Kingston, Jamaica – 24 April 2026 – Every year on 25 April, the international community marks the International Day for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The date commemorates the opening of the 1994 Barbados Global Conference, the first major United Nations conference dedicated to implementing Agenda 21, the sustainable development of SIDS. In the last 30 years, SIDS have moved from the margins to centrality in relation to international ocean governance. As stewards of nearly a third of the world’s ocean, their voice in decisions about how the deep sea is managed and who benefits from its resources must be fully integrated and visible. The Day highlights the unique environmental, social and economic challenges faced by these States while recognizing their leadership in ocean stewardship and climate action.

Kingston, Jamaica – 26 March 2026 – The deep seabed is teeming with life. From the sediment plains of the abyssal zone to the extreme pressures of hadal trenches, species have evolved over millions of years into forms of extraordinary complexity and resilience. Scientists and governments alike are actively investing in understanding the biodiversity of the deep seabed. That growing body of knowledge equips decision makers to act responsibly and ensure global stewardship of the deep seabed.

Kingston, 19 March 2026 – As the international community marks Taxonomist Appreciation Day on 19 March, the spotlight turns to a scientific discipline that quietly underpins environmental governance worldwide: taxonomy.