United Nations Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development
The United Nations has declared the Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). This initiative aims to mobilize the scientific community, policy makers, industry and civil society around a common research and technological innovation agenda.
The proclamation of the Decade is the culmination of efforts by UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission to foster international cooperation in ocean sciences. The Decade will coordinate programs in research, observing systems, capacity building, marine spatial planning and marine risk reduction to improve the management of ocean and coastal resources.
By providing natural and innovative solutions to global challenges, from climate change to poverty eradication, the development of ocean sciences is essential for the social, economic and environmental balance of the planet. This Decade will provide an international framework for coordination and partnerships that will strengthen marine science research capacity and technology transfer.
The Decade of Ocean Sciences will accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 for the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean, seas and marine resources.
UNESCO is cooperating with the Ocean Decade Heritage Network(ODHN), which was established in 2019 with the aim of raising awareness of the UN Decade of Ocean Sciences within the cultural heritage community and coordinating the community's response to improve the integration of archaeology and cultural heritage management into marine science. Efforts are being undertaken to facilitate contact and communication between archaeologists, cultural heritage specialists, marine scientists, and relevant stakeholders, and to ensure that archaeologists and cultural heritage specialists, individually and through their own institutions and networks, are able to engage constructively in marine science under the auspices of the Decade, and to make the most of the opportunity that the Decade presents in supporting interdisciplinary marine research.