SOCCO is a South African integrated science and innovation programme in support of the Department of Science and Innovation’s (DSI) Decadal and Strategic Plans. The Southern Ocean plays a critical role in both regional and global climate through its influence on global carbon and heat uptake and storage. SOCCO builds on South Africa’s comparative geographical advantage to improve long-term projections of the Southern Ocean carbon-climate system for informed adaptation planning and decision-making that will meet society’s urgent need for robust and actionable climate risk management. In so doing, SOCCO aims to strengthen South Africa’s impact as a global citizen with a clear commitment to ocean and climate stewardship.