GEO SB-01 Oceans and Society: Blue Planet An Integrating Oceans Task of GEO GEPW April 2013 Barcelona, Spain GEO SB-01 Oceans and Society: Blue Planet An Integrating Oceans Task of GEO GEPW April 2013 Barcelona, Spain Albert Fischer Trevor Platt on behalf of the Blue Planet community

There is no Ocean SBA or ‘theme’ in GEO... but strategic marine targets for GEOSS Implementation (monitoring, analysis and prediction) occurred in various Societal Benefit Areas and cross-cutting Tasks, for example (from Former Work Plan ( ): Architecture: Virtual Constellations Architecture: Global Ocean Observation System GOOS Capacity Building: Building Capacity for Operational Oceanography Water: Global Water Quality Monitoring Ecosystems: Regional Networks for Ecosystems Agriculture: Data Utilization in Fisheries and Aquaculture

Calls for integration of marine monitoring “What is needed now, that GEOSS will help achieve, is to integrate the outputs from these various marine monitoring and observation efforts into a cohesive ‘system of systems’ which will enable researchers, resource managers and policy makers to rapidly assess what is known about a particular marine region…” - GEO and Science (2010) Report prepared by the European Space Agency in the framework of the GEO Science and Technology Committee in support of the GEO Task ST “Catalyzing Research and Development (R&D) Resources for GEOSS”

5 Early harvest to prevent high loss – Loss is reduced to PhP50-100M Feed 90M people 1] Policy encouraging establishment of mariculture but no implementing rules 2] Massive Fish Kill and millions of loss 3] Science research, education and capacity building 4] Citizen Monitoring and Disaster Risk Reduction 5] Sustained Response and long- term adaptation 6] NEW Policy  Republic Act 8550 (The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998) is a legal instrument that encourages and supports the establishment of mariculture facilities in waters of all coastal municipalities. 1 2 Php 500M loss 3 Community education On Ocean Remote Sensing 4 Frequent community water quality monitoring during heating events HouseBill 5202 (Environmental Assessment for Aquaculture Act of 2011) is a legal instrument that requires an Environmental Impact Assessment for the establishment and construction of fish cages and fish pens 6 Example: ocean data for food security

C1: Global ocean information coordination and access C2: Monitoring marine and coastal ecosystems C3: Global operational ocean forecast network C4: Applications to sustainable fishery and aquaculture management SB-01 Blue Planet task components

In-situ and satellite physical, chemical, biological observations Analysis and modelling networks Links to end-users and stakeholders Developing individual and institutional capacity A wide and diverse community

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission IOC/UNESCO Strengthening scientific knowledge of the ocean and human impact on it: research and observations Applying that knowledge for societal benefit: developing early warning, services, assessment, and outreach Improving capacity and governance: building institutional capacities for sustainable ocean management and governance

IOC/UNESCO Blue Planet contributions Coordination of ocean observations, services GOOS Global Ocean Observing System JCOMM Joint IOC-WMO Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology

IOC/UNESCO Blue Planet contributions Coordination of data management IODE IOC Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange: focus on national ocean data centers OBIS Ocean Biogeographic Information System

IOC/UNESCO Blue Planet contributions Ocean assessment Developing indicators to inform sustainable ocean management EU FP7 project: GEOWOW GEOSS interoperability for Weather, Ocean and Water GEF project: TWAP Transboundary Waters Assessment Programme – assessment of ocean climate, ecosystems, fisheries, pollution, socioeconomic impact, governance Halpern et al., 2008

Blue Planet leaders POGO Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean consortium of 50+ major oceanographic laboratories committed to sustained and globally-complete observing system –advocacy for ocean observing system –strong programmes in capacity development, Nippon Foundation GOOS – IOC/UNESCO CEOS Committee on Earth Observation Satellites –Virtual Constellations for Essential Ocean Variables GODAE OceanView coordinating development of global and regional ocean forecast systems –partnership with JCOMM on interoperability, standards and best practices

Blue Planet community Blue Planet Symposium (Ilhabela, Brazil, November 2012) resolved to continue developing the Task and establish further synergies between the various Task components; and develop a White Paper to elaborate contributions of various programs and elements of Blue Planet ‘Light’ governance of collaboration between work task component leaders

The added value of Blue Planet… A platform to demonstrate importance of sustained in situ and satellite observations of marine and freshwater environments, and the value of integrating these with models Brings together a wide and diverse community of governmental and academic ocean observers and links them to users Includes a dynamic, focused programme in capacity building complemented by a vigorous, global network of former scholars from developing countries

Raises awareness of sustained ocean observations at national policy level, platform for advocacy with a different audience Provides flexible tool for spiral development of systems and infrastructure – voluntary nature of GEO Potential for integration of earth observations through common approaches, infrastructure, toolkits – not just data Need all types of data and information to generate societal benefit GEO’s added value for Blue Planet community

What next? Use and develop network of Blue Planet contributing organizations and projects – vibrant base that needs additional support Development of portfolio of project proposals –Advocating for and investing in these organizations / communities: developing requirements, observations, data and information management, services –developing synergies between communities and to other GEO initiatives –creating information for societal benefit –developing capacity –Can GEO be a champion for one/some of these projects? Continue advocacy for sustained ocean observing system, data sharing

Ilhabela, Brazil November 2012 Blue Planet symposium resolved to… Continue developing the Task and establish further synergies between the various Task components Develop a White Paper to elaborate contributions of various programs and elements of Blue Planet Publish “Oceans & Society: Blue Planet Symposium” key contributions in the form of a book

Blue Planet requested Plenary to … Recognise and promote the important role of ocean observations in GEOSS, now and post-2015, as a contribution to all SBAs and to global stewardship Contribute resources for development, management and coordination of the Blue Planet Task Maximise continuity and improve collective commitments to key satellite and in-situ observations through national policies Recognise the trans-boundary nature of many ocean- related challenges, engage actively in cooperation and commit to and incentivise data sharing policies Further develop capacity building efforts at national and international levels Thank you

Reactions from the Plenary Overwhelmingly positive Should GEO have an Oceans Societal Benefit Area, or is it cross-cutting? –personal view: cross-cutting and provides benefit to many segments of society and economy Congratulations on this “new initiative’ –emphasized that this is built on a vibrant base of existing programmes that need additional support –question about how Blue Planet was ‘governed’ – light governance of coordination through POGO, GOOS, CEOS, GODAE OV Offers of support We need to be ready with a clear portfolio of ‘asks’ –workshops, projects, focus on societal benefit, capacity development –donor/partner interest and capacity to invest will be heterogeneous –use this to leverage national financing