The global ocean has gone from infinite, wild and thriving to finite, fragile and full of garbage. The ocean feeds us, generates most of the air we breathe, helps to regulate our climate, provides treatments for disease and represents a new economic frontier. We have a limited amount of time to get people to pay attention, to anticipate change, to prepare for surprise and to act for a more sustainable ocean future. This is why the UN has introduced a Decade of Ocean Science for a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to strengthen the management of our ocean. But will it actually work?

In this episode, Andrew Merrie talks to Helen Ågren, Ambassador for the Ocean for the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Guillermo Ortuño-Crespo, a researcher at the Stockholm Resilience Centre. Guillermo is one of the leaders behind the UN Ocean Decade Early Career Ocean Professional Initiative.

What impact do they think the Ocean Science Decade will have? Is it just a vision or can it really change the face of ocean science and practice?

About Rethink Talks

Rethink Talks is Stockholm Resilience Centre’s podcast series on resilience thinking and global change. It spotlights conversations between experts on a range of topics that highlight how resilience thinking and biosphere stewardship add value to current debates.

Available on all major platforms such as Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcast and Soundcloud.