Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC )

The work of the IOC, over the three decades since its inception, has focused on promoting marine scientific investigations and related ocean services, with a view to learning more about the nature and resources of the oceans. This has laid the foundation towards an expanded role of the IOC in meeting new challenges., focussing on four major themes:
- develop, promote and facilitate international oceanographic research programmes to improve our understanding of critical global and regional ocean processes and their relationship to the sustainable development and stewardship of ocean resources;
- ensure effective planning, establishment and co-ordination of an operational global ocean observing system to provide the information needed for oceanic and atmospheric forecasting, for oceans and coastal zone management by coastal nations, and for global environmental change research;
- provide international leadership for education and training programmes and technical assistance essential for systematic observations of the global ocean and its coastal zone and related research; and
- ensure that ocean data and information obtained through research, observation and monitoring are efficiently handled and made widely available.

The IOC Secretariat is based in Paris, France in the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Contact details:
J. Luis Valdés
Head of Ocean Science Section
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO
1 rue Miollis
75732 Paris Cedex 15, FRANCE
Tel: +33 1 4568-4011; Fax: +33 1 4568-5812
E-mail: [email protected]

Website: The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO