Event Description

The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) (hereinafter referred to as the UN Ocean Decade) is upon us. Let’s gather together to share ideas, and harness the power of ocean science to protect the health of our ocean!

 

The ocean covers over 70% of the planet, providing enormous benefits to sustain humanity and the planet Earth. To protect and preserve the ocean and all it sustains, the UN Ocean Decade provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to strengthen international cooperation needed to develop scientific research and innovative technologies that can connect ocean science with the needs of society.

 

The Regional Kickoff Conference will mark the launch of the UN Ocean Decade in the Western Pacific and its adjacent areas, and represent the beginning of the region-wide efforts in a substantive development and implementation of Decade Actions. It aims to catalyze partnerships among various ocean stakeholder communities[1] in the region, and initiate co-design of transformative ocean science solutions to the Ocean Decade Challenges in order to achieve the Ocean Decade Outcomes.

 

The two-day conference will be composed of: (a) a high-level segment featuring high level commitments from UN agencies, governments, business and private sectors, and other stakeholder groups; and (b) a series of interactive side events entitled “Decade Action Incubators” aiming to facilitate the development of potential Decade Actions such as Decade Programmes and Projects, and key cross-cutting issues including capacity development and Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs).

 

The Conference is organized by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO through its Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC), and hosted by the Government of Thailand through its Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, in partnership with a wide range of partners in the region.

[1] including academia and research (natural and social science), UN bodies and international organizations, governments, industry and business sectors, NGOs and civil society, the media, philanthropic and corporate foundations, local communities, and early career ocean professionals (ECOPs)

Contact

For any inquiries please email

iocwestpac@unesco.org

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