On the occasion of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), UNESCO has called on its Member States to make education a central lever for ocean protection.
In Nice, UNESCO unveiled new initiatives, ranging from classrooms to video games, to raise young people’s awareness of the need to safeguard marine ecosystems. The organisation also strengthened its partnerships to ensure funding of those initiatives.
“To protect the ocean, we must change our relationship with it, and this change begins with education. UNESCO is supporting its Member States to integrate the ocean and the environment into classrooms and the daily lives of young people,” said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.
Putting the ocean at the heart of classrooms
UNESCO has made environmental education a priority, to integrate it into school curricula and in the daily life of schools. The organisation supports its Member States – such as South Africa, Portugal and South Korea – in developing educational content on the protection of the ocean. With UNESCO’s support, Brazil this year became the first country to adopt a national curriculum, from primary to secondary level, dedicated to ocean literacy.
Presented in 2022 at the One Ocean Summit, UNESCO’s educational reference framework for ocean education has enabled nearly 2,400 schools in 48 countries to join the global network of Blue Schools. It provides a framework for schools wishing to integrate the ocean into their teaching, through practical activities and field projects. In addition, UNESCO has trained nearly 350,000 young people and adults in ocean protection issues.
Video games and ocean sciences: a new tool for learning
UNESCO has unveiled Ocean Heroes, a new adventure in the Minecraft video game. Developed with Minecraft Education and Voice of the Ocean Foundation, over 35 million players will be able to explore coral reefs, seaweed forests and mangroves aboard a research vessel, while facing real threats such as pollution and invasive species.
Through entertaining missions, young players will acquire practical knowledge of ocean sciences, biodiversity and conservation techniques. The game offers concrete scientific challenges to solve, develops critical thinking skills and reinforces understanding of the impact of human activities on marine ecosystems.
Increased financial support for educational and scientific programmes
UNESCO and the Prada Group have announced the renewal of their SEA BEYOND partnership, a global educational programme dedicated to spreading knowledge about the ocean and its preservation. With the commitment of both organisations, since 2019, the programme has resulted in the training of more than 34,000 students in 56 countries, as well as the opening of an ocean education centre in Venice.
Together, they announced the creation of a fund to finance projects led by young people on every continent, strengthening ocean education and culture within their communities. With an initial contribution of €2 million from the Prada Group, this UNESCO fund will be open to the participation of new partners in 2026.
UNESCO has also turned its scientific campaigns into educational tools: its pilot program on environmental DNA, which mapped 4,500 marine species in 21 World Heritage marine sites, involved scientists and local schools in sampling missions for three years. With the support of the Minderoo Foundation, this project will continue in 25 new marine areas protected by UNESCO.