1 July 2019: The Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (IOC-UNESCO) released a report card on the ocean observing system. They presented the report card during the IOC’s 30th General Assembly session.

According to UNESCO, sustained ocean observation is critical for sustainable development and for monitoring progress towards the SDGs. The IOC is responsible for measuring SDG indicator 14.3.1 on ocean acidification. Coordinated monitoring of changes in ocean chemistry is essential for countries to report on SDG target 14.3 (“Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels”). In addition, climate scientists have identified ocean acidification as a “Global Climate Indicator,” one of a set of climate parameters that provides key information on climate change.

On ocean acidification, the report card states that anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have “substantially increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations” over the last two centuries. This increase is causing changes in seawater chemistry and resulting in ocean acidification.

In the report card, JCCOM calls on governments and other stakeholders to increase contributions to the ocean observing system to meet the need for ocean information and address a wide range of sustainability issues. JCCOM further calls for, inter alia, enhancing collaboration, openly sharing data and optimizing efforts and resources in support of global ocean observation. [UNESCO Press Release] [WMO Press Release] [Ocean Observing System Report Card 2019]