![[Translate to English:] Akta Bay](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/8/csm_20190116_Neumayer_MichaelTrautmann_008_528b8b2e7e.jpg)
In the context of the “One Planet - Polar Summit”, taking place on 8-10 November in Paris, France and hosted by the Paris Peace Forum, UNESCO announced the endorsement of a new major programme aimed at better understanding, protecting and sustainably managing the Southern Ocean and Antarctica in the framework of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (‘Ocean Decade’).
![[Translate to English:] Akta Bay](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/8/csm_20190116_Neumayer_MichaelTrautmann_008_b47a1eb025.jpg "Akta Bay")
![[Translate to English:] Emperor penguin colony](/fileadmin/_processed_/7/7/csm_20190116_Neumayer_MichaelTrautmann_052_b9fdd9b741.jpg "Emperor penguin colony")
![[Translate to English:] Polarstern-Winterexperiment](/fileadmin/_processed_/5/6/csm_20130810_AWECS_ANT29_6_810_MarioHoppmann_651c834c37.jpg "Birds")
![[Translate to English:] Überwinterer beobachten Kaiserpinguine](/fileadmin/_processed_/7/f/csm_20160828_Pinguine_001_StevenFranke_81baa18370.jpg "Cverwintering team watching emperor penguins")
![[Translate to English:] Weddellrobbe](/fileadmin/_processed_/6/8/csm_0000_Weddelrobbe04_JPloetz_608f3d1044.jpg "Weddell Seal")
![[Translate to English:] Polarstern-Winterexperiment](/fileadmin/_processed_/9/a/csm_20130615_AWECS_ANT29_6_058_MarioHoppmann_5fe10ef3d7.jpg "Whales")
![[Translate to English:] Polarstern-Winterexperiment](/fileadmin/_processed_/d/9/csm_20130620_AWECS_ANT29_6_195_MarioHoppmann_7a6d57e713.jpg "Winter Experiment")
The facts are clear: hundreds of millions of lives are at risk due to melting ice and increasing sea levels. In addition, the populations that depend on glaciers, particularly for access to fresh water, face enormous challenges. All of humanity is therefore concerned.
Since Wednesday 8 November, hundreds of representatives from government, research and civil society have been gathered in Paris to discuss the protection of the Arctic and Antarctic. On the last day of the Summit, the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, announced the official endorsement of a new initiative as an Ocean Decade Action: Antarctica InSync (International Science & Infrastructure for Synchronous Observation).
![[Translate to English:] Akta Bay](/fileadmin/user_upload/AWI/Ueber_uns/Service/Presse/2023/4_Quartal/KM_PolarSummit/20190116_Neumayer_MichaelTrautmann_008.jpg "Akta Bay")
![[Translate to English:] Emperor penguin colony](/fileadmin/user_upload/AWI/Ueber_uns/Service/Presse/2023/4_Quartal/KM_PolarSummit/20190116_Neumayer_MichaelTrautmann_052.jpg "Emperor penguin colony")
![[Translate to English:] Polarstern-Winterexperiment](/fileadmin/user_upload/AWI/Ueber_uns/Service/Presse/2023/4_Quartal/KM_PolarSummit/20130810_AWECS_ANT29_6_810_MarioHoppmann.jpg "Birds")
![[Translate to English:] Überwinterer beobachten Kaiserpinguine](/fileadmin/user_upload/AWI/Ueber_uns/Service/Presse/2023/4_Quartal/KM_PolarSummit/20160828_Pinguine_001_StevenFranke.jpg "Cverwintering team watching emperor penguins")
![[Translate to English:] Weddellrobbe](/fileadmin/user_upload/AWI/Ueber_uns/Service/Presse/2023/4_Quartal/KM_PolarSummit/0000_Weddelrobbe04_JPloetz.jpg "Weddell Seal")
![[Translate to English:] Polarstern-Winterexperiment](/fileadmin/user_upload/AWI/Ueber_uns/Service/Presse/2023/4_Quartal/KM_PolarSummit/20130615_AWECS_ANT29_6_058_MarioHoppmann.jpg "Whales")
![[Translate to English:] Polarstern-Winterexperiment](/fileadmin/user_upload/AWI/Ueber_uns/Service/Presse/2023/4_Quartal/KM_PolarSummit/20130620_AWECS_ANT29_6_195_MarioHoppmann.jpg "Winter Experiment")