Culture and nature

Water and oceans

Water is the basic requirement of life, on land and in the oceans. UNESCO coordinates global cooperation for freshwater research and oceanography, supports the development of systems for early warning of disasters and for long-term monitoring, and promotes contemporary education.

 

UNESCO's research programmes provide scientific insights as the basis for political decision-making. UNESCO is the world organization with the most comprehensive expertise on water and oceans. Every year UNESCO publishes the World Water Report for the United Nations. As such, UNESCO is making important contributions to the whole of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, not only to Objectives 6 ("Ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all") and 14 ("Oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development receive and use sustainably ").