GeSI and World Ocean Council sign memorandum of understanding (MoU)

GeSI and WOC set out joint aspirations to strengthen and promote the effectiveness of sustainability efforts through the development and deployment of digital technology.


Published on: Jun 15, 2020 | Written by: Kaoru Inoue

The Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) and the World Ocean Council (WOC) have signed a memorandum of understanding, setting out joint aspirations to strengthen and promote the effectiveness of sustainability efforts through the development and deployment of digital technology.

BRUSSELS – 15 JUNE 2020: The Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) and the World Ocean Council (WOC) have set out joint aspirations to collaborate and promote the enabling potential of digital technologies in solving challenges affecting the ocean, societies, industries, and the biosphere. The collaboration will build upon the work relating to SDG 14, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development—in line with the goals of the 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 our ability to meet the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To achieve this, both the information and communications technology (ICT) sector and other key sectors need to fully integrate the agenda into its activities and organisational culture.  

WOC has committed to the Movement, joining a cohort of business associations, GeSI member companies and partners, as well as service providers including NGOs, data providers and consultants to launch the multi-stakeholder, multi-sector initiative. The Movement will establish a mechanism for individual and collective action to catalyse progress on both the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement through the development and deployment of digital technology.

The GeSI-WOC collaboration seeks to promote the capabilities of digital technologies in ocean-related data collection and analysis, as well as deliver on the ambition of smart oceans and smart industries through the framework of Digital with Purpose. 

WOC President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Holthus said:

“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 to address the challenges of ocean sustainable development as we move forward together.”

GeSI Chief Executive Officer Luis Neves said:

Oceans 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 organisations 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.”

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About GeSI 
The Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) is a leading source of impartial information, resources and best practice for achieving integrated social and environmental sustainability through Information and Communication Technology (ICT). GeSI facilitates real world solutions to real world issues both within the ICT industry and the greater sustainability community. With a diverse and global member base and partnerships, GeSI fosters collaborative and innovative approaches to sustainability, supporting member initiatives in both developed and developing nations to quickly and effectively respond to issues such as climate change, energy efficiency, e-waste management and resource efficiency, responsible supply chain practices, privacy, digital trust and responsibility and human rights.


About WOC
The World Ocean Council (WOC) is the Global Blue Economy Business Oganisation, engaging the diverse global ocean business and investment community across the sectors and around the world. The WOC fosters and facilitates international, multi-industry business leadership, collaboration and action on ocean sustainable development and “Corporate Ocean Responsibility. The WOC is widely recognized and accredited by international and inter-governmental organizations in this role and often works through partnerships with peer organisations and initiatives.

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