Utilizing corporate data for the Ocean Decade: Obstacles and strategies
In the face of pressing global challenges such as climate change and declining ocean health, the United Nations has launched the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). This initiative aims to build a global framework for ocean science, with a particular focus on unlocking and sharing ocean data for sustainable ocean development.
The private sector, which holds a vast reservoir of valuable ocean data, acquired through activities like offshore energy exploration, marine infrastructure development, and scientific research, can play a pivotal role in this mission. Achieving this goal depends on our ability to access "the data we need for the science we want."
The United Nations Global Compact Guide to Corporate Sustainability emphasises the importance of companies contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals, including through ocean-related data sharing. The private sector can contribute to this effort through several key actions, as outlined in the Ocean Decade Bathymetry Data Sharing Guideline.
One such action is engaging in collaborative data sharing partnerships. Private companies holding marine data can join multi-stakeholder networks or platforms that foster open data access, such as the Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) partnership.
Adopting and promoting data management best practices is another crucial step. By implementing recognised data governance, standardization, and metadata frameworks, the private sector can improve data quality, interoperability, and reusability. MEDIN serves as an example, demonstrating how corporate risk, audit traceability, and cost minimisation can be achieved through best practices in marine data management.
Contributing to open-source data frameworks is another way the private sector can help. The creation and use of standardised, open-source frameworks can help structure and synthesise data across various sources, enhancing data integrity and transparency.
Facilitating innovation and interoperability is also essential. By supporting and adopting open protocols and standards that enable interoperability, the private sector can help ensure that their data integrates seamlessly with public and scientific datasets, promoting sustainability-oriented applications.
Investing in data infrastructure and analytics tools is another vital aspect. Providing technology and expertise to process, curate, and analyse ocean data enhances its usability and helps derive insights critical for sustainable ocean development.
The International Seabed Authority and developers have already committed to sharing their bathymetry data with Seabed 2030 in areas outside EEZ waters for critical mineral surveys. The Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group, a platform that aims to facilitate collaboration between the private sector, governments, and international organisations, is another example of collective efforts towards this goal.
The private sector has much to gain from a healthy ocean and much to lose from a poorly managed and depleted one. Making private-sector data available requires solving several technical, legal, and economic barriers. However, with the right strategies and partnerships, the private sector can help achieve the Ocean Decade's goal to improve the coordination of and access to existing and new global ocean science data.
The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development acknowledges the private sector's role in advancing ocean science and sustainable development beyond ocean technology innovation. By unlocking and sharing ocean data responsibly, adopting standardised management and metadata protocols, actively participating in collaborative platforms, and supporting open data infrastructures, the private sector can help unlock ocean data's full potential aligned with the Ocean Decade's vision for sustainability.
- The private sector, with its abundance of ocean data from activities like energy exploration, infrastructure development, and research, can significantly contribute to the UN's Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) by sharing this data for sustainable ocean development.
- Engaging in collaborative data sharing partnerships, joining networks like the Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN), is one key action the private sector can take to support this mission.
- Adopting data management best practices is another crucial step. By implementing recognized frameworks for data governance, standardization, and metadata, private companies can improve data quality, interoperability, and reusability.
- Contribute to open-source data frameworks to structure and synthesise data across various sources, enhancing data integrity and transparency.
- Investing in data infrastructure and analytics tools is another vital aspect. By providing technology and expertise to process, curate, and analyse ocean data, the private sector can enhance its usability and help derive insights critical for sustainable ocean development.
