The 2024 All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Forum, held from 8-10 October in Ottawa, brought together partners and supporters of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) to further collaborative ocean science diplomacy across the Atlantic. Hosted in Canada’s capital, the Forum marked a pivotal moment for the Alliance to renew its commitment to the All-Atlantic Declaration.
Inclusivity was a key theme throughout the event, with diverse voices from across the Atlantic represented. Alongside the Intergenerational Dialogue, where Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) played a central role, the Forum featured digital posters that promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in ocean science. The posters particularly focused on women in STEM, aiming to inspire youth involvement. Soon, a ‘Safe and Inclusive AAORIA’ guide will be published. The meaningful engagement of Indigenous communities in shaping the future of ocean governance was addressed, as well as the emphasis on ocean literacy to further stress the importance of educating all generations to care for the oceans.
JPI Oceans contributed at a number of fronts to the success of the Forum by leading important activities within the EU-funded Coordination and Support Action (CSA) OKEANO.
JPI Oceans was instrumental in managing communications that unite the Atlantic community, while still showcasing its beautiful diversity and promoting a shared and accessible narrative for ocean sustainability and research. As leading partner on Communication within OKEANO, JPI Oceans ensured that the proceedings of the Forum were widely disseminated and aligned with broader global initiatives, such as the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), which formally endorsed the All-Atlantic Forum last July.
JPI Oceans also played a prominent role by organising the Intergenerational Dialogue session, alongside OKEANO partners and in collaboration with Sigi Gruber. This session brought together ECOPs and senior ocean professionals for collaborative group work and idea exchanges on equal footing. The dialogue aimed to craft innovative solutions for some of the Atlantic’s most pressing challenges, focusing on the Forum’s two thematic priorities:
- Increasing our understanding of the relationship between the ocean and climate and developing outcome-oriented science for mitigating and adapting to the consequences of climate change, particularly for the benefit of increasing resilience of coastal communities;
- Coordinating Atlantic Ocean observing and improving modelling capacities, including in support of marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
These discussions were summarised during the Forum’s plenary, with ECOPs putting forward ideas such as symbolically adding an "extra chair" at decision-making tables to represent the ocean's voice. These ideas will be developed into policy briefs, ensuring that the innovative solutions are not only shared but also taken up by policymakers.
JPI Oceans directly funded Belgian-based ECOP Dorcas Akua Essel to participate in the All-Atlantic Forum and participate in the Intergenerational Dialogue as one of the Early Career Ocean Professionals. She contributed to discussions at the intersection of the two priority areas on coastal resilience and ocean observation. This action underscores JPI Oceans’ commitment to empowering ECOPs as active participants in AAORIA’s work, ensuring that young professionals are at the forefront of shaping the future of ocean research and policy.
Furthermore, JPI Oceans though its Joint Action on Ocean Carbon Capacities, co-hosted a side event on design, governance, and finance of long-term ocean carbon observation. The main host of the event was the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI), other co-hosts were the Embassy of France and NORCE. OFI's Scientific Director Dr. Anya Waite presented the feedback gathered from over two years of stakeholder interaction on what is needed to enhance ocean carbon observation in the Atlantic to improve climate forecasts and support climate solutions.
One of the Forum’s major announcements was the addition of Iceland and Senegal as new AAORIA partners. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO), now an official supporter of AAORIA, also reaffirmed the Forum’s alignment with global efforts for sustainable ocean management.
In line with its focus on climate resilience, the Forum launched the Coastal Resilience Knowledge Hub, an initiative designed to connect researchers, policymakers, and local communities. The Hub aims to facilitate the sharing of best practices and the development of strategies to adapt to climate change, particularly in vulnerable coastal regions of the Atlantic.
Additionally, the Forum unveiled the Ocean Observation and Modelling Work Plan, which outlines research priorities on ocean productivity, land-sea interactions, and fisheries management. This initiative aligns with AAORIA’s goals to improve data-sharing across the Atlantic and bolster scientific capacities for marine biodiversity conservation.
A major highlight of the Forum was the release of the report "Ambition, Action, Impact: The Ocean Decade Pathway to 2030 - Consolidated Outcomes of the Vision 2030 Process". This flagship report outlines high-level priorities for ocean science, knowledge, capacity-building, and infrastructure, as well as the enabling conditions that need to be strengthened. These objectives will guide the United Nations Ocean Conference in 2025 in Nice, France, and the pre-conference special events, ensuring all activities align with the strategic priorities set forth in the report.
Lastly, the Blue Intergenerational Programme, a new initiative to support ECOPs in their career development, was announced at the Forum.
The 2024 All-Atlantic Forum demonstrated significant progress in advancing science-driven climate action and sustainable ocean management. With a renewed focus on addressing both Atlantic and global ocean challenges, the Alliance is now looking ahead to the 2025 All-Atlantic Forum, which will be hosted by the European Union in Brussels.
For those who were unable to attend, recordings of the sessions are available online. Stay engaged with AAORIA’s ongoing initiatives by following the Alliance’s communication channels and subscribing to the newsletter.
