Meeting of the G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans Initiative Working Group
Japanese-German Centre Berlin
29-30 November 2022
As part of Germany's G7 presidency, the working group of the G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans Initiative (G7 FSOI) from 29-30 November 2022 for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The working group was set up to shape the future of the seas and oceans. The aim is for marine scientists and representatives of authorities and ministries of the G7 member states and the EU to come together to support the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and develop strategies that contribute to the health of our ocean and to a more sustainable ocean economy.
On the occasion of Japan's upcoming G7 presidency in 2023, the G7 FSOI working group met at the Japanese-German Centre Berlin. While the first day focused on the "Ocean-Climate-Biodiversity Nexus" and featured high-calibre speakers from G7 countries and the EU, the second day focused on the evaluation of existing G7 FSOI structures and future thematic priorities. This year's meeting of the G7 FSOI working group, supported on behalf of the BMBF and organised by KDM, laid the foundation for further close cooperation between the G7 and EU representatives in ocean observation. Future challenges identified included carbon transport in the deep sea, the increased collection of biological ocean observation data and the promotion of knowledge transfer to policy makers.