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Hosted by the Government of Thailand and co-organized with the UNESCO/IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC), the 2nd UN Ocean Decade Regional Conference in conjunction with the 11th WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference will take place from 22 through 25 April 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The ocean, seas, and coastal areas in the Western Pacific are of tremendous ecological, social and economic significance. They exert a major influence on regional and global climate, constitute the epicentre of world marine biodiversity, contribute significantly to the world’s seafood supply, and host major shipping routes in world maritime transportation.
The ocean therefore must play a central role in the world’s effort towards sustainable development. Given all that is at stake, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030; the ‘UN Ocean Decade’), which was proclaimed in 2017 by the United Nations 72nd session of the General Assembly, provides a critically important convening framework for scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to co-design ocean science solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda.
The UN Ocean Decade Regional Kick-off Conference for the Western Pacific and its adjacent areas, held from 25 through 26 November 2021, marked the emergence of early region-wide efforts in the development and implementation of substantive Decade Actions.
Three years hence, in April 2024, the 2nd Decade Regional Conference & the 11th WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference, will be convened – in person only – in Bangkok, Thailand, and will bring together a wide range of ocean stakeholders, including governments, research communities/academia, private and business sectors, philanthropic foundations, UN agencies, NGOs and civil society, to present the current status of ocean knowledge, take stock of the first three years’ achievements of the Ocean Decade Actions, identify future priorities, and refresh and further catalyze partnerships and the implementation of concrete actions for transformative ocean-based solutions to sustainability challenges in today’s Asia-Pacific region, such as resource depletion; marine pollution; biodiversity loss and habitat degradation; climate change and ocean acidification; and natural hazards.
The combined conferences will comprise three components:
1) Scientific Sessions, to present the latest science development/knowledge via scientific oral and poster presentations;
2) Decade Action Incubators, to facilitate the development of new UN Decade Action proposals; and,
3) Decade Action Workshops, to enable the UN Decade Actions (programmes and projects), particularly those focused on the region, to review their implementation progress, develop new partnerships and cooperation, and deliberate on the plans of action over the next period.
We cordially invite all professional stakeholders to be part of this exciting event by submitting proposals for Scientific Sessions, Decade Action Incubators, and/or Decade Action Workshops.
Conference secretariat contact
IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC):
Nachapa Saransuth
IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC)
Decade Coordination Office for the Western Pacific and Adjacent Areas
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO
Tel: +66 2 1411288; Fax: +66 2 1439245
Email: iocwestpac@unesco.org
Host country secretariat contact:
Chanakarn Thammavichan
Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR)
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Bangkok, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 1414690; Fax: +66 2 1439259
Email: iocwestpac2024@gmail.com
