with a moderated interactive dialogue to develop key recommendations from the session for reporting back to plenary.

    Venue: Arctic Ocean Room, Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB)

  • Parrallel Session 1 - Oral Presentation: Ocean acidification research for a sustainable ocean: From chemistry to society

    Wednesday 10 April, 16.30-18:00

    Professor Steve Widdicombe will give the

    presentation.

    The conference’s parallel sessions - Science Solutions Forums - start with a presentation of key elements of the Vision 2030 White Paper for the relevant Challenge and followed by a series of oral presentations on innovative science-society solutions that are contributing to or aligned with the Challenge. The sessions close with a moderated interactive dialogue to develop key recommendations from the session for reporting back to plenary.

    Venue: Pacific Ocean Room, Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB)

  • Parrallel Session 2 - Oral Presentation: What data are we missing? Using natural capital and ecosystem service indicators to demonstrate the quality and quantity of natural assets in Plymouth Sound National Marine Park

    Thursday 11 April, 11:30 – 13:00

    PhD student Kizzy Beaumont will give the presentation.

    The Conference’s parallel sessions - Science Solutions Forums - start with a presentation of key elements of the Vision 2030 White Paper for the relevant Challenge and followed by a series of oral presentations on innovative science-society solutions that are contributing to or aligned with the Challenge. The sessions close with a moderated interactive dialogue to develop key recommendations from the session for reporting back to plenary.

    Venue: Pacific Ocean Room, Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB)

  • What can National Decade Committees do for you?

    Thursday 11 April, 13:15

    Professor Matt Frost, Chair of the UK National Decade Committee, is speaking at this event which looks at linking global and national priorities through stakeholder engagement.

    Venue: Indian Ocean Room, Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB)

  • Parrallel Session 3 - Oral Presentation: Early Warning System: climate-smart, economically viable and socially acceptable marine planning across the UK Nations.

    Thursday 11 April, 16:30-18:00

    Professor Ana Queirós will give the presentation.

    The Conference’s parallel sessions - Science Solutions Forums - start with a presentation of key elements of the Vision 2030 White Paper for the relevant Challenge and followed by a series of oral presentations on innovative science-society solutions that are contributing to or aligned with the Challenge. The sessions close with a moderated interactive dialogue to develop key recommendations from the session for reporting back to plenary.

    Venue: Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB), Arctic Ocean Room

  • Parrallel Session 3 - Oral Presentation: Global capacity building for transformative, smart ocean observations and tools in response to the climate crisis and biodiversity crises.

    Thursday 11 April, 16:30-18:00

    Dr Claire Szostek will give the presentation.

    The Conference’s parallel sessions - Science Solutions Forums - start with a presentation of key elements of the Vision 2030 White Paper for the relevant Challenge and followed by a series of oral presentations on innovative science-society solutions that are contributing to or aligned with the Challenge. The sessions close with a moderated interactive dialogue to develop key recommendations from the session for reporting back to plenary.

    Venue: Pacific Ocean Room, Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB)

  • Ocean carbon: The knowns and unknowns

    Friday 12 April, 08:30-9:45

    Professor Steve Widdicombe is speaking at this breakfast event. It will illustrate and discuss the importance of integrated ocean carbon research, which aims at filling knowledge gaps in ocean carbon science for sustainable development by designing and promoting the implementation of a new generation of underpinning research to support emerging ocean-climate policy.

    Ocean Decade Programmes and activities such as the Global Ocean Decade Programme for Blue Carbon (GO-BC), Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability (OARS) and Integrated Ocean Carbon Research (IOC-R) are clarifying aspects of the ocean carbon cycle by focusing on the abiotic uptake of CO2 by the ocean, the biological carbon cycle and how coastal areas can be either a carbon sink or a source depending on different management strategies.

    Venue: Pacific Ocean Room, Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB))

  • Ocean Census: Discovering Marine Life

    Friday 12 April, 8:30-9:45

    Professor Kerry Howell is one of the expert speakers at this symposium, who will delve into the Ocean Census’ strategies and scientific objectives.

    Ocean Census is a pioneering biodiversity project initiated by The Nippon Foundation and Nekton, with an ambitious goal of discovering 100,000 new species in the next decade. Building on the legacies of The Census of Marine Life and others, the endeavor is a global collaboration undertaken by a diverse and inclusive network of partners, accelerating species discovery, enhancing data sharing, inspiring public engagement and driving impactful policy changes addressing the urgent biodiversity crisis.

    Venue: One Ocean Room, International Convention Centre (CCIB)

  • Tackling Plastic Pollution Together

    Friday 12 April, 13:15-14:45

    Professor Richard Thompson delivers the keynote address at this Satellite Event led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) UK

    The event (in person and live stream) also includes a panel and showcase of the science that is helping us build our understanding of this challenge, guide effective solutions and drive policy decisions to beat plastic pollution.

    More than 12 million tonnes of plastic waste pollute our ocean each year and this could triple by 2040 if we do not act. As the negotiations for a new global plastic pollution treaty continue, science remains critical in understanding the challenge and driving effective solutions. Join us and a panel of experts at this networking and knowledge sharing event with capacity building and international collaboration at its heart. Make new connections as we showcase science that is helping us to build our understanding of the challenge and guiding effective solutions to beat plastic pollution.

    Venue: Sargasso Sea Room Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB)

    Register for the event

  • Deepening the Decade: Deep Ocean Actions for a sustainable ocean

    Friday 12 April, 13:15-14:45

    Deep-sea ecologist Professor Kerry Howell is one of the panelists representing 15 or more of the Decade Actions that target or incorporate the deep ocean. Discussions will feature cross-cutting early career, capacity development, data and knowledge generation achievements and actions that produce ocean solutions and address the Decade Challenges.

    The event highlights a set of communal goals for the deep ocean developed by the Ocean Decade’s Deep Ocean Research and Management Community of Practice.

    Venue: Southern Ocean Room, Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB)