IOC Sub Commission for Africa and the Adjacent Island States

An unprecedented analysis on Global Harmful Algal Blooms launched by IOC

An unprecedented analysis of almost 10,000 Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) events worldwide over the past 33 years was launched by UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.

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.

The Ocean Decade Exhibition: Transforming the image of the ocean to raise awareness about its importance and inspire action through creativity

The Ocean Agency together with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, Adobe, HP Inc. and other key partners announced the official launch of the Ocean Decade Exhibition – a global exhibition of creativity that aims to raise awareness of the importance of the ocean and inspire greater ocean knowledge and conservation during the pivotal UN Ocean Decade for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (the Ocean Decade).

The exhibition kicked off this month in the center of Paris at UNESCO headquarters. Over the course of the next months, it will then travel to other UN locations, beginning with UN Headquarters in Geneva, and major conferences and events. The artworks are also being made freely available so anyone can curate and create their own exhibitions. Micro-exhibitions are already being planned and displayed in venues ranging from schools in Paris, to universities and major aquariums across the globe.

Between Past and Future: Towards the Ocean Generation

The ocean is the largest ecosystem on the planet, it connects the world together and human beings depend on it for their livelihood. 8 June was officially designated as World Oceans Day by the UN General Assembly to raise awareness on the preservation and sustainable use of the ocean for all and future generations. Every year, different events are held worldwide with different themes engaging the global community to actively preserve the ocean.

Eco Magazine: Launch of a Special Digital Issue on the Ocean Decade

The Ocean Decade marks a new era of ocean knowledge and understanding, and offers ocean stakeholders an unprecedented opportunity to drive global change. On 28 May 2021, ECO Magazine and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO revealed that the latest issue of the magazine: a special digital issue on the Ocean Decade.

From citizen science projects and innovative solutions to diverse perspectives on inclusivity and leadership, this edition has it all! Click the link below to know more about inspiring projects implemented to deliver the science we need for the ocean we want: enjoy your reading now!

https://unesco.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=75c69bf185fb2be069850f6ee&id=372554af72&e=41a43d092f

Between Past and Future: Towards the Ocean Generation

Within the context of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe in close collaboration with the project office of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC) organided a one day event titled “Between Past and Present: Towards the Ocean Generation” to celebrate this year’s World Oceans Day on 8 June in La Maddalena, Sardinia (Italy). The event focused on accentuating the importance of the ocean to the planet, critically involving and educating young people on this issue. It was an eventful day of roundtables talks, debates and interactive activities to communicate the invaluable role of the ocean in our lives. The goal was to inspire a conscious generation for the future and the ocean.

Guests and speakers in attendance came from a variety of professions; researchers, scientists, institutional representatives, seafarers, chefs, entrepreneurs, actors, journalists, and artists. The event kicked off with introductory speeches, among them from Vladimir Ryabinin, IOC-UNESCO Executive Secretary and Assistant Director General of UNESCO; Franco Bernabè, President of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO; and, Rosalia Santoleri, President of the Italian Oceanographic Commission. The event was livestreamed from Sardinia with guests and speakers at the location.

Launch of Ocean Literacy Training Courses to support the Decade 07 April 2021

Free Ocean Literacy Training Courses, hosted by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, with the contribution of the Government of Sweden and the Government of Flanders, empowered relevant stakeholders to understand and promote the objectives of the Ocean Decade.

As recognizing the role that education plays in increasing awareness about the state of the ocean is a priority, these trainings generated a broad dialogue to better identify how to transform ocean knowledge into actions. A total of 56 speakers from 29 countries participated in these trainings which gathered 87 participants (government officials, educators, the media, and the public) from 35 countries.

All courses provided an overview of the seven Ocean Literacy principles and highlighted the challenges the ocean is facing. Sustainable solutions were presented through successful case-studies such as the Ocean Rescue campaign of Sky News, a programme launched in 2017 to make people aware of plastic pollution; or the Educational Passages, a worldwide project where students are given the opportunity to deploy and track their very own mini boats.