Navigating the Future VI: Ocean Science for Earth Challenges

The Ocean plays a critical role in sustaining life on Earth. However, the Ocean’s ability to continue supporting life is under threat. We therefore need to better understand what is happening in the Ocean, how it connects to the wider Earth System, and how its degradation can be mitigated.Navigating the Future VI (NFVI) is the latest edition of the flagship European Marine Board marine science-policy foresight series. NFVI discusses the Ocean and its place in the wider Earth system. It presents the most recent trends and highlights the needed breakthroughs in marine (natural and social) science research to help address the challenges facing the planet. It looks beyond the Ocean community to identify with whom we need to collaborate to develop and implement solutions. The publication is the result of a two-year collaborative effort from October 2022-2024. The Working Group comprised 33 experts from 16 European countries, covering a wide range of marine natural and social science backgrounds and career levels, including ECOPs.NFVI’s four main chapters align with pressing global challenges, covering Ocean and People, Ocean and Climate, Ocean and Fresh Water, and Ocean and Biodiversity. The Ocean and People Chapter focuses on the myriad links between the Ocean and people and presents a vision for a future where Ocean stakeholders are better able to work together. The Ocean and Climate Chapter highlights the need for better understanding the multitude of links between the Ocean and climate to better equip us to live alongside a changing Ocean. The Ocean and Fresh Water Chapter presents the connections between terrestrial and marine water systems and outlines the need to manage these holistically to ensure clean and safe water for all. The Ocean and Biodiversity Chapter puts a spotlight on how biodiversity will evolve as the Ocean changes and stresses the need to be better able to identify and study species so they can be protected. NFVI closes by identifying the infrastructure, financial, training and other requirements needed to underpin and enable the recommendations.This presentation will outline the main messages and research recommendations arising from NFVI, advising future strategic research programming.