EU takes action

The EU and the Marine Observing, Data Infrastructures and Services

In the context of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the concept of the flow of observational data from sensors and platforms to a global ocean data system and on to a global ocean processing, modelling and forecasting system is well-established. However, the implementation of this Digital Ecosystem at a global level needs regional coordination and support. 

The workshop shows the crucial role of regional marine data services in delivering Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable (FAIR) ocean data and data products to support society’s need for marine knowledge. it highlights how regional mandates and cooperation can be used to build data services which feed the global Digital Ocean Ecosystem. This workshop features a number of regional data services e.g., EU public assets EMODnet, Copernicus Marine Service and other regional actors worldwide, with pitch presentations and an interactive panel with the audience.

This high-level workshop is organised by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development’s Decade Coordination Office for Ocean Data Sharing and the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet). 

🧭  Moderator:     Yann-Hervé De Roeck   (Euro-Argo ERIC)

The International Argo Programme, which was established in 1999, is a major component of the ocean observing system. Argo delivers quality-controlled data and data products that are essential for operational communities such as the Copernicus Marine Service, other Copernicus Services and meteorological services. Euro-Argo is the European contribution to the programme. Its specific objectives were up to now to cover 25 % of the global array while focusing on European marginal seas.

 The International Argo Programme is currently transitioning to OneArgo, a project endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade. The objective of OneArgo is to create a fully global, top-to-bottom, dynamically complete, and multidisciplinary Argo Programme that will integrate seamlessly with satellite and other in situ elements of the Global Ocean Observing System.

This integrated system will deliver operational reanalysis and forecasting capability, and assessment of the state and variability of the climate system with respect to physical, biogeochemical, and ecosystems parameters. The aim of the roundtable is to discuss the framework conditions and the financial challenges that need to be addressed to implement OneArgo and consolidate the European Argo leadership in the midst of global geopolitical uncertainties. The discussion gathers scientific experts, operational users and policy makers.

🧭 Moderator: Werner L. Kutsch    (Integrated Carbon Observation System - ICOS)

The ocean is a major carbon sink, absorbing a significant share of anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. Long-term, near-real-time monitoring of ocean carbon fluxes is essential for assessing progress under the Paris Agreement and informing climate policy. However, significant observational gaps persist, particularly in regions lacking resources and infrastructure, limiting the reliability of global assessments. Technological advancements are improving the accuracy and efficiency of ocean carbon observations. Innovations in sensor technology, autonomous measurement platforms, and enhanced data processing are expanding monitoring capabilities. Strengthening international collaboration will be key to building a more comprehensive and policy-relevant global monitoring system – but more actions are needed to ensure the sustainability of this system. 

The planetary boundaries concept defines nine critical environmental thresholds that humanity must not exceed to maintain Earth's stability and support life. Staying within these boundaries ensures a safe operating space for human civilization and the planet's ecosystems.

This approach hence allows us to identify critical thresholds for the Earth's environmental systems. By understanding these limits, we can in turn understand how to avoid irreversible damage, ensure sustainability, and guide policy decisions to protect the planet's stability for future generations. 

Among the nine identified planetary boundaries, one is dedicated to the ocean, emphasizing the critical consequences of its central role in regulating Earth's climate, focusing specifically on aspects of the ocean's visible zone. 

This session challenges participants to extend the Planetary Boundaries framework into the ocean’s interior and all its domains from physics to biogeochemistry and biodiversity, so that it also represents the functioning and habitability of the planet more generally. 

An essential tool in this context is the emerging concept of an international framework for ocean indicators. This more inclusive perspective strengthens the scientific basis of SDG14.