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With less than 90 days until the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), the largest global gathering ever dedicated to the ocean, nations across the Western Pacific committed to fostering cooperation in ocean science, strengthening the science-policy interface, and advancing sustainable resource management to restore ocean health and productivity.

These commitments came at the Fifteenth Intergovernmental Session of UNESCO’s IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC), convened in Tokyo from 11 to 13 March 2025 and hosted by the Government of Japan through its Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

The event culminated in the Tokyo Statement, a declaration underscoring members’ dedication to science-based ocean stewardship, the adoption of a new Regional Action Framework to accelerate marine spatial planning through 2030, the establishment of a task force to support the implementation of a landmark biodiversity treaty for international waters and the international seabed, and four new science initiatives to respond to emerging ocean challenges in the region.

‘Oceans know no borders, and tackling rising threats–from climate change to pollution–requires international cooperation for effective solutions,’ said Wenxi Zhu, Head of UNESCO’s IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific. ‘The UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) is uniquely positioned to unite neighboring countries, advancing knowledge of the shared ocean and co-developing solutions to their common challenges.’ 

The Western Pacific Ocean is home to more than 75% of the world’s coral species and nearly half of all coral reef areas. It also hosts the world’s largest mangrove forests and is a vital source of food and livelihoods for thousands of millions of people. But the region faces mounting threats—from rising ocean temperatures and ocean acidification to plastic waste and overexploitation. As has been occurring in most recent years, ocean temperature hit a record high in 2024.

The session emphasized the region’s role in advancing global frameworks, including the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction—commonly known as the BBNJ Agreement. The treaty is the first legally binding instrument to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, encompassing international waters and international seabed areas comprising nearly two-thirds of the world’s ocean. 

‘These vast stretches of open ocean harbor unique and often fragile ecosystems yet remain among the least understood and least protected areas on the planet,’ said Mr Zhu.

To support the implementation of the BBNJ agreement, countries agreed to establish a regional task force that will promote the sharing of data, knowledge and expertise, build scientific capacity, and facilitate technology transfer across borders. The initiative aims to equip countries with the knowledge and tools they need to act on the treaty’s provisions and incorporate biodiversity considerations into national marine strategies.

WESTPAC also reaffirmed its support for countries working to implement their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans aligned with global goals such as the Global Biodiversity Framework.

The session unveiled four new scientific initiatives that reflect emerging regional priorities:

• Seagrass Ecosystem Research: This initiative will study how seagrass beds support biodiversity, protect coastlines from erosion, and sequester carbon dioxide. The findings will inform conservation across Southeast Asia’s increasingly threatened shallow-water habitats.
• Blue Carbon Ecosystem Restoration: Focused on mangroves as an initial step, this initiative will help restore coastal ecosystems that act as carbon sinks and natural defenses against storms and sea-level rise.
  
• Prediction of Marine Ecosystem Changes in the Northwest Pacific: This effort will improve understanding and prediction of the changes in marine ecosystems driven by climate change and human activity, helping countries prepare for fisheries disruption, habitat loss, and shifting ecosystems.
• Methane Flux Study: Researchers will investigate how methane—one of the most potent greenhouse gases—released from the seafloor affects marine ecosystems and global climate.

These initiatives will be coordinated by the Sub-Commission in partnership with national ocean agencies and their research institutions across the region. Delegates also reviewed progress on five ongoing UN Ocean Decade Actions led by WESTPAC, including efforts to reduce river-borne plastic emissions, enhance ocean research capacity through the Regional Network of Training and Research Centers (RTRCs), and study changes in the Kuroshio current, one of the world’s three largest ocean currents.

Delegates reaffirmed their commitment to the Regional Network of Training and Research Centers, which supports marine science capacity across six key areas—from coral reef restoration and seafood safety to ocean pollution monitoring. Countries also endorsed a new task force on ocean literacy, aimed at increasing public understanding of the ocean’s role in sustainable development and encouraging broader engagement and triggering actions towards ocean sustainability.

At the close of the Fifteenth Intergovernmental Session, Member States adopted a draft biennial workplan for 2026–2027, valued at USD 6 million, which outlines joint priorities in science, capacity development, and policy engagement. The next WESTPAC intergovernmental session is scheduled for early 2027.

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