A stronger Global Ocean Observing System to enhance Europe’s strategic autonomy, climate resilience and biodiversity conservation

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Expected Outcome: Proposals are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes, in full alignment with the OceanEye initiative: scientists, public authorities and businesses benefit from strengthened and resilient global ocean observing capacities, coordinated under the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission’s Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS),[1] through the deployment of ocean observation equipment, in particular for the provision of critical observations for marine biodiversity and ecosystem knowledge; public authorities prioritise investments on infrastructures and capacity building to advance ocean research, protect and restore ocean health and biodiversity and provide critical services through a global ocean observing system and data delivery that is fit-for purpose, cost efficient and designed across all its components; increased EU leadership and strategic autonomy in global ocean observation capabilities, in support of EU climate and biodiversity goals, strengthening the EU’s contribution to and influence within GOOS, and reducing the risk of critical dependencies, notably for key services (i.e. Copernicus Services); enhanced collaboration between observation communities, marine research infrastructures, European SMEs and technology providers, maritime industries, and service operators, actionably contributing to the validation, procurement readiness, uptake and large-scale deployment of innovative ocean observing technologies and approaches, in particular for biodiversity observations, while reinforcing the long-term sustainability of the global ocean observing system. Scope: The EU has committed to global leadership in climate action, biodiversity protection and ocean governance, notably through the EU Ocean Pact, the EU Ocean Observation Initiative “OceanEye”, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters, the EU Climate Law, and international commitments such as the Global Biodiversity Framework and Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). Achieving these objectives requires sustained, global, interoperable and open ocean observations, as well as the knowledge and the capacity to use these observations. IOC-GOOS, constituting the internationally recognised framework for in situ ocean observations worldwide, provides the global backbone for the development and monitoring of Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs),[2] and underpins European capacities such as Copernicus Marine Service and EU-funded research and innovation activities under Horizon Europe. Sustained and resilient ocean observation is crucial for marine biodiversity conservation and restoration under a changing climate, meaning that maintaining an optimised global ocean observing system is very important to achieve biodiversity goals. Evolving geopolitical dynamics and reduced engagement by key international partners pose significant risks to the continuity, openness and…