Uniting for a sustainable and healthy ocean

As the main outcome of the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference, the Barcelona Statement emphasizes the need for prioritized action and knowledge building. Gustav Thungren shares his hopes for a more holistic approach of ocean conservation.

Source-to-Sea Water governance

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Gustav Thungren

Programme Manager,

Water Cooperation and Diplomacy

The 2024 Ocean Decade Conference was the largest gathering of ocean science and occurred at a unique moment of time for global ocean governance. The conversations at the Conference touched upon both the monumental challenges the ocean faces and the urgency to move from solutions to integrated action.

The Barcelona Statement unveiled at the closing session is a promising step to strengthen knowledge and prioritize action for a more sustainable ocean. It is now a matter of allocating resources and long term efforts to ensure we deliver on the commitments.

“The conversations at the Conference touched upon both the monumental challenges the ocean faces and the urgency to move from solutions to integrated action.”

Gustav Thungren, Programme Manager, SIWI

The conference outcomes will bolster the Ocean Decade Action and highlight the importance of including diverse knowledge systems, strengthening the infrastructure and financing of science as well as cross-cutting collaboration to co-design transformative ocean action.

In particular, a positive development is the highlighted role of land-sea continuum connections for marine pollution, which are transported through waterways and riverine systems to greatly impact ocean health. SIWI is further encouraged to work on holistic source-to-sea management that connects terrestrial and ocean systems, especially as coordinators of the Ocean Decade Healthy Rivers, Healthy Ocean programme.

Health Rivers, Healthy Ocean

'Healthy Rivers, Healthy Ocean' (HRHO) is a source-to-sea action programme to reduce unsustainable land and water resource management pressures on river basins and seas.

Learn more about the programme