press release
NEW YORK, November 12, 2024 — Global ocean exploration nonprofit, OceanX, and the Ocean Sustainability Foundation (OSF), hosted by the CNRS Foundation, have formalized a collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance global efforts toward sustainable ocean governance. This partnership will help advance the International Panel for Ocean Sustainability (IPOS) - currently known as “Towards IPOS” in its seminal phase. Towards IPOS is an initiative led by OSF in conjunction with a consortium of partners to develop inclusive and science-based policy support for governments and global stakeholders.
The International Panel for Ocean Sustainability is an emerging concept aiming to support States to accelerate the implementation of their respective international commitments for the sustainable management and conservation of the ocean. IPOS will address policymakers’ priority questions by providing actionable pathways and recommendations. These will be developed through inclusive involvement of stakeholders and the mobilization of their diverse knowledge and adapted to the contextual priorities of States. The IPOS is set to be presented in its final form at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France.
This collaboration between OSF and OceanX will facilitate access to technology and expertise to advance IPOS’sstrategic goals to deliver evidence-based policy solution options to decision-makers, bolstered by OceanX’s scientific capacity. OceanX will bolster the Towards IPOS mission by sharing its technological capabilities, such as the OceanXplorer vessel, to support broader pilot projects initiated by IPOS. These projects aim to raise awareness of ocean stewardship and to support political leadership by delivering solution options for policymakers.
OSF will collaborate with Ocean X to facilitate the integration of its experts into relevant IPOS projects. Both organizations will also explore opportunities for their experts to participate in Towards IPOS events, further showcasing their collective efforts to advance ocean sustainability on a global stage.
Vincent Pieribone, co-CEO and chief science officer of OceanX, said, “By bringing OceanX’s advanced research capabilities together with OSF’s global vision for ocean sustainability, we are making significant strides toward addressing the critical challenges facing our ocean today.”
Francoise Gaill, President of the OSF Foundation, said, “Our collaboration with OceanX strengthens our efforts to (re)connect ocean knowledge with policy action, ensuring that ocean sustainability remains a priority in global decision-making.”
This partnership reflects the broader evolution of Towards IPOS as it prepares to serve as a dynamic, demand-driven and inclusive mechanism at the interface of ocean science, policy, and society. This MOU marks a milestone, with OceanX’s cutting-edge technology and exploration capabilities combined with Towards IPOS’s ongoing development aimed at fostering knowledge-driven policy action for a healthier ocean and the communities that rely on it.
About Ocean Sustainability Foundation and Towards IPOS
Devoted to protecting the ocean as a vital natural space and a Global Common, the Ocean Sustainability Foundation was created to foster the creation of an international platform dedicated to tackle Ocean Sustainability challenges. Hosted by the CNRS Foundation, the Ocean Sustainability Foundation gathers a team of ocean scientists and experts catalyzing their efforts towards the implementation of the International Platform for Ocean Sustainability (IPOS), aimed to be officially launched at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference. For more information visit ipos.earth and follow Towards IPOS on LinkedIn.
About OceanX
OceanX is on a mission to support scientists to explore the ocean and to bring it back to the world through captivating media. Uniting leading media, science, and philanthropy partners, OceanX utilizes next-gen technology, fearless science, compelling storytelling, and immersive experiences to educate, inspire, and connect the world with the ocean and build a global community deeply engaged with understanding, enjoying, and protecting our ocean. OceanX is an operating program of Dalio Philanthropies, which furthers the diverse philanthropic interests of Dalio family members. For more information, visit www.oceanx.org and follow OceanX on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.
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