The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, in collaboration with the Government of Italy, the Municipality of Venice, and the Prada Group, will host the Ocean Literacy World Conference on June 7–8 2024 in the city of Venice, Italy. This Conference will bring together international experts in ocean literacy and ocean education from across various sectors.

The Conference marks a significant milestone for the preparatory process for the third UN Ocean Conference 2025 that will be co-hosted by the Governments of France and Costa Rica in Nice, France, 2025. During this process, the IOC/UNESCO sent a Circular Letter to Member States in order to inform about the Conference. You can download and read the Circular Letter on the Ocean Literacy World Conference website.

The Conference is one of the first initiatives of the Ocean Decade Coordination Office (DCO) for Connecting People and Ocean which was recently established at the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, to promote a more equitable, just, and harmonious relationship between humans and the ocean.

During the Conference, the Venice Declaration will be developed, and you can contribute to this material. Find the Survey “Global Ocean Literacy Priorities: A Participant-Driven Survey on Key Topics for 2030” here. This special survey is tailored to the key drivers of change outlined in the White Paper for Challenge 10: Multiple Knowledge Systems, Education, Strategic Communications, and Cultural Connections. Your responses will directly shape the Venice Declaration, and is open to everyone!