GeSI and WOC begin new digital collaboration

The Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) and WOC Begin Collaboration to Advance the Role of Digital Technologies in Addressing Ocean Sustainability Challenges

GeSI and WOC begin new digital collaboration

The World Ocean Council (WOC) and the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen and promote the effectiveness of sustainability efforts through the development and deployment of digital technology.

The WOC-GeSI partnership will focus on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 - conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development - and linking these ocean goals with those of the GeSI Digital with Purpose Movement.

The Digital with Purpose Movement is the next phase of GeSI’s initiative following the launch of its Digital with Purpose report in 2019. The report found that digital technologies could have a transformational impact on the ability to meet the 2030 Agenda and SDGs. To achieve this, both the ICT sector and other key sectors need to fully integrate the agenda into its activities and organizational culture.

The WOC has stepped forward to engage the ocean business community with the Digital with Purpose Movement and working to establish a mechanism for individual and collective action to catalyze progress on the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement through the development and deployment of digital technology.

The GeSI-WOC collaboration seeks to work with Digital with Purpose to promote the capabilities of digital technologies in ocean-related data collection and analysis, i.e. the WOC SMART Ocean-SMART Industries.

GeSI CEO Luis Neves stated:

“Ocean sustainability represents a major concern and remains a priority area where digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities will be fundamental to address current sustainability challenges. The partnership between the World Ocean Council (WOC) and Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) brings together a remarkable community of companies and stakeholders. Through this partnership, both organizations will jointly work on addressing key sustainability challenges across sectors and industries. We are proud to have WOC join the Digital with Purpose Movement as we begin this ambitious journey of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the responsible deployment of digital technologies.”

WOC CEO Paul Holthus added:

“The World Ocean Council is honored to be partnering with the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) and the leading Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies involved in the Digital with Purpose Movement. We look forward to collaborating to advance the role of ICT in helping address the challenges of ocean sustainable development as we move forward together.”