Mediterranean Sea Decade
We depend on the ocean and the ocean depends on us.
We say Planet Earth, but we should say Blue Planet. With its vastness, the ocean sustains us, it is the cradle of biodiversity, oxygen, culture and life. Keeping the ocean healthy and reversing its cycle of decline is the only solution for a sustainable future. The Decade of the Mediterranean Sea develops innovative, science-based solutions for the ocean of tomorrow: join us to make this revolution together.
The Mediterranean Sea Decade and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The Mediterranean Sea Decade aims to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, with particular attention to Sustainable Development Goal 14 “Life below water”, facilitating a paradigm shift in marine design and knowledge dissemination to provide innovative solutions.
The Challenges of the Decade of Marine Sciences for Sustainable Development
The Challenges of the Decade represent the most immediate and urgent priorities to be addressed to achieve the goals by 2030. They aim to unite partners in collective action at global, regional, national and local scales. The challenges are not fixed, they can evolve to respond to emerging issues.
Understand and map terrestrial and marine sources of pollutants and contaminants and their potential impacts on human health and marine ecosystems. Develop solutions to remove pollutants and contaminants or mitigate their effect.
Understand the effects of multiple stressors on ocean ecosystems (marine and coastal) and develop solutions to monitor, protect, manage and restore ecosystems and their biodiversity under changing environmental, social and climate conditions.
Generate knowledge, support innovation and develop solutions to optimize the role of the ocean in sustainably feeding the world’s population in changing environmental, social and climate conditions.
Generate knowledge, support innovation and develop solutions for the equitable and sustainable development of the blue economy in changing environmental, social and climate conditions.
Improve understanding of the ocean-climate nexus and generate knowledge and solutions to mitigate, adapt and build resilience to the impacts of climate change across geographies and scales, and to improve services including ocean, climate and weather forecasting.
Improve multi-hazard early warning services for all ocean and coastal geophysical, ecological, biological, meteorological, climate and anthropogenic hazards, and integrate community preparedness and resilience.
Ensure a sustainable ocean observing system, across all ocean basins, that provides accessible, timely and usable data and information to all users.
Through multi-stakeholder collaboration, develop a comprehensive digital representation of the ocean, including a dynamic ocean map, that provides free and open access to explore, discover and visualize past, current and future conditions in a way that is relevant to different stakeholders
Ensure comprehensive capacity building and equitable access to data, information, knowledge and technologies in all aspects of marine science and for all stakeholders.
Ensure that the ocean’s multiple values and services for human well-being, culture and sustainable development are widely understood, and identify and overcome barriers to behavior change needed for a step change in humanity’s relationship with the ocean.
Mission, vision, values
What is our greatest dream, what do we do every day to make it come true, and what are the guiding stars that guide us every day?
The seven expected results of the Decade
The Decade of the Mediterranean Sea facilitates the generation of data, information and knowledge necessary to move from the “ocean we have” to the “ocean we want”, described by seven Results. Every day we generate data, information and knowledge necessary to move from this ‘ocean we have’ to an ‘ocean we want’. But what does this ocean we want look like?
The ocean we want is:
Clean
Why pollution sources are identified, reduced and/or removed.
Healthy and resilient
Where marine ecosystems are understood, protected, restored and managed.
Productive
Because it supports the sustainability of food supply and the marine economy.
Predictable
Because society understands and can respond to changing marine conditions.
Safe
Because life and sustenance, his and ours, are protected from any ocean danger.
Accessible
Because access to data, information, technology and innovation is open and fair.
Inspire and engage
Because society understands and values the relationships between the ocean, well-being, sustainability and culture.
The Science of the Sea
The sea is part of the Earth system that goes from the coast to the open sea, from the surface to the deep seabed. Marine Sciences study the interactions between land and ocean, ocean and atmosphere, ocean and cryosphere and recognize, respect and include local and indigenous knowledge. A discipline that does not only consider scientific subjects, but above all seeks interdisciplinarity between science, geography, economics and society.
There is a sea to make
For the ocean of tomorrow we organize initiatives, programs, projects, actions but we are constantly looking for the contribution and creativity of everyone. From a simple commitment, a proposal and a structured volunteering, here is what you can do with us.
National Committee for the Decade
National Committees facilitate national coordination of activities. The active involvement of different stakeholders, including the scientific community, institutions, the United Nations, businesses, foundations, NGOs and young professionals is crucial to the success of the Decade of the Sea.