1. Albert Fischer [and Vladimir Ryabinin, ES]
IOC and GCOS
Albert Fischer [and Vladimir Ryabinin, ES]
Head, Ocean Observations and Services Section, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO
GCOS SC-25, Hangzhou, 26 September 2017

2. Ocean integral in climate system 93% of excess heat
Shallow
0-700 m
Deep
Below 4000 m
centered on
IPCC AR5

3. Ocean integral in climate system Acidification, deoxygenation
Acidification in 2100
under moderate mitigation
And business as usual

4. Ocean integral in climate system Impacts: sea level rise
IPCC AR5

5. Ocean integral in climate system Ocean data for climate services

6. IOC/UNESCO within UN
Focal point for ocean observations, science, services and data exchange
Competent international organization for marine science (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea - UNCLOS)
Small organization
~30 prof. staff
$5.5 mil / yr core budget
Within the UN system, the IOC serves as the focal point for ocean observations, ocean science, ocean services and data exchange.
And the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea considers IOC to be the competent international organization for marine science

7. Planetary situation, elements of governance
Planetary Crisis
Anthropocene
“-”: significant failures of governance, selfishness, increased hostility, reduced responsibility, lack of professionalism
“+”: new UN SG, frameworks, a good community
Agenda 2030
Climate
Disaster Risk Reduction
SIDS 7

8. Major frameworks and developments related to the ocean
Conserve and Sustainably Use Oceans, Seas and Marine Resources for Sustainable Development
SDG14
Ocean and Climate
UN General Assembly
Law of the Sea + development of BBNJ,
IOC: CD, clearinghouse, science
Blue Economy 8

9. Emerging contradiction between ocean governance and underlying science
Future ocean governance will be more legally binding; increased surveillance will ensure more transparency; enforcement (e.g. in fishing) will be stronger and wider; expect major decisions regarding the ocean.
At stake: peace, human wellbeing, health of environment, major investments
Foundation for solutions: ocean science and observations
Foundations for ocean science and observations: relatively arbitrary, non-binding, unsustainable, with relatively minor investment, mostly research-oriented
Role of IOC: Work in UN, with Governments, private sector, public and create conditions for oceanographic activities

10. Milestones, past and future
WOA-1: 2015/2016
WESTPAC 2017
Ocean SDG Conference, June 2017, c.a Commitments Next one 2020: Portugal
UN SG Ocean Envoy
BBNJ Governmental Conference, 2018?
WOA-2,
IPCC SROCC, up to 2019
OceanObs’19
UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development

11. Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development,
GCOS and all Partners will be invited to design the Decade
Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development,

12. IOC Executive Council (June 2016) approved the revised GCOS MoU

13. A value chain
Innovation, observations, data management, forecasts / science & assessment, societal benefit
Adapted from G7 Think Piece on Ocean Observations
Sustained ocean observations are but one part of a value chain that generates societal benefit from oceanography. GOOS sits inside a value chain with two paths to generating societal benefit – one through more operational systems, and one through scientific research, publications, assessments, and science-policy dialogues and formal interfaces. We are aware that GOOS must engage with all the players in this value chain in order to ensure the system is fit-for-purpose and delivering maximum value from its observations.

14. IOC expectations of GCOS
Framework for evaluation/communications of ocean observations (GOOS) in context, for
climate monitoring, science,
climate governance,
climate services / adaptation / mitigation decisions
engagement in a larger and broader value chain
expertise and strength is in serving IPCC WG1 / UNFCCC
a lot of IOC mechanisms at global and regional levels to engage
Capacity development
GCOS Cooperation Mechanism
building on regional structures: including IOC Sub-Commissions, GOOS Regional Alliances, OceanTeacher Global Academy regional centers