On the 8th of June, to celebrate the World Ocean Day, UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO), in partnership with Ocean Wise, EuroGOOS and Experiential Atelier, will hold their first Virtual Ocean Literacy Summit.

The event will take place on the 8th of June, from 11am to 2pm (UTC) (1 to 4pm GMT+2, Paris time). Register here: https://education.ocean.org/olsummit/

This year, IOC-UNESCO put an emphasis on ocean literacy for the World Oceans Day. On this occasion, participants will celebrate online the successes in the ocean literacy community worldwide and explore the tools created, which are essential for the transformation of scientific knowledge into action. The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021 – 2030 supports efforts to reverse the cycle of decline in ocean health and gather ocean stakeholders worldwide behind a common framework that will ensure that ocean science can fully support countries in creating improved conditions for sustainable development of the ocean. As such, ocean literacy, by increasing awareness amongst the public about responsible behaviour towards the ocean and its resources, fosters individual and collective commitments to take care of the blue planet.

The Virtual Ocean Literacy Summit will gather various communication and educational assets and discuss:

• The need for shared responsibility, connectivity, and a global vision for the ocean.
• Explore the role of ocean literacy as an essential tool for the transformation of scientific knowledge into action within the context of the Decade.
• Inspire stakeholders, institutions, organizations, and individuals to join the global ocean literacy community and contribute to the achievement of its goals in the course of the Decade.

To promote Ocean literacy Mercator Ocean International, along with the Copernicus Marine Service, as a member of EUROGOOS, the European component of the Global Ocean Observing System of the IOC-UNESCO, has provided some outreach materials surrounding ocean science and conservation for the event.