New National Decade Committee Ireland Formed

The inaugural meeting of the UN Decade of Ocean Science National Decade Committee (NDC) Ireland has taken place. The 15-person committee comprises individuals from civic society and from a diverse range of sectors to reflect the recommended membership by IOC UNESCO.

With Ireland joining there are now 38 NDCs across the world.

Source: https://oceandecade.org/national-ocean-decade-ecosystem/

The Role of National Decade Committees

During the meeting, Olivier Dufourneaud, Ocean Decade Community Coordinator with UNESCO,delivered a presentation on how UN Decade Ocean Committees operate.

But what are they?

National Decade Committees (NDCs) are voluntary, inclusive, multi-stakeholder platforms set up to coordinate, support and increase a country’s participation in the Ocean Decade by mobilising the whole “ocean community” at the national level, i.e. all producers and users of ocean science and ocean knowledge.

The mandate and scope of each National Decade Committee is unique and tailored to national needs but common roles include:

• Make the Ocean Decade better known and understood (through events, webinars, social media) and encourage broad participation by diverse stakeholder groups, including those who are not typical partners of the scientific community e.g. industry, impact investors etc;
• Catalyse new Decade Actions and promote co-design of Actions with diverse stakeholders in response to Calls for Decade Actions, by facilitating international connections, coordinating national actors and easing access to decentralised coordination structures;
• Support and connect Decade Actions led by or working in the country and enhance their access to Decade benefits, such as data, products, science-policy advice or capacity development opportunities;
• Combine the global challenges and priorities of the Ocean Decade with national policies, strategies and priorities for ocean science, transfer of marine technology or capacity development;
• Influence funding and resource allocation decisions for ocean science;
• ‘Walk the talk’ of diversity, equity and inclusivity in the Ocean Decade by supporting the engagement of under-represented groups including ILK holders and ECOPs.

Olivier Dufourneaud says they play a critical role.

“NDCs are a critical connector between National Ocean community and stakeholders and United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Essentially connecting the global ambition of the Decade with national priorities.”

Ireland Committee

The NDC Ireland can discuss national priorities and some tangible actions include developing a national implementation plan, inspire national policies, setting up co-branded funding calls.

At the inaugural meeting, chaired by Fiona Grant, a vote took place to ratify the positions of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. Those successfully elected are:

• Aoife O’Mahony elected Chair
• Sofiia Tretiak elected Vice-Chair

Fiona Grant congratulated both Committee members and assured them of the support of the Secretariat of the Committee.

Meet the Ireland Committee and find out more about them by reading their bios here.

• Anne Marie O’Hagan, University College Cork
• Aoife O’Mahony, Fair Seas
• Fergal Mc Grath, Marine Institute
• Fiona Regan, Dublin City University
• Fiona Grant, Marine Institute and IOC National Delegate
• Jennifer Brennan, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
• Jeremy Gault, Simply Blue
• João Frias, Atlantic Technological University
• Julia Calderwood, Marine Institute
• Louise Allcock, University of Galway
• Noirin Burke, Galway Atlantaquaria and the Irish Ocean Literacy Network
• Peter Croot, University of Galway
• Sofiia Tretiak, Early Career Ocean Professional
• Stephanie Brennan, Aran Islands Energy Coop
• Tim O’Higgins, Department of Housing

Observers

• Niall McDonough, Marine Institute
• Caroline Cusack, Marine Institute
• Glenn Nolan, Marine Institute
• David O’Sullivan, Marine Institute

Secretariat

• Joanne Sweeney, Digital Training Institute, communications for the Committee
• Laura McDonagh, Marine Institute

Official Launch

The official launch of the Ireland Committee will take place in early 2024 at an in-person event at Marine Institute in Galway.

Follow on Social Media

We will keep you updated, but in the meantime, you can follow updates from the Committee on social media.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/undecadeoceanireland/
• X: https://twitter.com/UNDecadeOceanIE
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UNDecadeOceanIreland