PONDERFUL joins EU Mission Charter “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”

The PONDERFUL consortium has joined the EU Mission Charter “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”. The Mission promotes opportunities to share solutions to restoring the health of freshwater and marine habitats.

With a 2030 target, the EU Mission Charter “Restore our Ocean and Waters” aims to protect and restore the health of our ocean and waters through research and innovation, citizen engagement and blue investments. This new, systemic approach will address the ocean and waters as one and play a key role in achieving climate neutrality and restoring nature.

The Charter was launched on 30 June 2022 at the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon. The European Commission called on governments and public authorities, businesses, civil society, financiers, and donors, as well as scientists and researchers from Europe and around the world to join the Mission. This included contributing with concrete actions to mobilise resources and enhance cooperation to deliver on the Mission’s objectives.

PONDERFUL coordinator ICREA Professor Sandra Brucet of The University of Vic- Central University of Catalonia (UVic) said: “The Mission Charter’s objectives of restoring marine and freshwater habitats, fighting pollution and creating a sustainable blue economy are highly relevant to PONDERFUL.

“Through PONDERFUL, we are investigating the importance of ponds and pondscapes to biodiversity and the role they could play as we adapt to climate change. Joining the Mission Charter “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” will help us ensure small waterbodies are included as we find solutions to the problems facing all freshwater and marine habitats.”

PONDERFUL plays a central role in delivering against and contributing to the Mission Ocean and Waters objectives. These include:

1. Protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030;
2. Prevent and eliminate pollution of our ocean, seas and waters, in line with the EU Action Plan Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil;
3. Make the sustainable blue economy carbon-neutral and circular, in line with the proposed European Climate Law and the holistic vision enshrined in the Sustainable Blue Economy Strategy.

We are also committed to:

1. Supporting to the EU Ocean knowledge system and respect of FAIR principle in relation to knowledge and data;
2. Involving citizens in the decision-making process;
3. Stimulating investments from public and private sources;
4. Sharing knowledge and experience and collaborate with other Mission actors;
5. Taking stock of the collective progress of achieving the Mission objectives and contributing to adjusting its course and steer its actions.