January 11thJanuary 12th

Kick-off OceanPredicion DCC

OceanPrediction DCC – A Global Kick-off to Advance Ocean Forecasting

The OceanPrediction Decade Collaborative Centre (DCC), hosted by Mercator Ocean International and endorsed by IOC-UNESCO under the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), held its virtual kick-off meeting on 11–12 January 2023. This milestone event marked the official start of the Centre’s mission: to connect and support global efforts in ocean forecasting and to foster collaboration across Decade Actions tackling ocean prediction challenges.

A successful kick-off meeting gathering ocean communities world-wide

Gathering nearly 1,800 participants from 120 countries, the two-day online event brought together a diverse community of scientists, policymakers, private sector actors, and users. The platform enabled networking and knowledge exchange through interactive features and virtual exhibits showcasing forecasting services and applications.
High-level speakers, including IOC-UNESCO’s Executive Secretary Vladimir Ryabinin and EU Commission Director General Timo Pesonen, shared their perspectives on the Centre’s role. The event was also supported by representatives from France and Costa Rica, co-hosts of the upcoming UN Ocean Conference in 2025, and featured strong engagement from Early Career Ocean Professionals around the globe. By laying the foundations of a collaborative and inclusive global forecasting network, the kick-off set the stage for the OceanPrediction DCC to become a cornerstone of the Decade's ambition to deliver ocean knowledge for sustainable development.

Watch the messages pulled from the OceanPrediction Kick-off meeting in the video below


Laying the Foundations of a Global Ocean Forecasting Infrastructure 
During the kick-off meeting, OceanPrediction DCC unveiled its ambition to build a complete and collaborative infrastructure for ocean forecasting. This structure will be supported by a global community, technical innovation, and strong efforts in capacity development and ocean literacy. 

 Designing the Future of Ocean Forecasting 
A key initiative is the formation of the Ocean Forecasting Co-Design Team, bringing together international experts from across the forecasting value chain. Their goal is to design a next-generation architecture—modular, robust, and simplified—leveraging Digital Twin Ocean concepts. The team will define essential building blocks in the form of shared Standards, Tools, and Best Practices to benefit both mature and emerging forecasting systems.
A Decentralised Approach Through Regional Teams 
 Another cornerstone of OceanPrediction is the creation of Regional Teams, inspired by the UNEP Regional Seas framework. These teams, led by partner organisations on each continent, will drive regional engagement and collaboration. By connecting scientists, users, private sector actors, and NGOs, they will help shape regional strategies, promote good practices, and support Decade Actions through inclusive participation. 

 What’s Next?
In the coming months, OceanPrediction DCC will continue developing the structure and activities of its Regional Teams. This includes launching polls to assess needs, implementing literacy and training initiatives, and beginning targeted regional actions. Meanwhile, the Centre’s communications will expand beyond the Angage platform, with the launch of a dedicated website to follow soon.

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