Ocean Science Roadmap
for UNESCO Marine World Heritage

In the context of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021 – 2030).

Ocean Science Roadmap

for UNESCO Marine World Heritage

The Roadmap reveals that 75% of marine World Heritage sites are unprepared for the impacts of climate change, because of a lack of scientific knowledge. It identifies critical science gaps that impede the sustainable protection of marine World Heritage sites in an uncertain future and calls for vastly increased investment through the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021 -2030) (‘Ocean Decade’).

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Media Information

Climate change is happening at many marine World Heritage sites and is the biggest management challenge in a rapidly changing ocean. Some 70% of marine World Heritage sites are currently under threat from climate change according to the 2020 IUCN World Heritage Outlook. While the world seeks to limit warming to 1.5°C, it is vital that we take steps now to protect Earth’s most exceptional ocean places.

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Next Steps

Member States, funding platforms, philanthropists, NGOs or research institutions are encouraged to use this roadmap to guide support for ocean science, or to step up investments in ocean science to benefit marine World Heritage sites.

Ocean Decade Actions for Marine World Heritage

The vision of the Ocean Decade is to develop the science we need for the ocean we want through transformative ocean science solutions for sustainable development, connecting people and our ocean. The Roadmap was developed in the context of the Ocean Decade, and marine World Heritage sites have been identified as priority areas in the Ocean Decade Implementation Plan.

Get involved First UN Decade Action for Marine World Heritage

In the framework of
the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science
for Sustainable Development (2021-2030)

The assessment received the financial support
of the French Biodiversity Agency (Office français de la biodiversité),
the Government of the Principality of Monaco,
and the Government of Flanders (Kingdom of Belgium)