IOC Sub Commission

for Africa and the Adjacent Island States - IOCAFRICA

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UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) promotes international cooperation and coordinates programmes in marine research, services, observation systems, hazard mitigation, and capacity development in order to understand and effectively manage the resources of the ocean and coastal areas. By applying this knowledge, the Commission aims to improve the governance, management, institutional capacity, and decision-making processes of its Member States with respect to marine resources and climate variability and to foster sustainable development of the marine environment, in particular in developing countries.

Sustainable Blue Economy

ioc-africa

Business-as-usual growth of economic activities in the ocean is not an option for the future. The world’s ocean is increasingly exposed to multiple environmental stressors (climate change, marine pollution, ocean acidification) due to human activities, resulting in reduced biodiversity and the degradation of marine and coastal environments. Adaptation strategies and new business models built on scientific advances and enabling technologies are urgently needed to inform policy decisions for the sustainable management of ocean resources.

Feature Video

World Oceans Day, celebrated each year on June 8 for over 25 years, is part of a wider effort to raise awareness and inform the public of these issues. Linked to human wellbeing and to our very survival on Earth, the conservation and sustainable use of our ocean is more than ever a vital necessity.