This project will be carried out as a concrete action proposed by The Nippon Foundation with the cooperation of various institutions from around the world. Already, 24 government and research organizations, institutions, universities, and businesses have agreed to cooperate and participate in the project, and this number is expected to grow significantly going forward.
The “United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2015, established 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the 14th goal being to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.” Accordingly, the project places major importance on the establishment of cooperation between multiple institutions and human capacity building in the ocean field.
1. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO)
The IOC is a commission established within UNESCO (the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization). As the single UN organization for marine science research and study activities, it is engaged in researching pollution in the marine environment and global oceanographic observation systems.
2. Ocean’s 8
During a session at the UN Ocean Conference, this event, organized by IOC-UNESCO and supported by the UN, awarded eight people for particularly remarkable achievements from among the organizations and individuals who are implementing important initiatives in the field of marine science. In addition to The Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa, awards were presented to Craig McLean of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Princess Lalla Hasna of Morocco.
3. GEBCO
The General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) is an organization that has worked with The Nippon Foundation for more than a decade. Founded more than 100 years ago with a vision of portraying the world’s ocean floor, GEBCO operates under the auspices of its two parent organizations, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. It is the only international project mandated to map the ocean floor of the entire world.