International research coordination

Research to decrease uncertainties is urgently needed. A coordinated global network of marine experimental, observation and modelling research is critical. Priority areas of research are responses of key species and entire ecosystems, particularly over longer time periods; the potential for organisms to adapt; socio-economic impacts; and the biogeochemical feedbacks on the climate system.

In June 2012 at the UN’s Rio+20 summit, the Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre was announced. The project, operated by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Environmental Laboratories in Monaco, facilitates, communicates and promotes international activities in ocean acidification research and observation and links science with policy.

A Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network was established in June 2012, working closely with the International Coordination Centre and other partners. Globally, relatively few sites have multi-decadal measurements and remote regions are poorly covered. The network will measure chemical and ecosystem variables needed to provide a baseline for the timely assessment of ocean acidification impacts. It will ensure data quality and comparability, and it will synthesise information for societal benefit.

Significant investment to monitor ecosystem impacts will be a key aspect of future international research coordination activities.

Future Earth, the new 10-year international research initiative on global sustainability, will provide a mechanism for developing an internationally coordinated research agenda that will include issues like ocean acidification.

Stakeholder engagement

Effective knowledge exchange among science, policy and industry sectors is essential for effective adaptation and mitigation. A forum for dialogue between the research community and stakeholders – the Ocean Acidification international Reference User Group – has been established, building on a previous European initiative. It will draw together a wide range of end users and leading scientists to facilitate rapid transfer of knowledge. In addition, Future Earth (see above) aims to provide a platform for solutions-focused dialogue on global issues including ocean acidification.

[This text is from the Ocean Acidification Summary for Policy Makers, 2013, and is available online as a PDF with full references.]