Activities

IOC Programmes

The IOC is responsible for supporting global ocean science and services and as such coordinates programmes across Member States to "strengthen scientific understanding of the ocean for the benefit of humanity." The IOC coordinates, sponsors and co-sponsors a vast number of programmes, categorised in six areas: Understanding and addressing human impacts on the ocean's fragile ecosystems; measuring changes to the ocean and its physical, chemical and biological properties; using science-based solutions for communities to strengthen preparedness and improve emergency responses (alert); improving global management of the world's shared marine ecosystems and oceanic resources; capacity development to enable all to share knowledge; expertise and technology; evaluate how global science is undertaken.

The IOC is the coordinating body for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, an initiative that spans across all of the six categories implemented by the IOC.