An international network of cities in harmony with the ocean
Coastal cities and towns, scientific community
Promote bottom‐up cooperation and foster dialogue for policies
Coastal cities, where the majority of the global population resides, face the most immediate consequences of climate change. Daily, they grapple with risks like rising sea levels, extreme heat events, unsustainable land use, and prolonged droughts.
In response to these challenges, the Ocean Cities Network (OC-NET) emerged as a key initiative of the United Nations Ocean Decade. It serves as the hub for an international network of cities that coexist harmoniously with the ocean. Its primary objective is to foster a profound connection between cities and the sea. This vision entails making the ocean an integral part of daily life in these urban centres, often referred to as the 'ocean dimension.' It involves integrating this dimension into all urban activities, from the everyday habits of residents to urban planning, and harnessing the power of science, both locally and globally, to generate knowledge, scientific and technical capacity, as well as innovative and transformative solutions.
OC-NET endeavours to reshape coastal cities into communities that engage seamlessly and responsively with the ocean and its marine ecosystems. To fulfil this mission, OC-NET has established three core dimensions: health, culture, and justice, all of which contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.