The China SCOR annual meeting, with the theme “Implementation of the UN Ocean DECADE: the international cooperation of the ocean community in the post-COVID-19 era”, was successfully organized from Dec 21 to 22, 2021. Liping Yin, staff scientist of the ICPO, represented ICPO to report the progress of CLIVAR activities in the past year.

To accommodate the COVID-19 situation, this meeting used a hybrid online/in-person format, with about 50 online and 20 in-person participants. The scientific committee of China SCOR, Executive Director (ED) of international SCOR, representatives of UN Ocean Decade endorsed projects, Early Career representatives of China SCOR, and representatives of international project offices, attended this meeting.

Dr. Patricia Miloslavich, ED of the international SCOR Secretariat, made a speech on the SCOR activities looking forward to the next decade. She introduced the organization structure and progress of international SCOR, especially those are relevant with the UN Ocean Decade initiative, and highlighted opportunities that SCOR and ocean research are facing in the new decade.

CLIVAR, IMBeR, SOLAS, and the UN Ocean Decade endorsed projects (Coastal-SOS, Deltas associated with large rivers, and Global estuaries monitoring programme) reported their progress and activity highlights. In addition, scientific reports on marine material/energy, marine environment, marine acoustics, polar research, and paleoclimate were presented during the meeting. The participants were very interested in the CLIVAR activities, such as the Arctic process CMIP6 bootcamp, the monsoon activity, etc., and suggested the China SCOR putting the future CLIVAR activities to their webpage.

There was a discussion around the COVID-19 situation, how to better coordinate the international scientific research and activity, especially the open cruises in the Pacific and Indian ocean, is a challenge. Nevertheless, we need to take advantage of the online working format for a better communication. The participants highlighted the role of international projects on the scientific initiative. agreeing that we need to construct an infrastructure with the international perspective. In addition, the bottom-up design, open and synergy from the community are emphasized.

To better transmit the ocean and climate knowledge to society and contribute to the societal well-being, the committee was suggested to have more connection with the stakeholder, the enterprise, and the local government.