Hosted by the Government of Thailand and co-organized with the UNESCO/IOC[1] 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 on 22-25 April 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The ocean is at the heart of the sustainable development. Proclaimed in 2017 by the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) (‘the Ocean Decade’) provides a convening framework for scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to co-design ocean science solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

The ocean, seas, and coastal areas in the Western Pacific are of ecological, social and economic significance. The UN Ocean Decade Regional Kick-off Conference for the Western Pacific and its adjacent areas, 25-26 November 2021, marked the beginning of the region-wide efforts in the development and implementation of substantive Decade Actions.

Three years later, the 2nd Decade Regional Conference & the 11th WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference, to be held IN PERSON ONLY,  will bring various 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 continuously catalyze partnerships and concrete actions for transformative ocean-based solutions to sustainability challenges in this particular region, such as resource depletion, marine pollution, biodiversity loss and habitat degradation, climate change and ocean acidification, and natural hazards.

The Conferences will comprise the following three components. We cordially invite you to be part of this exciting event, and submit proposals for Scientific Sessions, Decade Action Incubators, or Decade Action Workshops.

Learn more and Join the Call for Proposals