Decade of Ocean Science

The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030, Ocean Decade for short) will support a new cooperative framework to ensure that global ocean science provides greater benefits for ocean ecosystems and wider society. It will provide a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity to create a new foundation for the scientific community, governments, civil society, and the UN system to strengthen the management of our oceans and coasts for the benefit of humanity.

On 5 December 2017, the United Nations declared that a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development would be held from 2021 to 2030. This Decade will provide a common framework to ensure that ocean science can fully support countries to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

"The IOC has an important role to play in key areas needed for implementing SDG14, particularly capacity development and technology transfer."

- Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy for the Decade of Ocean

The proposal was first registered as a voluntary commitment to the 2017 UN Ocean Conference by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC). Since 2018, the IOC has been working with thousands of stakeholders from governments, UN partners, scientific organisations, the private sector, and civil society to design the Decade to support the ocean we need for the future we want.

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Ocean Decade Website

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Implementation Plan

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