Advancing knowledge and cooperation for a healthy ocean and prosperous society
Hangzhou, China, 10-12 November 2026
The 16th Intergovernmental Session of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC-XVI) will be hosted by the Government of China, through the Ministry of Natural Resources and its Second Institute of Oceanography, in Hangzhou, China, from 10 to 12 November 2026.
As the principal governing body of the Sub-Commission, the Intergovernmental Session will bring together national competent agencies, marine scientific communities, and other relevant ocean stakeholders from across the region to foster ocean science-policy interface, review progress, enhance institutional capacities, promote the transfer of ocean technology, and shape priorities—particularly over the next two years—for developing ocean science solutions that support sustainable development in the Western Pacific and its adjacent areas.
The meeting will serve as an important statutory platform for strengthening regional collaboration in ocean-based solutions to climate change, marine biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration, and sustainable ocean planning and management. Member States will also deliberate on the Sub-Commission’s contribution to, and engagement in, relevant international instruments and frameworks, including the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).
Further details, including the provisional agenda, reports and information for the session will be shared electronically in advance on the WESTPAC website. WESTPAC-XVI will also involve elections for Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons, with nomination details and forms provided in the IOC Circular Letter no. 3077.
Should you have any questions or require any assistance on the logistic arrangements, please feel free to contact
info-scwestpac16@sio.org.cn with a copy to n.saransuth@unesco.org
Relevant Documents and Forms
- Provisional timetable (as of 20 September 2026)
- Provisional agenda (as of 12 September 2026)
- Logistical Information Note
- Hotel Reservation Form (word file)
- Registration Form (excel file)
| Agenda | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. | Opening | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1.1 | Welcoming and Opening Remarks | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1.2 | Keynote
Advancing Ocean Science and Technology in the Era of Artificial Intelligence Prof. Dake Chen (陈大可), Academician, Chinese Academy of Sciences & Senior Researchers, Second Institute of Oceanography (SIO), Ministry of Natural Resources, China Professor Dake Chen is a distinguished physical oceanographer. His research focuses on ocean–atmosphere interactions, ocean circulation dynamics, climate variability and predictability, particularly the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). He has been actively engaged in advancing ocean observation, numerical modelling, and climate prediction capabilities. His broad scientific expertise and international research experience offer valuable perspectives on the future development of ocean science, particularly in strengthening ocean observing and prediction systems, advancing international scientific cooperation, and translating scientific knowledge into societal benefits. |
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| 2. | Organization of the Session | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2.1 | Adoption of the Agenda
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| 2.2 | Conduction of the Session
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| 3. | Statutory Reports | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3.1 | Statement of the Chairperson, including Key Governance, Policy and Strategic Developments | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3.2 | Report by the Head of WESTPAC Office on Intersessional Programme Development and Implementation, including the Resource Mobilization and the Operation of the WESTPAC Office and the Decade Coordination Office
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| 3.3 | Recent Developments within UNESCO, IOC, and Their Relevance to WESTPAC | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3.3.1 | IOC Executive Secretary’s Report, including IOC Governance and Management Processes | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3.3.2 | IOC and the Future of the Ocean, including the Phase II Report and Proposal for Phase III, and Vision for strengthening IOCAFRICA and other IOC Regional Subsidiary Bodies
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| 3.3.3 | IOC Draft Programme and Budget for 2028-2029 (44 C/5) – Preliminary Proposal from the IOC Secretariat | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4. | Strategic and Programme Development | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4.1 | Role of IOC in the Implementation of the BBNJ Agreement | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4.2 | IOC Implementation of its Strategy on Sustainable Ocean Planning and Management (SOPM) Strategy | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4.3 | UN Ocean Decade Global Development | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4.4 | The Sub-Commission’s Engagement and Contribution to the UN Ocean Decade | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4.4.1 | An Overview of the WESTPAC efforts, including its hosted Decade Coordination Office | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4.4.2 | UN 21: Accelerate Marine Spatial Planning in the Western Pacific and its Adjacent Areas, including the MSP Regional Action Framework (2025-2030) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4.4.3 | UN 22: Stem the Tide of Asia’s Riverine Plastic Emission into the Ocean | |||||||||||||||||||
| Informal workshop on the “IOC and the Future of Ocean”, 11 November 2026, 09:00-12:30 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.4.4 | UN 23: Accelerating Transformations in Capacity Development in the Western Pacific – Regional Network of Training and Research Centers (RTRCs) on Marine Science | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4.4.5 | UN 24: Explore the Strongest Ocean Current in the Western Pacific: the 2nd Cooperative Study of Kuroshio and Adjacent Regions | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4.4.6 | UN 39: Ocean Solutions in the East Asian Seas | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4.4.7 | UN 42: The WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference & UN Ocean Decade Regional Conferences (2021-2030) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4.4.8 | UN 46: Collaborations for NWP Marine Ecosystem Prediction (COSMEC) to be presented under 5.7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5. | Implementation of Decisions Taken at the Last Session (WESTPAC-XV, 11-13 March 2025, Tokyo, Japan) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5.1 | Preparations of the 3rd UN Ocean Decade Regional Conference & 12th WESTPAC IMSC (20-23 April 2027, the Philippines) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5.2 | Task Force on BBNJ (2025-2027) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5.3 | Task Force on Ocean Literacy (2025-2027) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5.4 | Working Group on Blue Carbon Ecosystem Restoration with an initial focus on Mangroves (2025-2028) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5.5 | Working Group on Seagrass Research, Monitoring, and Conservation (2025-2028) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5.6 | Methane Fluxes and their Impacts on Climate and Ecosystem in the Indo-Pacific Region (2025-2029) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5.7 | Prediction of Marine Ecosystem Changes in the Northwest Pacific Ocean (2025-2030) (transformed as UN 46) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 6. | Review and Evaluation of the Latest Development of Regional Programmes, Projects and Working Groups Aligned with the IOC High Level Objectives (HLOs)
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| 7. | Review of the Draft Regional Blueprint | |||||||||||||||||||
| 8. | Establishment of new WESTPAC Programmes/Projects/Working Groups | |||||||||||||||||||
| 9. | WESTPAC Programme and Budget for the Period 2028-2029
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| 10. | Key Conclusions to Inform Phase 3 Consultation Process for ‘IOC and the Future of the Ocean’ | |||||||||||||||||||
| 11. | Elections of the Officers of the Sub-Commission | |||||||||||||||||||
| 12. | Date and Place of the Next Session | |||||||||||||||||||
| 13. | Other Matters | |||||||||||||||||||
| 14. | Adoption of Action Points, and Recommendations if any | |||||||||||||||||||
| 15. | Closure | |||||||||||||||||||
| Logistical Information Note | ||||||
| 1. | Hotel Reservation Form (word file) | |||||
| 2. | Registration Form (excel file) | |||||