Ocean Decade: Call for Decade Actions No. 05/2023 Focusing on Marine Pollution and Marine Ecosystems

Degradation of marine ecosystems, including through pollutants and contaminants, is accelerating due to unsustainable activities on land and in the ocean. To sustainably manage, protect or restore marine and coastal environments, priority knowledge gaps need to be filled. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework that was adopted in December 2022 and the ongoing intergovernmental negotiations for the development of an internationally binding treaty on plastic pollution provide a global framework to address these challenges, but will require ocean science and knowledge to guide their implementation.

In this context, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development launched Call for Decade Actions No. 05/2023 on 15 April 2023, soliciting transformative Decade Programmes that address priority sub-themes of Ocean Decade Challenge 1 – Marine Pollution, and Ocean Decade Challenge 2 – Ecosystem Restoration and Management.

Building on the impact of the Ocean Decade since its launch in January 2021, the Call aims to continue addressing thematic and regional gaps and to encourage transformative science to meet these critical and urgent Challenges and contribute to global policy processes.

As part of Challenge 1 – Marine Pollution, the Ocean Decade is looking for Programmes with a focus on plastic pollution and nutrient pollution. To deliver on Challenge 2 – Ecosystem Restoration and Management, the Call is targeting Programmes submissions related to area-based management, restoration and multiple ocean stressors.

In developing their applications, proponents will be requested to document the ways in which their proposed Programme aligns with the existing portfolio of Decade Programmes; provides a framework for relevant endorsed Decade Projects that are operating without a framework Programme; and/or contributes to relevant global policy processes (more information in the Guidance Note for Applicants).

Additionally, as part of the Call for Decade Actions No. 05/2023, 18 endorsed Decade Programmes are also inviting Decade Project submissions – please see below and the Guidance Note for Applicants for the full list. These Decade Programmes focus on a wide range of thematic priorities, such as marine life, ocean observations, and capacity development.

Decade Contributions of in-kind or financial resources are also encouraged, specifically in relation to the creation of new coordination structures in the form of Decade Collaborative Centres and/or Decade Coordination Offices related to: (i) Marine Pollution, (ii) Ecosystem Restoration and Management, and (iii) Sustainable Blue Food.

Interested parties wishing to submit a Decade Programme, Project or Contribution for endorsement should complete and submit the relevant online “Request for Endorsement” form. Please note that there are several different online forms and different deadlines depending on the type of Action you are submitting. Please check the Take Action! page on the Ocean Decade Network for more information.

Institutions based in Africa, Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries or Land-Locked Developing Countries who would like to discuss their application and receive additional technical support can contact oceandecade@unesco.org with “Support for CFDA No. 05/2023” in the subject line.

You can find all of the documentation needed for the submission on the Ocean Decade Network: https://forum.oceandecade.org/page/call-for-decade-actions

Two online Q&A sessions provided interested parties with the opportunity to ask questions on the Call for Decade Actions.
Download the presentation here.

• 4 May 2023 from 14:00 to 15:00 (UTC) – Watch here
• 5 May 2023 from 07:00 to 08:00 (UTC) – Watch here

For additional information or queries, please contact oceandecade@unesco.org and include “Call for Decade Actions No. 05/2023” in the subject line.

Read more on the Ocean Decade website by clicking here.