This is the first time the two Polar Ocean initiatives will come together in one session, and discuss cross cutting issues from both the Southern Ocean and the Arctic Ocean.

Based on the recommendations in the Implementation Plan of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the Southern Ocean community engaged in a stakeholder-oriented process to develop the Southern Ocean Action Plan, similar to the Arctic Community. Both the Southern Ocean and Arctic processes engaged a broad community, which includes the scientific research community, the business and industry sector, and governance and management bodies, and for the Arctic, Indigenous stakeholders.

This will bring together leading experts on both polar regions that will participate in the UN Ocean Decade. The Session will provide direct calls to Actions that have been identified in the Southern Ocean and Arctic Action Plan contributions towards the UN Decade of Ocean Science. Cross-cutting issues from both polar regions will be identified and will provide a direct call to action that has come through from polar organisations, policy makers, business and industry, and all other relevant stakeholders through their participation in the polar processes towards the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

The event will be held 13:00 - 15:00 UTC+1 on Monday 27th June 2022, and will feature presentations followed by a panel discussion. To register, please click here.

The side event is organised by the European Polar Board (EPB); Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS); Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR); Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS); Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR); World Climate Research Programme (WCRP); Climate and Ocean - Variability, Predictability, and Change (CLIVAR); Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics in the Southern Ocean (ICED); Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation (PA2F).

Other polar sessions during the 2022 UN Ocean Science Conference:

WMO Side Event - Polar Regions in a changing climate: ocean solutions through science to services

Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation side even - Polar oceans: Engine to the global ocean