Summary

The intergovernmental session will be generously hosted by the Government of Bangladesh and will comprehensively review implementation of the Committee workplan since its last session in May 2021.

The Committee will be updated on global ocean-related developments, including the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), and will deliberate on its engagement in and contribution to the Ocean Decade, for example through establishment of national Decade Committees. Special attention will be given to the progress review of the IOC open-ended intersessional Working Group on the Status of the IOC Regional Committee for the Central Indian Ocean (cf. IOC/A-31/3.5.6.Doc) with a view of transformation of the Committee to an IOC Sub-commission, in mobilising supportive actions.