Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON)
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Partnership
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#OceanAction40975
Description
Enhancing global ocean acidification monitoring and research
GOA-ON is a collaborative international network to detect and understand the drivers of ocean acidification in estuarine-coastal-open ocean environments, the resulting impacts on marine ecosystems, and to make the information available to optimize modelling studies. The network is fundamental to providing early warning of the impacts of ocean acidification on natural ecosystems, wild and aquaculture fisheries, coastal protection, tourism and local economies. The network provides key input to communities, industry and governments seeking to develop action plans, best practices, and mitigation or adaptation strategies to address ocean acidification impacts.
The policy and scientific needs for coordinated, worldwide information-gathering on ocean acidification and its ecological impacts are now widely recognized. The importance of obtaining such measurements has been endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly, as well as by many other governmental and non-governmental bodies.
The Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON), a collaborative international network of 367 members representing 66 nations, is committed to increasing global ocean acidification observing capacity in support of SDG target 14.3: Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations.
To achieve this commitment, GOA-ON and its partners are expected to continue to develop and nurture this global network. Importantly, we plan to work to build capacity in regions that currently have limited observation records and little ocean science capacity by conducting targeted training workshops on ocean acidification monitoring and experimentation best practices. We are committed to distributing sensor kits that will allow scientists in resource-poor countries to collect reliable data and so contribute to the global ocean acidification monitoring effort. We also plan to provide stipendiary support to maintain those kits, and create international networking opportunities for early-career and experienced scientists through the GOA-ON Pier2Peer program (http://goa-on.org/GOA-ON_Pier2Peer.html). Sensor kits are to be distributed to scientists in Fiji, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, and in several Caribbean nations by 2019.
GOA-ON will continue to support its members and the wider ocean acidification observation community by providing a platform to learn, exchange and engage, in accordance with its three High Level Goals.
GOA-ON will continue to champion the reporting process towards the SDG Indicator 14.3.1, and the GOA-ON data portal will serve as a visualization platform of the data being collected by countries worldwide for this Indicator.
GOA-ON remains involved in the organization of meetings and symposia relevant to ocean acidification research, in particular the 5th International Symposium on the Ocean in a High-CO2 World, which has been rescheduled for September 2022. The network will be expanding its involvement in high level meetings such as the UNFCCC COP27 and plans to organize and co-host side events together with its partner organizations and agencies.
The GOA-ON Executive Council will hold its annual in-person meeting in Lima, Peru, in September 2022, following the 5th International Symposium on the Ocean in a High CO2 World.
GOA-ON will continue to facilitate access to ocean acidification monitoring data from around the world. In addition to new data streams from platforms such as Biogeochemical Argos, some of which were included on the Data Explorer in the last year, the network is looking to incorporate autonomous platforms such as Saildrones.
GOA-ON continues to support its growing membership with a particular focus on early career scientists through its scientific mentorship program Pier2Peer. GOA-ON hopes to use the GOA-ON Webinar series to give a platform to early career scientists, like Pier2Peer mentees, and other members of the GOA-ON research community who wish to share their science with a broader audience.
GOA-ON and its partners have developed manuals and Standards of Best Practice for the “GOA-ON in a Box” kits. Additionally, GOA-ON in a Box Instructional Videos are available on the GOA-ON website in four languages: English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.
GOA-ON and its partners continue to support capacity development and training workshops globally. These trainings range from the online course on ocean acidification offered through the Ocean Teacher Global Academy (OTGA) platform to hands-on training course on sampling and analysis as well as regional trainings on data management and the SDG 14.3.1 data collection process.
For the last two years, GOA-ON has organized webinars to enable members to share their science with the broader community, create opportunities for collaboration, and foster a sense of community among GOA-ON members. Additionally, GOA-ON launched OA Week in 2020 as a response to the postponement of conferences and events due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The first OA Week was a great success and GOA-ON OA Week 2021 built on the format, including even more scientific presentations and regional hub events.
GOA-ON has an Executive Council, which consists of experts and representatives of the GOA-ON Regional Hubs. GOA-ON members and the EC are supported by a distributed Secretariat, hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ocean Acidification Program (NOAA OAP), the International Atomic Energy Agency's Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre (IAEA OA-ICC) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO).
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (Government), International Atomic Energy Agency (UN entity), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission-UNESCO (UN entity), Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (IGO), The Ocean Foundation (NGO), University of Gothenburg (Academic institution), University of Washington (Academic institution), US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Government)
GOA-ON submitted a proposal “Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability - Providing society with the observational and scientific evidence needed to sustainably identify, monitor, mitigate and adapt to ocean acidification; from local to global scales” to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, which has officially been endorsed as an Ocean Decade programme . The OARS programme will build on the work of GOA-ON to further develop the science of ocean acidification by enhancing ocean acidification capacity, increasing observations of ocean chemistry changes, identifying the impacts on marine ecosystems on local and global scales, and providing society and decision makers with the information needed to mitigate and adapt to ocean acidification.
The OARS programme is built on seven Outcomes, each championed by a team of co-leads and an expert working group, working together to achieve ocean acidification research for sustainability.
SDGS & Targets
Goal 17
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
17.1
Strengthen domestic resource mobilization, including through international support to developing countries, to improve domestic capacity for tax and other revenue collection
17.1.1
17.1.2
17.2
Developed countries to implement fully their official development assistance commitments, including the commitment by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of ODA/GNI to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries; ODA providers are encouraged to consider setting a target to provide at least 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries
17.2.1
17.3
Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources
17.3.1
Additional financial resources mobilized for developing countries from multiple sources
17.3.2
17.4
Assist developing countries in attaining long-term debt sustainability through coordinated policies aimed at fostering debt financing, debt relief and debt restructuring, as appropriate, and address the external debt of highly indebted poor countries to reduce debt distress
17.4.1
17.5
Adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for least developed countries
17.5.1
Number of countries that adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for developing countries, including the least developed countries
17.6
Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, in particular at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism
17.6.1
Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, by speed
17.7
Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed
17.7.1
Total amount of funding for developing countries to promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies
17.8
Fully operationalize the technology bank and science, technology and innovation capacity-building mechanism for least developed countries by 2017 and enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology
17.8.1
17.9
Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries to support national plans to implement all the Sustainable Development Goals, including through North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation
17.9.1
Dollar value of financial and technical assistance (including through North-South, South‑South and triangular cooperation) committed to developing countries
17.10
Promote a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization, including through the conclusion of negotiations under its Doha Development Agenda
17.10.1
17.11
Significantly increase the exports of developing countries, in particular with a view to doubling the least developed countries’ share of global exports by 2020
17.11.1
Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global exports
17.12
Realize timely implementation of duty-free and quota-free market access on a lasting basis for all least developed countries, consistent with World Trade Organization decisions, including by ensuring that preferential rules of origin applicable to imports from least developed countries are transparent and simple, and contribute to facilitating market access
17.12.1
Weighted average tariffs faced by developing countries, least developed countries and small island developing States
17.13
Enhance global macroeconomic stability, including through policy coordination and policy coherence
17.13.1
17.14
Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development
17.14.1
17.15
Respect each country’s policy space and leadership to establish and implement policies for poverty eradication and sustainable development
17.15.1
17.16
Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in all countries, in particular developing countries
17.16.1
Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals
17.17
Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships
17.17.1
Amount in United States dollars committed to public-private partnerships for infrastructure
17.18
By 2020, enhance capacity-building support to developing countries, including for least developed countries and small island developing States, to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts
17.18.1
Statistical capacity indicators
17.18.2
17.18.3
Number of countries with a national statistical plan that is fully funded and under implementation, by source of funding
17.19
By 2030, build on existing initiatives to develop measurements of progress on sustainable development that complement gross domestic product, and support statistical capacity-building in developing countries
17.19.1
17.19.2
Proportion of countries that (a) have conducted at least one population and housing census in the last 10 years; and (b) have achieved 100 per cent birth registration and 80 per cent death registration
Goal 14
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
14.1
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.1.1
(a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density
14.2
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
14.2.1
Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas
14.3
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
14.3.1
14.4
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
14.4.1
14.5
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
14.5.1
14.6
By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
14.6.1
Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
14.7
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
14.7.1
Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries
14.a
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
14.a.1
14.b
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
14.b.1
Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries
14.c
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"
14.c.1
Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources
SDG 14 targets covered
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| 14.3 | Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels |
| 14.a | Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries |
Deliverables & Timeline
Sensor kit distribution and deployment
Training for sensor kit use
Real-time accessible monitoring assets
Data product availability
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
| Title | Progress Status | Submitted |
|---|---|---|
| Partnership Progress 2021-04-13 | On track | |
| Partnership Progress 2021-04-13 | On track | |
| Partnership Progress 2020-02-03 | On track | |
| Partnership Progress 2018-12-12 | On track | |
| Partnership Progress 2018-01-25 | On track |
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Other beneficiaries
GOA-ON benefits the scientific community by providing various resources, including Best Practices guides, mentoring of early career researchers, outreach and training, as well as links to other relevant resources useful to scientists, policy-makers, stakeholders, and the general public. The network provides key input to communities, industry and governments seeking to develop action plans and mitigation or adaptation strategies to address ocean acidification impacts.
GOA-ON was involved in the development of the SDG 14.3.1 Indicator methodology, which provides the necessary guidance on how to conduct ocean acidification observation, what to measure and how, providing best practice and methods approved by the scientific ocean acidification community to ensure the production of quality controlled global and possibly regional products. Background information on the United Nations 2030 Agenda with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, links to the SDG 14.3.1 methodology, the associated data files for reporting of the data to IOC-UNESCO, and the link to the SDG 14.3.1 Data Portal are featured on the GOA-ON Website.
The GOA-ON Explorer provides access and visualization to ocean acidification data and data synthesis products being collected around the world from a wide range of sources, including moorings, research cruises, and fixed time series stations. Layers contain contoured world-wide data; Platforms include icons for various observing assets, some of which display real-time data and many of which include links to data and metadata. For a given asset measuring carbonate chemistry, metadata includes information on which parameters are measured, links to data providers, and other useful details. The inventory of GOA-ON assets can be searched interactively by region, platform type, and variables by using the Filters tool.
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Contact Information
Jan Newton