Global Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions (Global ONCE) celebrated its fourth anniversary as a UN Ocean Decade program with a hybrid event themed "Protecting the Blue, Charting the Future" on World Oceans Day, June 8, 2026. Over 300 representatives from research institutions and partner organizations across Europe, North America, South America, Central Asia, and China reviewed four-year progress in basic research, technology, standards, and cooperation, and discussed marine protection, carbon removal applications, and climate governance.
Key participants included Nianzhi Jiao, Chief Scientist of Global ONCE and Chair of the UN Consultative Committee on Marine Ecological Sustainable Development; Adina Paytan, Professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz; Camila Fernández, Professor at the University of Concepción, Chile; Celeste López-Abbate, Research Scientist at the Argentine Institute of Oceanography; and Chuanlun Zhang, Director of International Cooperation of Global ONCE and Chair Professor at the Southern University of Science and Technology. Experts, scholars, and representatives of partner institutions from Europe, North America, South America, Central Asia, and China participated in the exchange both online and on site. Louis Legendre, Professor Emeritus at Sorbonne University; Hans-Josef Fell, President of the Energy Watch Group; Dongyan Liu, representative of the Integrated Marine Biosphere Research (IMBeR) international science programme; and Yernar Sailybayev, Chief Executive Officer of Caspian Environmental Consortium Ltd., and others expressed their support and congratulations through video messages.
Prof. Jiao highlighted Global ONCE's expansion to over 100 institutes in 30+ countries across five oceans, and domestic observation zones in China's seas. He stressed land-sea integration and ecological carbon sink enhancement typical scenarios such as marine aquaculture, ocean farming, and wastewater alkalinity enhancement. Prof. Jihua Liu reviewed achievements in theory and standards, while Prof. Zhang reported on a new South America hub established in Chile, with MOUs signed in multiple countries. Members of Global ONCE cooperation teams introduced phased progress in MSPI-ONCE (science-policy interface), MSP 2060 (marine spatial planning), and drone-based MRV systems. International experts Adina Paytan and Camila Fernández shared insights on blue carbon monitoring and coastal observations.
Panel discussions explored negative emissions pathways and cross-regional governance, with experts recognizing Global ONCE's role in implementation and coordination. The event closed with video messages from global partners and the Global ONCE theme song.
An evening session at Xiamen University featured a milestone film, choir performance, and bamboo flute art. Academic talks by Celeste López-Abbate and Victor Smetacek provided new scientific perspectives for South Atlantic and subtropical cooperation, while offering young researchers a platform for interdisciplinary learning.
As the world marks the 18th World Oceans Day, this event is not only a testament to Global ONCE's achievements in science and collaboration, but also a fresh call to action. Protecting the blue, charting the future: Global ONCE remains steadfast in advancing ocean negative carbon emissions, strengthening global partnerships, and delivering practical solutions for the UN Ocean Decade and a sustainable climate future.