G7 Future of Seas and Ocean Initiative
In a workshop convened by the Ocean Frontier Institute, international scientists raised alarm that global climate target calculations and derived climate policies are missing a critical variable: the impact of changing ocean carbon on the climate.
The G7 FSOI Coordination Centre has published a summary report from the June 2021 Working Group meeting that outlines the major actions to be taken forward jointly by the G7 countries and the European Union to enhance global ocean observations.
This annual report provides a key insight into the status of the Global Ocean Observing System, assessing observing networks’ progress, focusing on what is needed to meet the challenges and demands for ocean information, and encouraging collaborations and new partners to join the ocean observing community.
Over a 3-day series of virtual sessions from 28 to 30 June, the G7 FSOI Working Group discussed and agreed on the way forward with a set of joint G7 ocean actions including key activities from the G7 Ocean Navigation Plan, approved by the G7 Climate and Environment Ministers in May 2021.
At the Summit G7 leaders agreed a shared G7 Nature Compact, a key agreement to address the most urgent international and interconnected challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change. It also recognises the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and endorses the G7 Ocean Decade Navigation Plan.
The Navigation Plan marks the beginning of the G7’s commitment to and support for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). It also establishes a framework through which the G7 will collaborate and advance their collective work on ocean science, ocean observing and ocean action throughout the Ocean Decade.
The communiqué from the G7 ministerial highlights the G7’s support for the G7 FSOI’s programme of activities, including the sharing of best practices, working towards the development of a digital twin ocean and net zero oceanographic capability, and evaluating global ocean indicator frameworks.
On 4 May, the G7 FSOI co-sponsored international workshop, ‘The Global Biogeochemical Argo Fleet: Knowledge to Action’ was launched, marking the beginning of a series of workshops that will highlight the latest scientific advances and showcase the range of applications possible from a global data-stream of the BGC-array.
21 April 2021 saw the launch of the Second World Ocean Assessment (WOA II), the major output of the second cycle of the UN Regular Process. The G7 FSOI is working to identify ways and means to strengthen the synergies between the ocean observing communities and the World Ocean Assessment.
The EU Office of the G7 FSOI Coordination Centre will co-host a side event at the All-Atlantic 2021 conference called ‘Towards an All-Atlantic Ocean Data Space’.