On the morning of 15th February 2023, the domestic launching ceremony of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development （2021-2030） （hereinafter referred to as the Ocean Decade） Decade Collaborative Centre on Ocean-Climate Nexus and Coordination Amongst Decade Implementing Partners in P. R. China （DCC-OCC） was held in Qingdao, together with the signing of the agreement on promoting the implementation of the Ocean Decade and supporting the operation of DCC-OCC by the Ministry of Natural Resources, the People's Government of Shandong Province and the Qingdao Municipal People's Government. Mr. WANG Hong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources （MNR） and Administrator of the State Oceanic Administration, Mr. FAN Bo, Vice Governor of Shandong Province, and Mr. ZHAO Haozhi, Deputy Secretary of Qingdao Municipal Committee of the CPC, and Mayor of the Qingdao attended the ceremony and delivered speeches. Mr. Vladimir Rabinin, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, addressed the ceremony by video. Dr. Qiao Fangli, Decade Advisory Board member of UN Ocean Decade, Deputy Director of the First Institute of Oceanography （FIO） of the MNR, and Director of DCC-OCC, gave a report on the progress and blueprint of the DCC-OCC.
This mechanism is jointly built by the MNR, the Shandong province and the Qingdao municipality. It is leading operated by the First Institute of Oceanography, the Qingdao Municipal Marine Development Bureau and the Qingdao West Coast New Area Management Committee, and co-operated by the North China Sea Bureau, National Deep Sea Center, MNR. This new mechanism is comprehensive and innovative for international marine cooperation, and will play a key role in enhancing China's engagement in the Ocean Decade for global ocean governance. All the parties will work together to support it in terms of policy and resources. In addition, the new mechanism will integrate scientific and technological research and development, marine think tanks, economic, and trade promotion and collaboration etc., marking China's greater participation and deeper involvement in the Ocean Decade and global ocean governance. In the future, through supporting the operation of DCC-OCC, implementing the relevant resolutions of the National Decade Committee, and coordinating the implementation of projects and activities related to the China Action Framework for the Ocean Decade. It is also expected to enhance the effectiveness of cooperation in key bilateral and multilateral marine fields, build a convergence of marine international organizations, establish a high-quality East Asian marine cooperation platform, promote the construction of a stronger marine province of Shandong and a leading and modern marine city of Qingdao in the new era, and improve China's ability to participate in global and regional ocean governance in a deep and broad way.
The DCC-OCC will have more favorable development opportunities in terms of resources, policies, mechanisms and areas of cooperation with the strong support of MNR and local governments.
About us
DCC-OCC endeavors to enhance understanding of the ocean-climate nexus and generate knowledge and solutions to mitigate, adapt and build resilience to the effects of climate change across all geographies and at all scales, by engaging stakeholders, developing partnerships, advocating best practices and sharing data and products. The main responsibilities are: coordinate global scientific and technological innovation and cooperation in the field of oceans and climate within framework of the Ocean Decade, improve the capacity of the world’s ocean and climate prediction; produce and release high-quality public service products, provide ocean-based solutions for sustainable development of human society and climate change; build capacity, especially for the participation of small island countries, underdeveloped and developing countries, as well as young scholars from around the world; enhance communication among various stakeholders, promote active participation in Decade actions; Besides, DCC-OCC will therefore coordinate the Decade Implementing Partners in China, and play a role in supporting National Decade Committee of China.
As part of the overall arrangements for the Ocean Decade, the DCC-OCC is responsible for coordinating the five Decade Programmes including the Global Ocean Decade Programme for Blue Carbon （GO-BC）， the Ocean and Climate Seamless Forecasting System （OSF）， the International Ocean Discovery Programme （IODP）， the Global Negative Ocean Emissions （ONCE） and the integration of coastal wetland data into greenhouse gas （GHG） inventories in developing countries. The DCC-OCC is also closely linked to the Basin Scale Events and Coastal Impacts （BECI）， the Observing Air-Sea Interactions Strategy （OASIS） and the Early Career Ocean Professional （ECOP） Network Programme.
About the Ocean Decade
Proclaimed in 2017 by the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development （2021-2030） （‘the Ocean Decade’） seeks to stimulate ocean science and knowledge generation to reverse the decline of the state of the ocean system and catalyse new opportunities for sustainable development of this massive marine ecosystem. The vision of the Ocean Decade is ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’。 The Ocean Decade provides a convening framework for scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to develop the scientific knowledge and the partnerships needed to accelerate and harness advances in ocean science to achieve a better understanding of the ocean system, and deliver science-based solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The UN General Assembly mandated UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission （IOC/UNESCO） to coordinate the preparations and implementation of the Decade.
