Date: Monday 9 November 2026, 13:00-14:30 local time, Antalya (GMT+3), 11:00-12:30 CET
Location: Online, register here.
Organised by Dr. Natalya Gallo, NORCE, Dr. Richard Sanders, Director of ICOS Ocean Thematic Centre and Research Proffesor at NORCE, Jula Falvey, Seascape Belgium
Held in alignment with Earth Information Day at COP31, this roundtable will examine the role of ocean carbon observations within the UNFCCC’s research and systematic observation agenda. Earth Information Day provides a forum for Parties and the scientific community to exchange information on the state of the climate system and advances in systematic observations that support climate action.
The discussion will highlight European investments through the Horizon Europe projects OceanICU, TRICUSO, and JOHN, which are advancing ocean carbon observations, data integration, and policy-relevant climate services. Against a backdrop of geopolitical change and increasing pressure on long-term observing programmes, participants will discuss how Europe and international partners can help sustain critical ocean observing capacity. The roundtable will identify priorities for strengthening the ocean carbon observing value chain, improving governance and coordination, and securing the long-term financing needed to support robust climate information and effective climate policy.
Programme
Panelists: Richard Sanders (moderator), ICOS Ocean Thematic Centre Director, Research Professor at the Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE), Larisa Lorinczi, Policy officer in European research and innovation at the European Commission, Philippe Ciais, Climate researcher at the Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, Siv Lauvset, Senior Researcher at NORCE, Paul Trautendorfer, Science-policy advisor at JPI Oceans, Andrew Watson, Senior Researcher at the University of Exeter, Louise Delaigue, postdoctoral fellow at Sorbonne University.
- Welcome and introductions
- Setting the scientific context: the ocean carbon sink
- Are current ocean carbon observations sufficient?
- From observations to climate policy
- Strengthening observing capacity: practical opportunities
- Investment, coordination, and long-term sustainability
- Reflections (both from panelists and audience members)
- Looking ahead: one priority for the next decade
- Closing remarks