In the context of global celebrations for World Oceans Day, UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission announced the first Actions officially endorsed as part of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, 2021-2030 (the ‘Ocean Decade’).

Leaders of Australia, Canada, Chile, Fiji, Ghana, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Namibia, Norway, Palau and Portugal commit to sustainably manage nearly 30 million sq km of their national waters by 2025. Leaders put a healthy ocean at the top of the global policy agenda to accelerate economic recovery.

From 14-25 June, the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO held its 31st Session (virtually). IOC’s 150 Member States took stock of progress in global ocean research and the implementation of the Ocean Decade, setting IOC forward on a new medium-term strategic framework.

The Prime Minister of Norway and the President of the Republic of Seychelles have accepted UNESCO’s invitation to become Patrons of the Ocean Decade Alliance to generate worldwide support of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (‘Ocean Decade’).

AXA & UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission are collaborating to improve awareness and solution building around the Ocean.

Paris, 29 January – UNESCO will celebrate the start of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (“Ocean Decade”) on 3 February (4.15 to 5.45pm, Central European Time), with the broadcast ‘A Brave New Ocean’, a global online event to raise awareness of the immense challenges and opportunities the ocean provides to achieve the global sustainable development goals.

Via a first "Call for Decade Actions", partners are invited to request endorsement under the Ocean Decade for transformative Decade Actions that contribute to the Ocean Decade vision.

The First International Ocean Decade Conference was generously supported by Germany in virtual mode. The IOC Secretariat is now seeking written Expressions of Interest from Member States via their National Focal Points to host the Second International Ocean Decade Conference approximately in late 2023.

The Ocean Image Bank is designed for use by the media, educators, creators, communicators, and anyone else looking to support the Ocean Decade by helping raise awareness about the ocean and its importance as well as inspiring greater support for ocean science and conservation action.