Climate change continued its relentless march in 2020, which is on track to be one of the three warmest years on record. 2011-2020 will be the warmest decade on record, with the warmest six years all being since 2015, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

It is with deep regret that IOC has to report the passing away of Arthur (Art) Alexiou on 16 June 2020.

Coastal blue carbon ecosystems - mangroves, seagrass meadows, tidal salt marshes - mitigate the effects of climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere and ocean.

New York / Geneva, 10 March 2020 - The tell-tale physical signs of climate change such as increasing land and ocean heat, accelerating sea level rise and melting ice are highlighted in a new report compiled by the World Meteorological Organization and an extensive network of partners.

GOOS Observations Coordination Group launches a new Ocean Observing System Report Card and introduces the rebranding of OceanOPS (previously JCOMMOPS) along with its first-ever 5-year Strategic Plan (2021-2025), phased with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (“Ocean Decade”).

A Data Rescue Working Group will be established under the auspices of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and its network Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS) to strengthen international cooperation in rescue of historical sea level data.

It is with great sadness that the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO acknowledges the passing away of Professor Doctor Biliana Cicin-Sain on 1 September 2020.

Climate change has not stopped for COVID-19. Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere are at record levels and continue to increase. Emissions are heading in the direction of pre-pandemic levels following a temporary decline caused by the lockdown and economic slowdown. The world is set to see its warmest five years on record – in a trend which is likely to continue - and is not on track to meet agreed targets to keep global temperature increase well below 2 °C or at 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.

The world’s leading organizations for ocean and climate sciences, UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) marked this year’s World Oceans Day (8 June) with a celebration of twenty years of partnership delivering innovative and impactful solutions in operational oceanography and marine meteorology.