Climate change continued its relentless march in 2020, which is on track to be one of the three warmest years on record. 2011-2020 will be the warmest decade on record, with the warmest six years all being since 2015, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

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

2020 was one of three warmest years on record, despite cooling La Niña. Extreme weather and COVID-19 combined in a double blow.

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.

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.

The Climate COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. With the UK as President, COP26 takes place in Glasgow.

The Joint Centre for Oceanographic and Marine Meteorological Observing Programme Support (JCOMMOPS) is a collaboration between the IOC and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) which internationally coordinates about 10,000 in situ ocean observing instruments for the continuous monitoring of the global ocean and the atmosphere above it.

JCOMMOPS website: http://www.jcommops.org/board

GOOS Observations Coordination Group launches a new Ocean Observing System Report Card and introduces the rebranding of OceanOPS (previously JCOMMOPS) along with its first-ever 5-year Strategic Plan (2021-2025), phased with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (“Ocean Decade”).

The Observations Coordination Group of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) launches the new Ocean Observing System Report Card for 2021 - providing an up-to-date and global view of the status of the Global Ocean Observing System.

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.