It is with deep regret that IOC has to report the passing away of Arthur (Art) Alexiou on 16 June 2020.

COVID-19 threatens to create an ocean data blindspot that could disrupt weather forecasts and hamper our understanding of climate change, according to UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.

The global container logistics company A.P. Moller - Maersk has signed up its entire owned fleet of 300 vessels to contribute vital meteorological data in support of climate and weather forecasts.

Paris, 20 April. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission organized a virtual meeting to inform Permanent Delegations to UNESCO of the responses provided by the Commission to identify impacts from the Covid-19 crisis and ensure the continuity of its programmes and services.

Professional skippers competing in some of the most famous yachting races (Route du Rhum, Monaco Globe Series, The Vendée Globe) are taking action to protect their vast, endangered playground by partnering with scientific institutions for the monitoring of the ocean.

Climate change has not stopped for COVID-19. Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere are at record levels and continue to increase. Emissions are heading in the direction of pre-pandemic levels following a temporary decline caused by the lockdown and economic slowdown. The world is set to see its warmest five years on record – in a trend which is likely to continue - and is not on track to meet agreed targets to keep global temperature increase well below 2 °C or at 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.

The world’s leading organizations for ocean and climate sciences, UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) marked this year’s World Oceans Day (8 June) with a celebration of twenty years of partnership delivering innovative and impactful solutions in operational oceanography and marine meteorology.