Space4Ocean
The ocean plays a fundamental role in sustaining life on Earth. It regulates the climate, supports biodiversity, and provides critical ecosystem services that underpin livelihoods and economies. However, ocean health is deteriorating under growing pressure from both human activity and natural forces.
Space-based technologies offer vital capabilities to address these challenges. Satellite data enables large-scale, real-time monitoring of ocean health, including temperature fluctuations, sea level rise, coastal erosion, ocean currents, pollution, and biodiversity. Currently, more than 80% of ocean-related indicators tracked by the IPCC rely on satellite observations. However, significant barriers remain to turning this data into operational, policy-relevant solutions, especially for countries most vulnerable to oceanic change.
The issue is especially acute in developing and frontline countries, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), which often lack the resources and capacity to fully benefit from space-based solutions.
These challenges include fragmented data collection, lack of standardization across agencies, and insufficient interoperability between marine and space science communities. Many space agencies operate in isolation, limiting synergies and duplicating efforts. Meanwhile, frontline nations such as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) often lack access to space-based data and the technical capacities needed to leverage it.
UNOOSA, through its Space4Water project and the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER), connects ocean-related challenges with practical space-based solutions. By building the capacities of UN Member States, UNOOSA empowers stakeholders to harness satellite data and space technologies for informed decision-making and sustainable water and ocean management.
UN-Oceans Mechanism
UN-Oceans is an inter-agency mechanism established in 2003 that seeks to enhance the coordination, coherence and effectiveness of competent organizations of the United Nations system and the International Seabed Authority in relation to activities relating to oceans and coastal areas, within existing resources, in conformity with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the respective competences of each of its participating organizations and the mandates and priorities approved by their respective governing bodies. More info
UNOOSA is a member of the UN-Oceans Mechanism since 2025.
UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development
The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) was launched in January 2021 to catalyze a global transformation in ocean science. It provides a unifying framework for scientists, governments, industry, NGOs, and communities to collaborate beyond traditional boundaries and generate the data, knowledge, and tools needed to support robust, science‑informed policies at all levels. Through the vision "the science we need for the ocean we want", its mission focuses on delivering transformative ocean‑science solutions that connect people with the ocean and advance sustainable development
To implement this vision, the Ocean Decade mobilizes hundreds of "Decade Actions", translated in programmes, projects, and contributions carried out worldwide, that address 10 priority challenges, from building a sustainable ocean economy to expanding global ocean observation and increasing community resilience to ocean risks. These initiatives aim to create a productive, resilient, and inspiring ocean for future generations.
The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs participates in the work of the Ocean Decade. It sits at the Decade Advisory Board and provides advisory assistance on the implementation of its objectives.
The Space4Ocean Alliance
UNOOSA supports the Space4Ocean Alliance, an international mechanism that brings together space, marine and maritime stakeholders to maximize the use of space-based data for ocean protection. Initiated by the French Space Agency (CNES), the Alliance aims to strengthen collaboration, address observation gaps, promote access to ocean data and operational applications, and build capacity, especially for frontline countries such as LDCs and SIDS. Since December 2024, UNOOSA and partners including CNES, Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO), Monaco's Space Office, Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA), European Space Agency (ESA) and UNESCO/IOC have developed the Alliance's objectives based on the needs of those who rely most on ocean resources.
Officially launched at the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in June 2025, the Alliance now counts 30 signatories committed to advancing global ocean monitoring and management.