The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2020. The Commission was created within UNESCO to promote coordinated international research about the global ocean and its various basins, based on the pioneer experiences of the International Geophysical Year (1957-58) and the first International Indian Ocean Expedition.
The 60th Anniversary of IOC is an opportunity to take stock of what has been achieved and look forward to a UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) filled with challenges and opportunities.