ISC Endorsed Ocean Governance Toolkit Developed by Chinese Scientists at 3rd UN Ocean Conference
During the 3rd UN Ocean Conference, International Science Council (ISC) released a policy brief titled “Co-Producing Ocean Actionable Knowledge For Transformative Solutions And Global Cooperation”, calling for global collaboration to advance science-based solutions bridging the persistent gap between science, policy and society. Notably, the policy brief highlighted the Coastal city Ocean bAsed Solution Toolkit for sustainable development (COAST), a global comprehensive toolkit for ocean governance launched by Chinese research teams as a paradigm of ocean governance tools.
The ISC, founded in 1931 in Brussels, Belgium, is a prominent international non-governmental organization dedicated to advancing scientific research, fostering international cooperation, and bridging the gap between science and policymaking. With close ties to the United Nations and its specialized agencies, the ISC serves as a key platform uniting global scientific expertise across disciplines. Its members include leading scientists addressing critical challenges with broad societal impact. The China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) is a member of the ISC.
The brief, led by ISC and authored by a team headed by Prof. Peter Haugan, former Chair of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), demonstrates how science-driven partnerships can tackle cross-cutting priorities, environmental degradation, resource competition, and governance asymmetries. Featuring the COAST among other best practices, it illustrates how collaborative science can deliver holistic solutions, enabling transdisciplinary cooperation and ocean science diplomacy.
Developed by FIO’s research team, the COAST integrates six core modules, namely Ocean and Climate Early Warning, Maritime Safety, Coastal Ecosystem Health, Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Blue Economy Support, and Ocean Literacy Enhancement, covering key areas of coastal urban sustainability. By leveraging marine big data, advanced numerical modeling, AI technologies, and capacity building, the COAST provides policymakers and end-users with a comprehensive decision-support system for sustainable ocean governance.