IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC)
Advancing knowledge and cooperation for a healthy ocean and prosperous society
Advancing knowledge and cooperation for a healthy ocean and prosperous society
The ocean plays a critical role in sustaining life on Earth, regulating climate, producing oxygen, supporting biodiversity, and providing livelihoods to billions of people. Yet, public understanding of the ocean’s influence on humanity and humanity’s impact on the ocean remains limited. Ocean Literacy has therefore emerged as a transformative approach to empower individuals, communities, and institutions with the knowledge and values necessary to act responsibly for the ocean’s health and sustainability.
Recognizing the urgency of advancing ocean awareness and action, the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) established an Intersessional Task Force on Ocean Literacy during the Fifteenth Intergovernmental Session of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC-XV) at Tokyo in 11-13 March 2025. The Task Force brings together experts from government bodies, academia, educators, civil society, and the private sector, with the objective of providing strategic and action-oriented recommendations on the scoping, coordination, and implementation of ocean literacy portfolio of activities in the region, as well
as develop, promote and support ocean literacy initiatives tailored to the region’s cultural, economic, and ecological contexts.
The kick-off online workshop of the Task Force will formally launch its work and expert group. Structured into two half-day sessions, the workshop will introduce the Task Force’s vision and objectives, share existing efforts in Member States, identify regional gaps and opportunities, and co-develop a joint workplan to guide collective efforts on ocean literacy through 2025 and beyond.
Workshop Objectives
This online workshop serves as the official kickoff of the Task Force and its Expert Group, and the workshop will:
Workshop Outline
The two half-day workshop will combine expert presentations and interactive discussions, including:
Session 1: Briefing and Insights Sharing
Session 2: Brainstorming and Co-development of Workplan
Contact
Important Links
| 1. | Flyer |