Delivering scientific evidence to address the needs of policy, decision making and society: the role of the World Ocean Assessment

Life depends on the ocean, with societal health, cultural systems and national economies reliant on ocean processes and resources. To fully understand the current state of the ocean and the actions needed to address its many stressors, science must meet the needs of policy and decision makers by providing comprehensive multidisciplinary information and examples of implementable practices that support future sustainability. Information must also increase general awareness of the importance of a healthy ocean and effective management as keys to a viable future. The World Ocean Assessment (WOA) is the international mechanism for delivering robust knowledge and evidence to the governments of the world for ocean sustainability. 

 Based on the information provided, and lessons learned over three cycles, the WOA provides trends in the physical and chemical state of the ocean and major changes observed in marine organisms and habitats. Recognising the ocean as an interconnected socio-ecological system, the third WOA extends this knowledge to include social, economic and cultural aspects and identifies pathways for sustainability and associated best practices to 2024. 

By engaging in a process that is mandated by and delivers to the UN General Assembly, scientists have the opportunity to influence policy and decision-making. Through integrating input from multiple sectors and stakeholders via regional workshops, and via the involvement by 100’s of contributors, the WOA facilitates the introduction of innovations, multiple knowledge systems, new understanding and diversity of perspectives on a regular basis for consideration by the world’s countries. The WOA delivers information relevant to new international treaties being developed and for the incorporation of specific elements relating to the ocean into internationally set goals and targets. 

Through the evolution of the assessment over its three cycles we have identified three key elements that are needed to facilitate the transfer of scientific knowledge into decision-making.  

First, mechanisms implemented ensure that there are multiple points at which the governments and the scientific community of the world can contribute to both the scoping and drafting of the assessment. 

Second, the assessment provides an overall perspective at the global level, but importantly includes regional content that is relevant to governments in identifying needs at national scales. 

Third by identifying key knowledge gaps, the assessment provides guidance to the global community on where to focus efforts in the near future in order to implement management frameworks that enable use of the ocean in a more sustainable way.  

In this presentation, we further identify the work that still needs to be done in filling gaps to achieve a coordinated, comprehensive mechanism for connecting science with decision-making and action for ensuring future sustainability of the ocean.