2nd UN Ocean Decade Regional Conference and 11th WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference

The ocean, seas, and coastal areas in the Western Pacific are of tremendous ecological, social and economic significance. They exert a major influence on regional and global climate, constitute the epicentre of world marine biodiversity, contribute significantly to the world’s seafood supply, and host major shipping routes in world maritime transportation.

The ocean therefore must play a central role in the world’s effort towards sustainable development.

Given all that is at stake, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030; the ‘UN Ocean Decade’), which was proclaimed in 2017 by the United Nations 72nd session of the General Assembly, provides a critically important convening framework for scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to co-design ocean science solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

The UN Ocean Decade Regional Kick-off Conference for the Western Pacific and its adjacent areas, held from 25 through 26 November 2021, marked the emergence of early region-wide efforts in the development and implementation of substantive Decade Actions. Three years hence, the 2nd Decade Regional Conference & the 11th WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference, will be convened and hosted by the Government of Thailand and co-organized with the UNESCO/IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) at Berkeley Hotel Pratunam, Bangkok, from 22 through 25 April 2024.

The combined conferences will bring together a wide range of ocean stakeholders, including governments, research communities/academia, private and business sectors, philanthropic foundations, UN agencies, NGOs and civil society, to present the current status of ocean knowledge, take stock of the first three years’ achievements of the Ocean Decade Actions, identify future priorities, and refresh and further catalyze partnerships and the implementation of concrete actions for transformative ocean-based solutions to sustainability challenges in today’s Asia-Pacific region, such as resource depletion; marine pollution; biodiversity loss and habitat degradation; climate change and ocean acidification; and natural hazards.

The combined conferences will comprise three components: 1) Scientific Sessions, to present the latest science development/knowledge via scientific oral and poster presentations; 2) Decade Action Incubators, to facilitate the development of new UN Decade Action proposals; and, 3) Decade Action Workshops, to enable the UN Decade Actions (programmes and projects), particularly those focused on the region, to review their implementation progress, develop new partnerships and cooperation, and deliberate on the plans of action over the next period.

You will love our motivational keynote speeches by invited speakers from different ocean stakeholder groups to share their insider knowledge and fresh perspectives about the Ocean Decade, ocean science for policy development, coral reef resilience, ocean deoxygenation, ocean business to power science actions, and how early career ocean professionals and women in ocean science break down barriers to be active stewards of the marine environment.

To catalyze transformative ocean science solutions for sustainable development, you are encouraged to contribute your ideas and actions to the development of potential Ocean Decade Programs or Projects at the 11 Decade Action Incubators featuring citizen science, coral reef resilience, blue carbon, deoxygenation, remote sensing applications, harmful algal bloom management, MPA management, and ocean solutions to coastal ecosystem sustainability.

Likewise, the 10 Ocean Decade Action Workshops will facilitate your engagement in the endorsed Decade Programs and Projects which have a focus on this region, including Ocean Prediction, Global Estuaries Monitoring, Marine Spatial Planning, Asia’s riverine plastic emissions, the 2nd Cooperative Study of Kuroshio, Marine Biodiversity Monitoring and Research, Ocean Literary, and Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs).

We cordially invite you to share your latest ocean knowledge by submitting your abstract to any of the 25 Scientific Sessions structured around ocean processes and climate, marine biodiversity and seafood safety, ocean and human health, and emerging and cross-cutting ocean science issues.

If you are interested in the science for local-level environmental management, ecosystem conservation and sustainable use in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand, you may also submit an abstract and join the SCS SAP Special Forum, convened by the UNEP/GEP SCS SAP project (“Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand”).

(Abstract submission deadline: 30 November 2023)

Please join us for a 4-day, in-person event. 

• To register (Early registration ends on 1 February 2024.)
• Conference layout: Keynotes, Scientific Sessions & Special Forum, Ocean Decade Action Incubators, and Ocean Decade Action Workshops
• What’s included: Coffee and Lunch

The IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESPTAC) has a small amount of funding available to support participant travel. Please register and indicate if you would require support to attend this event. Priority will be given to students and early-career ocean professionals (ECOPs).

Please see more information from the announcement on IOC/WESTPAC website.

Conference secretariat contact:

IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC):
Nachapa Saransuth
IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC)
Decade Coordination Office for the Western Pacific and Adjacent Areas
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO
Tel: +66 2 1411288; Fax: +66 2 1439245
Email: iocwestpac(at)unesco.org

Host country secretariat contact:
Chanakarn Thammavichan
Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR)
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Bangkok, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 1414690; Fax: +66 2 1439259
Email: iocwestpac2024(at)gmail.com