Insights from Towards IPOS consultation process: informing development and future directions

Insights from Towards IPOS consultation process: informing development and future directions

The foundational value proposition for an IPOS has been significantly enriched and shaped by a methodologically diverse consultation process launched in 2022. Through a combination of one-on-one interviews, in-person and online workshops, side events at international conferences, and expert consultations via online surveys, the Towards IPOS initiative has gathered insights from hundreds of ocean practitioners on the potential role, structure, and functions of an IPOS. This multi-layered consultation has deepened our understanding of global priorities, regional needs, and the governance challenges in ocean sustainability, highlighting the opportunity that an IPOS could represent if designed effectively. Key insights emphasize the importance of balancing decentralization with cohesive global strategies, empowering regional experts while ensuring unified, impactful action. The empowerment of historically disenfranchised ocean stakeholders and the need to act fast while remaining inclusive are among the challenges that IPOS will have to address as it finalizes its proposed form and function, which must remain adaptable to change. Thus far, this iterative feedback process has allowed the initiative to refine its framework, aligning it with core values of transparency, inclusivity, and accountability. By adopting this approach, Towards IPOS has developed a governance model that bridges scientific expertise and policy action, offering a platform for collaborative, evidence-based decision-making. As we move toward the formal establishment of IPOS, ongoing engagement remains essential to building an organization that is responsive to the evolving needs of ocean conservation and sustainable management. Once IPOS is established and broadens its reach across the ocean stakeholder community, maintaining an active dialogue with its members will be equally important, especially as different aspects of the IPOS structure and operations may need to adapt over time.