OceanEye International Alliance: Stronger Together for Ocean Observation

OceanEye International Alliance for the Global Ocean Observing System

Ocean observation is essential for safety and security of operations at sea, a competitive blue economy, weather forecast, climate projections, ocean restoration and protection, and coastal resilience. The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) programme, co-sponsored by IOC-UNESCO and WMO, is the central hub of this effort. GOOS brings together 64 countries, 17 global observation networks, and 8,000 platforms delivering 120,000 observations per day, providing essential data to support sustainable ocean management. 

Despite the importance of its work, GOOS remains vulnerable to financial and geopolitical disruptions. It depends heavily on a small number of major contributors and lacks sufficient capacity to ensure long-term stability without more sustainable funding. Without collective action to broaden support, the world risks continued gaps in ocean data, interruption of long-term records, and degradation of the global monitoring system. 

The OceanEye International Alliance for the GOOS is established to respond to this challenge by broadening financial and in-kind support to GOOS, sustaining existing national and international infrastructures, closing critical observation gaps, promoting more equitable governance and funding arrangements, and advancing international commitments, including SDG 14 and the BBNJ Agreement.

Purpose of the High-Level Event 

The pledging event will convene Heads of State and Government, civil society partners and UN organisations to reaffirm their commitment to the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) programme and to raise attention regarding its importance, aiming to:

• Secure resources through financial and in-kind pledges to sustain observing systems, expand observational coverage, and maintain at-risk infrastructure;

• Broaden the contributor base to build a resilient, equitably shared foundation for the future of global ocean observation;

• Strengthen coordination, including support to the GOOS Secretariat, coordination hubs and project offices, and OceanOPS (the reporting centre for observation data);

• Encourage national commitments, such as designating National Ocean Observation Focal Points, committing to national implementation plans, and connecting national ocean data with global data systems.

The event will allow for a high-level demonstration of collective dedication to secure the future of ocean observation, while laying the groundwork for a globally shared, fit-for-purpose, and sustained system.

It will be followed up by further International Alliance efforts and events throughout 2026 - 2028 and beyond, with additional opportunities to make in-kind and/or financial pledges (COP31, Our Ocean Conference 12, fourth UN Ocean Conference).

• Event: A high-level pledging event launching the OceanEye International Alliance for the Global Ocean Observing System

• Hosts: President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, in partnership with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

• Time: Wednesday 23 September 2026, 10:00-11:30 EDT (UTC-4) during the 81^st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High Level Week

• Location: United Nations Headquarters, Conference Building, Level 1-B, Conference Room 3, New York City

• Format: A high-level event where partners will reaffirm their commitment to global ocean observation in the context of the OceanEye International Alliance for the GOOS that is co-lead by the EU and Canada.