A/RES/74/19 Oceans and the law of the sea 296. Stresses the importance of increasing the scientific understanding of the oceans-atmosphere interface, including through participation in ocean observing programmes and geographic information systems, such as the Global Ocean Observing System, sponsored by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Meteorological Organization and the International Science Council, particularly considering their role in monitoring and forecasting climate change and variability, in supporting Earth system prediction 127 and in the establishment and operation of tsunami warning systems; 297. Welcomes the progress made by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and Member States towards the establishment and operation of regional and national tsunami warning and mitigation systems, also welcomes the continued collaboration of the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations in this effort, further welcomes the development and recent dissemination of the new Enhanced Tsunami Products for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System and the development of Enhanced Tsunami Products for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions, which will assist countries in the Pacific and the Caribbean to assess tsunami threats and issue warnings, and encourages Member States to establish and sustain their national warning and mitigation systems, within a global, ocean-related multi-hazard approach, as necessary, to reduce loss of life and damage to national economies and strengthen the resilience of coastal communities to natural disasters; 298. Stresses the need for continued efforts in developing mitigation and preparedness measures for natural disasters, particularly following tsunami events such as the 11 March 2011 event in Japan and the events on 28 September and 22 December 2018 in Indonesia; 299. Takes note of the sixth Global Environment Outlook, entitled Healthy Planet, Healthy People, approved on 24 January 2019, which, inter alia, identifies the principal drivers of change facing oceans and coasts and their impacts; 300. Urges States to take necessary action and to cooperate in relevant organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the World Meteorological Organization, to address damage to ocean data buoys deployed and operated in accordance with international law, including through education and outreach about the importance and purpose of these buoys and by strengthening t hese buoys against such damage and increasing reporting of such damage; 301. Notes the discussions at the twentieth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process, from 10 to 14 June 2019, on the theme of ocean science and the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, during which delegations, inter alia, stressed the importance of marine scientific research, international cooperation and coordination, as well as of a stronger science-policy interface in understanding and effectively addressing the unprecedented pressures on the ocean, provided input to assist in preparing for the Decade and considered that the Decade will be an important opportunity to address gaps in ocean science, increase knowledge, improve synergies and support the sustainable conservation and management of marine resources, and during which several delegations underlined the important complementary role of traditional knowledge held by indigenous peoples and local communities;4 302. Welcomes the steps taken by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission to prepare the implementation plan for the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) in consultation with Member __________________ 127 48/57 See World Meteorological Organization resolution 47 (Cg-18). 19-21313