In 2017, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) the Ocean Decade). Under the motto ‘Achieving the ocean we want by 2030’, the Ocean Decade aims at bringing together scientists, governments, industry, UN agencies and many other stakeholders to generate scientific knowledge and develop partnerships to support a well-functioning, productive, resilient, and sustainable ocean.

The implementation of the Ocean Decade is supported by global partners that endorse and spread the word about the Decade’s mission and work, but also that address the challenges identified by the Decade. By supporting developments in Earth Observation data access, integration and utilisation, the GEO Blue Planet initiative reinforces Ocean Decade projects that integrate data and information across the coastal and open ocean for the benefit of society.

All GEO Blue Planet activities support and contribute to the outcomes of the Ocean Decade. GEO Blue Planet is also a proud partner of Early Career Ocean Professional (ECOP) Network Programme, and works hard to ensure the participation of ECOPs in all our activities and events.