ocean

World Oceans Day

8 June

World Oceans Day 2024: Awaken New Depths

The ocean sustains humanity and all life on earth. Nonetheless, despite our utter reliance on it, we have only ever explored ~10%. While we know little of the ocean compared to its immense vastness, what we do know is that the consequences of our actions are evident throughout its waters. Our relationship to the ocean needs to urgently change, and our efforts have only skimmed the surface to date. To motivate widespread momentum for the ocean, we need to awaken new depths

In celebration of the 2024 event, the United Nations are joining forces with decision makers, scientists, private sector executives, civil society representatives, indigenous communities, celebrities and youth activists to underscore how earth is more than it may seem and finally put the ocean first.

ocean

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, in collaboration with the Government of Italy, the Municipality of Venice, and the Prada Group, will host the first Ocean Literacy World Conference on June 7-8 in the city of Venice, Italy. This Conference will bring together international experts in ocean literacy and ocean education from across various sectors. 

ocean literacy world conference

State of the Ocean Report 2024

The State of the Ocean Report has the ambition to inform policymakers about the state of the ocean and to stimulate research and policy actions towards ‘the ocean we need for the future we want’, contributing to the 2030 Agenda and in particular SDG 14, as well as other global processes such as the UNFCCC, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

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"UNESCO, with its Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), will make the most of these ten years so that the international community develops knowledge about the ocean and protects it sustainably."

UNESCO Director-General
Audrey AzoulayDirector-General of UNESCO
Message from Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Oceans Day, 8 June 2023
2008
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What UNESCO does for the ocean

UNESCO Ocean Programmes
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
UN Ocean Decade 2021-2030
Ocean Literacy
Tsunami Ready Programme
Underwater Cultural Heritage
World Heritage Marine Programme
Environmental DNA

"The United Nations Ocean Decade 2021-2030 is now underway and has given rise to hundreds of innovative Ocean Decade Actions to generate a veritable ocean knowledge revolution and revitalize the ocean through collective action."

UNESCO Director-General
Audrey AzoulayDirector-General of UNESCO
Coral Reef

Resources

Resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly
United Nations' World Oceans Day Website
Past Edition
All International Days