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 first-ever global statistical analysis examined ~9,500 HABs events over 33 years and found that the harm caused by HABs rises in step with growth of the aquaculture industry and marine exploitation and calls for more research on linkages.

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.

The European Commission’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) recently published an interactive communication guide, developed in close cooperation between experts and communicators of the European Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) and MSPglobal platforms.

Key findings and recommendations of the strategic positioning evaluation of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), commissioned by the UNESCO Internal Oversight Service.

Please read the full evaluation report here.

Watch video about the key findings.

The President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkır, will convene a High-Level Thematic Debate on the Ocean and Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water on Tuesday, 1 June 2021, at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

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.