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 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.

When we think of public health risks, we may not think of the ocean as a factor. Increasingly, however, the health of the ocean is intimately tied to our health. Some may be surprised to read that organisms discovered at extreme depths are used to speed up the detection of COVID-19, and probably, even more to learn that, it is the environment to could give a solution to humankind.

On the occasion of World Oceans Day (June 8th), UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) organized the first Virtual Ocean Literacy Summit, with the support of the European Global Ocean Observing System (EuroGOOS), Ocean Wise and Experiential Atelier*.

In her interview with the National Geographic on 8 November, Francesca Santoro, Programme Specialist of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, explained the importance of the Ocean Literacy programme, highlighting the fundamental role of the ocean in our lives and simultaneously stressing the need of our contribution in preserving it.

The Ocean Agency, together with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, announced today the official launch of the Ocean Decade Creative Communication Toolkits, a range of free online communication resources made available thanks to the support of UN Environment Programme, 11th Hour Racing and Adobe.

Corporate author: UNESCO Office Venice and Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe (Italy), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
Person as author: Santoro, Francesca, Santin, Selvaggia, Scowcroft, Gail, Fauville, Géraldine, Tuddenham, Peter
Language: English

Ocean literacy was assumed as a public policy in school education in Santos, Brazil. The Municipal Law #3.935 was enacted on November 12th, and assures the inclusion of ocean literacy in the municipality's schools, making it the first city in the world to establish ocean literacy as a public policy in the school curriculum.

Less than twenty per cent of the world’s oceans have been explored so far. That is not a lot. But it is enough for us to know that the oceans are threatened by global warming, acidification, and pollution. Coral bleaching is just one illustration of the decline of marine ecosystems. The consequences are not just environmental. Nearly three billion people depend directly on marine and coastal biodiversity for their survival. By 2050, coastal areas that are home to300 million people could be threatened by rising sea levels due to climate change.

On the occasion of the One Ocean Summit taking place in Brest, France, UNESCO announced it has set itself the goal of including ocean education in the school curricula of its 193 Member States by 2025. To achieve this goal, the United Nations agency is making available to public decision-makers a toolkit with a shared reference framework of educational content on the ocean.