On January 28, 2025, at the 17th European Space Conference in Brussels, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Mercator Ocean International initiated a critical Space & Ocean Dialogue, marking a significant step towards strengthening collaboration in ocean preservation and Earth observation. The dialogue, taking place several months before the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, aims to mobilise the European space sector community to protect and preserve the Ocean, aligned with the UN Decade for Ocean Science (2021/2030).
Pierre Bahurel, Director General of Mercator Ocean International, emphasized the importance of this dialogue: “We are bringing together Space and Ocean experts to address urgent global environmental challenges and prepare for the upcoming UN Ocean Conference”.
The Space & Ocean Dialogue focuses on four areas:
- Strengthening scientific and technological collaborations
- Fostering an integrative approach to Digital Ocean Twinning
- Enhancing European Space/Ocean leadership internationally
- Facilitating dialogues for responding to environmental challenges
Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA, added, “This implementation agreement with Mercator Ocean International represents a crucial step in our mission to harness space technology for the benefit of our ocean. By combining ESA’s expertise in Earth observation with Mercator Ocean’s expertise in ocean modelling and prediction, we are positioned to drive important breakthrough in understanding and protecting our marine environments.“
The agreement signed under the aegis of the European Commission, marks a critical step in addressing global environmental challenges, positioning the European Union at the forefront of international ocean dialogue :
- Commissioner Costas Kadis for Fisheries and Oceans announced the Agreement signature a few months before the next UN Ocean Conference 2025.
- Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General and Pierre Bahurel, MERCATOR OCEAN International Director General signed their Partnership Agreement at the EU Space Conference.
Round-table discussions followed on Ocean threats and Copernicus solutions, featuring prominent figures from various sectors.
– “The Ocean, A public good in great danger“, with Pascal Lamy, EU Mission Ocean, Margherita Pucino, Metrics Lead, Global Plastic Action Partnership, World Economic Forum (WEF), and Edison Rijna, Special Envoy for the BES Islands for the EU, UN and Economic Development, Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations
and
– “Copernicus, A unique platform for Space and Ocean experts to collaborate“, bringing together key figures to discuss the future of ocean preservation and space technology’s role, with the participation of Mauro Facchini, Head of Unit for Earth Observation in the European Commission – Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DEFIS), Kestutis Sadauskas, Deputy Director General, DG MARE, European Commission, Simonetta Cheli, Director of ESA Earth Observation Programmes, Pierre Bahurel, Director General, Mercator Ocean.
Takeaways of the panels were prepared by Genevieve Pons, Director General & Vice President, Europe Jacques Delors.
Copernicus Marine Service, pioneering Earth Observation for a sustainable ocean for over two decades, plays a vital role in monitoring and predicting environmental changes for ocean conservation and climate change mitigation. It continues to evolve, combining Earth Observation expertise with ocean sciences and digital technologies to lay foundations for the next EU Digital Twin Ocean.
The EU Digital Twin Ocean, built on Copernicus Marine data and other EU sources, will integrate artificial intelligence, machine learning, and near-real-time ocean representation, to be showcased in the EU digital Pavilion at UNOC 2025.