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IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC)

Advancing knowledge and cooperation for a healthy ocean and prosperous society

Western Pacific Nations Unite to Champion Ocean Science and Sustainability

From March 11-13, 2025, nearly 100 delegates from 13 nations across the Western Pacific convened in Tokyo for the Fifteenth Intergovernmental Session of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC-XV).
Hosted by the Government of Japan through its Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the session gathered national ocean agencies and marine scientific communities to foster ocean science-policy interface, advance ocean science, enhance technical and institutional capacities, accelerate marine spatial planning, and develop ocean science-based solutions for sustainable development of marine and coastal resources.

A Bold Vision for Ocean Science and Sustainability

Opened by Yoshinori Horiuchi, Director-General of the Research and Development Bureau at MEXT, representing the host country, the session set the stage for mainstream discussions about advancing ocean science to address national and international challenges. This was further reinforced by a keynote from two Early Career Ocean Professionals, showcasing the power of artificial intelligence for ocean research and sustainability.
With ocean facing increasing pressure from climate change, biodiversity loss, and escalating human impacts, the meeting took place amid a complex global geopolitical landscape. Yet, delegates stood firm in their collective commitment to strengthening international cooperation in ocean science and sustainable ocean planning and management in the region.
As the global ocean governance is rapidly evolving with international agreements and frameworks, such as the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030, Ocean Decade), the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and the International Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), the Sub-Commission has been at the forefront of assiting Member States in the development and implementation of these agreements and frameworks.

Pioneering Regional Initiatives for Global Impacts

Member States applauded the Sub-Commission’s developments and achievements over the last intersessional period, in aligning ocean science with societal needs, fostering robust international cooperation mechanisms to enhance collaboration among Member States, and co-designing and co-implementing a wide range of international programmes, projects, working groups. These initiatives are structured around three key areas of actions: ocean-based solutions to climate change, marine biodiversity conservation and ocean ecosystem health for the blue economy, and knowledge development for emerging issues such as gas hydrate and small island research and development.

Role in the UN Ocean Decade

The Sub-Commission has been playing a leading role in the region in mobilizing member states, various institutions and diverse ocean stakeholders in the UN Ocean Decade. Over the past two years, the Sub-Commission spearheaded the organization of the 2nd Ocean Decade Regional Conference and 11th WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference (22-25 April 2024, Bangkok, Thailand), attended by more than 1200 ocean practitioners from over 40 countries, setting a new benchmark in the history of the Sub-Commission and the regional collaboration.
In addition, it is also driving five Decade Actions, namely: UN 21-“Accelerate Marine Spatial Planning in the Western Pacific”, UN 22- “Stem the tide of Asia’s riverine plastic emission into the ocean”, UN 23- “Accelerating capacity development transformations in the Western Pacific – Regional Network of Training and Research Centers (RTRCs) on Marine Science”; UN 24 entitled “Second Cooperative Study of Kuroshio and Adjacent Regions – from its sciences to human well-beings”, and the recently developed UN 39-“Ocean Solutions in the East Asian Seas”. On the margin of the Session, A side event, the National Decade Committees (NDCs) Forum, provided a platform for countries to share experiences and challenges in advancing their national ocean decade initiatives.
The session adopted the regional Action Framework for Accelerating Marine Spatial Planning in the Western Pacific (2025-2030); and, based on the evaluation results, endorsed the establishment of a CSK-2 Support Office hosted by the Laoshan Laboratory in Qingdao. The Sub-Commission also encouraged Member States and their institutions to host additional regional training and research centers that align with regional priority issues and their specialized areas.

Actions for the GBF and BBNJ Agreement

Given the Western Pacific’s status as a global marine biodiversity hotspot and the need to strengthen ocean science capacity for effective implementation of GBF and BBNJ Agreement, the session reinforced the essential role of the Sub-Commission in supporting Member States for the effective implementation of their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs). To drive this forward, an open-ended intersessional task force on BBNJ was established to facilitate information exchange of BBNJ movements, and identify potential actions and/or opportunities that the Sub-Commission shall take to assist Member States in improving their scientific knowledge, developing research capacity, and transferring ocean technology.

Senior Government Officials Roundtable

A highlight of the session was the Senior Government Officials Roundtable (SGOs Roundtable), culminating in the adoption of a joint Tokyo Statement – a collective pledge to harness the power of ocean science in tackling pressing sustainability challenges and ensuring responsible stewardship of marine resources.

Capacity Development and Ocean Literacy

Capacity development and ocean literacy are key means of implementation for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Member States also examined the capacity development approach and activities that the Sub-Commission has been taking, and expressed their unanimous support and willingness to contribute to its co-designed and co-developed capacity development activities, in particular the IOC Regional Network of Training and Research Centers on Marine Science (RTRCs), currently consisting of six Regional Training and Research Centers focusing on marine biodiversity and ecosystem health, marine plastic pollution, marine toxins and seafood security, coral reef restoration and MPAs, ocean dynamics and climate, and coastal contaminant monitoring & marine innovative technology. In addition, the session also decided to establish an open-ended task force on ocean literacy to drive the development of ocean literacy in the region.

New initiatives in response to emerging needs

The Session established four new WESTPAC initiatives: two new working groups focusing on seagrass research and blue carbon ecosystem restoration, respectively; a new program dedicated to the predication of marine ecosystem changes in the northwest Pacific Ocean; and a new project examining methane flux and their impacts on climate and ecosystems.

The Session finally adopted in principle a biennial workplan of the Sub-Commission for the period 2026–2027 valued at USD 6 million, outlining priority programs and activities for the coming years. The workplan serves as a guide for the activities that the Sub-Commission would like to jointly promote and seek funding from various sources in support of their implementation. Additionally, new officers were elected for the next intersessional period, and it was decided that the next session will take place in early 2027.

Looking Ahead: A Collective Commitment to Ocean Sustainability

As the Fifteenth Intergovernmental Session of WESTPAC concluded, the Sub-Commission will continue to play a vital role in shaping a sustainable and resilient ocean for generations to come. The momentum generated in Tokyo will propel national and international efforts forward, ensuring that ocean science remains at the heart of solutions for a thriving planet.
On the UNESCO website:

Western Pacific nations launch new push to protect ocean biodiversity

View related event:
Fifteenth Intergovernmental Session of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC-XV), Tokyo, Japan, 11-13 March 2025

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