New Call for Decade Actions No. 09/2025 targets critical ocean knowledge gaps and the science-policy nexus

Effective policymaking relies on timely, relevant, and accessible knowledge. To turn science into impact, it must not only address pressing challenges but also resonate with decision-makers across sectors and regions. Building on the priorities of the Barcelona Statement, the new Call for Decade Actions No. 09/2025 welcomes initiatives that address regional and thematic gaps in ocean science to support informed decision-making for sustainable development.

With the 2025 UN Ocean Conference on the horizon, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (‘Ocean Decade’) continues to scale up scientific knowledge, innovative solutions, and partnerships to support policy development and ocean governance.

Through its Barcelona Statement, which synthesises the outcomes of the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference, the Ocean Decade has translated the most pressing ocean issues into actionable steps for the global ocean community. This roadmap is guiding efforts to boost co-designed solutions, address infrastructure needs, and strengthen the science-policy-society interface.

Building on this foundation, the current Call for Decade Actions No. 09/2025 aims to accelerate ocean action in the priority areas identified in the Barcelona Statement and bolster the science-policy interface. The Call will mobilize new initiatives, strengthen existing Decade Actions, and increase coordination across Decade Programmes, ensuring continued progress toward the Ocean Decade’s ambitious goals and its lasting legacy beyond 2030.

Also, as part of this Call, Programmes and Projects that enhance scientific cooperation in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic are welcomed. Where relevant, such initiatives should highlight links to the soon to be launched Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences (2025 – 2034) and the International Polar Year (2032 – 2033).

Structure of Call for Decade Actions No. 09/2025

Part I – Expression of Interest for Decade Programmes

The process for proposing Decade Programmes involves two stages. First, applicants are invited to submit a short Expression of Interest that outlines:

• How the proposed Programme addresses relevant Decade Challenges, in line with the priorities of the Barcelona Statement and the broader Vision 2030 process;
• How it plans to collaborate with or create synergy among existing endorsed Decade Programmes;
• How the science and knowledge generated will support decision-making and contribute to sustainable development.

Programmes that enhance scientific cooperation in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic are welcomed. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full Programme proposal following a review process by the Decade Coordination Unit and Decade Advisory Board.

Part II – Ocean Decade Projects

At the Project level, 30 endorsed Decade Programmes – nearly half of all currently endorsed Programmes – are inviting submissions for Decade Projects. Please refer to the list below and Annex I of the Guidance Note for Applicants for full details.

Part III – Ocean Decade Contributions

The Call is soliciting submissions of financial or in-kind resources to support the Ocean Decade and/or the Decade Actions. Please see Annexes in the Guidance Note for more information.

How to take part in Call for Decade Actions No. 09/2025

Interested parties should complete and submit the relevant online form on the Call for Decade Actions No. 09/2025 webpage. Please note that there are several different online forms and different deadlines depending on the type of Action you are submitting. 

During the preparation of submissions, we strongly encourage interested parties to consult and, where possible, collaborate with other institutions and partners working on common issues.

We held two virtual Q&A sessions for applicants. Watch the recordings and access the presentation shown during these sessions here.

Click here for more information on the Call for Decade Actions No. 09/2025

For additional information or queries, please contact oceandecade@unesco.org and include “Call for Decade Actions No. 09/2025” in the subject line.

Cover photo © CSIRO

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About the Ocean Decade:

Proclaimed in 2017 by the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) (‘the Ocean Decade’) seeks to stimulate ocean science and knowledge generation to reverse the decline of the state of the ocean system and catalyse new opportunities for sustainable development of this massive marine ecosystem. The vision of the Ocean Decade is ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’. The Ocean Decade provides a convening framework for scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to develop the scientific knowledge and the partnerships needed to accelerate and harness advances in ocean science to achieve a better understanding of the ocean system, and deliver science-based solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The UN General Assembly mandated UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to coordinate the preparations and implementation of the Decade.

About the UNESCO-IOC:

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (UNESCO-IOC) promotes international cooperation in marine sciences to improve management of the ocean, coasts and marine resources. The IOC enables its 150 Member States to work together by coordinating programmes in capacity development, ocean observations and services, ocean science and tsunami warning. The work of the IOC contributes to the mission of UNESCO to promote the advancement of science and its applications to develop knowledge and capacity, key to economic and social progress, the basis of peace and sustainable development.

The 30 Ocean Decade Programmes receiving applications are: 

1. Global Ocean Corps and Conveyor
2. Early Career Ocean Professionals Programme (ECOPs)
3. Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network (OBON)
4. ForeSea – The Ocean Prediction Capacity of the Future
5. Challenger 150 – A Decade to Study Deep-Sea Life
6. Cultural Heritage Framework Programme
7. Global Ocean Oxygen Decade (GOOD)
8. One Ocean Network for Deep Observation
9. Sustainability of Marine Ecosystems through global knowledge networks (SmartNET)
10. The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project (Seabed 2030)
11. SUstainability, Predictability and REsilience of Marine Ecosystems (SUPREME)
12. Deep Ocean Observation Strategy (DOOS)
13. CoastPredict – Observing and Predicting the Global Coastal Ocean
14. Deltas associated with large rivers: Seeking solutions to the problem of sustainability (Mega Deltas)
15. Global Ecosystem for Ocean Solutions (GEOS)
16. Global Estuaries Monitoring (GEM) Programme
17. Joint Exploration of the Twilight Zone Ocean Network (JETZON) 
18. Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability (OARS)
19. Global Ocean Negative Carbon Emission (Global ONCE)
20. Global Ocean Decade Programme for Blue Carbon (GO-BC)
21. Ocean to climate Seamless Forecasting system (OSF)
22. Nutrition sensitive marine aquaculture in Africa (AfriMAQUA)
23. Deep Ocean Microbiomes and Ecosystems (DOME)
24. Global Subseafloor Ecosystem and Sustainability (GSES)
25. The Global Ocean Artificial Light at Night Network (GOALANN)
26. Powering the Blue Economy – Global (PBE-Global)
27. Ocean Practices for the Decade
28. Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme
29. SEAWARD Africa
30. Digital Deep-sea Typical Habitats (Digital DEPTH)