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United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030)

The science we need for the ocean we want.

Proclaimed in 2017 by the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) (‘the Ocean Decade’) seeks to stimulate ocean science and knowledge generation to reverse the decline of the state of the ocean system and catalyse new opportunities for sustainable development of this massive marine ecosystem.

The vision of the Ocean Decade is ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’.

The Ocean Decade provides a convening framework for scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to develop the scientific knowledge and the partnerships needed to accelerate and harness advances in ocean science to achieve a better understanding of the ocean system, and deliver science-based solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The UN General Assembly mandated UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to coordinate the preparations and implementation of the Decade.

UN Ocean Decade Logo

That is why the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development: to give us the solid science we need to make sound decisions in the future.

Peter ThomsonUN Special Envoy for the Decade of Ocean
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)

As the lead agency for the Ocean Decade, UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission is leveraging a global network of experts, scientists, and partners to generate ocean knowledge and foster international cooperation in ocean science for sustainable development.

IOC Hero
Ocean Decade Website
Ocean Decade Network

The online home of the Ocean Decade community

Key Documents

UN Resolution: Decade of Ocean Science

(Extract from UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/72/73)

IOC-UNESCO Resolution

UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development

Ocean Decade Implementation Plan

A global framework for delivering the ocean we want.

Ocean Decade Progress Report 2021-2022

First Progress Report of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030.

Contact information

Are you unable to find the resource you are looking for? Ask us: oceandecade@unesco.org. We will be happy to provide any and all information and resources you may need to get involved