News

A new report sheds light on the 15 January 2022 tsunami that followed the eruption of the Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha’apai volcanoes in Tonga.

On 19 December 2022, over 190 countries agreed on a historic framework for conserving global biodiversity at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The new framework identifies ambitious goals for addressing current challenges to managing and conserving biodiversity - terrestrial and marine - but to do this we will need a step change in the delivery of ocean information.

From October to November, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO gathered youth with the only requirement: an endless love for the ocean and the will to act and bring about change. Within the frame of the Ocean Decade and as part of the Decennio del Mare, the "Young Blue Minds" project seeks to build a network of young "blue minds" aged between 18 and 35 and offer opportunities for collaboration by giving them visibility and mentorship.

On 25-26 November 2022, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO launched “Blue Friday”, an ocean-friendly alternative to Black Friday. The initiative aimed to promote sustainable consumption and protect the Mediterranean Sea and the ocean. Over 2 days, different cultural activities were organised, including a panel on responsible consumption, visits to artisanal ateliers, and book and theatre presentations, raising awareness of the impact of the choices we make on the ocean.

The Assembly adopted by consensus the draft resolution “2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”, deciding to convene the next UN Ocean Conference in France, in June 2025.

UNESCO organised a three-day Winter School in Venice to rethink how to improve the quality of ocean-related partnerships and collaborations in the framework of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030, and the EU4Ocean Coalition.

UNESCO and the National Institute of Fisheries Research (INRH) of Morocco join forces to begin developing a national early warning system (EWS) for Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) for the North African nation.

The IMOCA sailing class and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO are renewing their partnership agreement until 2025, in close collaboration with the OceanOPS Operations Centre.

To celebrate the legacy of Prince Albert I in oceanography and science, Monaco signed a partnership with UNESCO to provide financial support for young scientists in their research programmes.