The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC/UNESCO) recently announced a new set of Actions for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (Ocean Decade) initiative.

The Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in Shenzhen has been endorsed for two action items: A project of “Intelligent Coastal-Urban-Bay CO₂ Emission Studies” (iCUBES) and a Decade Implementing Partner (DIP) for promoting ocean literacy.

SUSTech hosted the Shenzhen Ocean Decade Forum: S&T and Economics in response to the “China Action Framework (Draft) for the Ocean Decade”

The iCUBES project will focus on integrating creative research, advanced manufacturing, and intelligent management of coastal cities for mitigating climate change, emphasizing cooperation and innovation among the whole of society.

Guided by Yongshun CHEN, Chair Professor of the Department of Ocean Science and Engineering, and led by Professor Chuanlun ZHANG, it is the first Chinese project under the Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions Program (ONCE). Its mission is to develop an intelligent three-dimensional marine ecosystem monitoring system to support the national goal of leading global efforts in accomplishing carbon neutrality and ecological health monitoring. The project will collaborate with international institutions to support global actions for ocean carbon-negative emissions.

SUSTech hosted the Third International Symposium on Indian Ocean Earth Sciences

The DIP, aimed at enhancing ocean literacy, is led by Professor Jian LIN, a member of Academia Europaea and the European Academy of Sciences, and Director of the Advanced Institute for Ocean Research at SUSTech. It will focus on using cutting-edge technology to raise public awareness about the critical importance of the oceans and their protection. The DIP will foster a model community in Shenzhen and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area through engagement with local government, non-governmental organizations such as the Shenzhen Global Ocean Center City Construction Promotion Association, universities and k-12 schools, enterprises, district communities, public media, and others to implement a series of innovative initiatives.

Furthermore, the DIP will promote the integration of ocean knowledge into university curricula through the “X+Ocean” talent cultivation program. It will also foster collaboration with ocean institutions worldwide.

SUSTech is the first institution in Shenzhen selected for both the UN Ocean Decade DIP and a project, recognizing the increasingly important role of Shenzhen and SUSTech in global ocean affairs. As SUSTech continues to champion Shenzhen’s transformation into a leading global ocean city, it reaffirms its commitment to sustainable development and scientific innovation on the world stage.

Proclaimed in 2017 by the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) (Ocean Decade) aims to stimulate ocean science and knowledge generation and create new opportunities for the sustainable development of oceans.

Relevant links:

https://oceandecade.org/actions/intelligent-coastal-urban-bay-co2-emissionstudies/

https://oceandecade.org/actions/sustech-sou/