Key facts
- Britain will join the EU's new global ocean monitoring system, OceanEye.
- The program aims to better forecast extreme weather and climate events.
- The UK's participation aims to rebuild its relationship with Europe.
- The EU's OceanEye initiative plans to create a real-time digital replica of the ocean by 2030.
- Canada is also an international alliance partner in OceanEye.
- The UK will share more data from the Met Office and other agencies.
Britain is set to join a significant new EU-led global ocean science program, OceanEye, designed to enhance the forecasting of extreme weather and climate events. The announcement, made in New York, signifies an effort by the UK government to strengthen its ties with Europe. This move comes amid warnings of an intensified El Niño event contributing to more extreme global weather patterns.
Scientists have highlighted the strain on the global marine monitoring system, crucial for predicting extreme weather and saving lives. Concerns were raised earlier this year regarding potential reductions in the US contribution to global ocean observations. The EU launched OceanEye in June with €92 million (£78 million) to bolster its ocean observation capabilities and provide data for better ocean management and protection. The initiative aims to create a comprehensive digital replica of the ocean by 2030, utilizing data from satellites, sensors, and various models. Canada has also joined the alliance as part of OceanEye, focusing on critical gaps in under-monitored regions and fostering international cooperation.
Beyond weather predictions, ocean observations are vital for national security, global trade, and marine conservation. UK Environment Secretary Angela Eagle is scheduled to announce the UK's participation at the United Nations headquarters in New York, in the presence of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Britain will increase its data sharing with the EU and Canada through this program. Eagle stated that as an island nation and a leader in climate science, the UK recognizes the essential role of ocean monitoring data for protecting and understanding oceans, especially in the face of changing weather patterns and currents that fuel extreme weather events globally. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs indicated that joining the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) alliance will aid in better protecting Britain from climate change impacts.
Despite a reversal of a proposal to cut its $368 million (£275 million) funding for the Ocean Observatories Initiative following scientific backlash, the US administration's previous moves to reduce funding for ocean agencies have left the GOOS vulnerable to shifting priorities. Significant gaps in current global ocean observing capacity exist, particularly in polar regions, the deep ocean, and for biological measurements.