Brazil becomes the first country in the world to commit to a national school curriculum on Ocean Literacy
In a global context marked by the growing impacts of climate change—extreme rainfall, heatwaves, coastal erosion, and socio-economic and public health challenges—Brazil takes on international leadership and becomes the first country in the world recognized by UNESCO to commit to including Ocean Literacy in its national curriculum (Blue Curriculum), integrated into schools across the country and adapted to regional and local contexts.
This pioneering action responds to the recommendation of the Director-General of UNESCO for all Member States to begin incorporating Ocean Literacy into school curricula by 2025. In Brazil, this unprecedented initiative results from strategic collaboration among the Ministry of Education (MEC), the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), UNESCO and its Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC), federal universities, local governments, and school networks, establishing a global milestone in environmental, scientific, and civic education.
Ocean Literacy promotes an integrated understanding of the ocean, recognizing it as a climate regulator, an essential source of life, and a catalyst for sustainable solutions to eradicate poverty, promote health, technological innovation, culture, economy, and environmental justice.
International Forum in Brasília launches world’s first Blue Curriculum
As part of the national efforts to consolidate the Blue Curriculum, Brasília will host, on April 9 and 10, 2025, at the CNPq Auditorium, the International Blue Curriculum Forum: International Experiences in Education and Ocean Literacy for Climate Resilience.
The event, preceded by preparatory meetings on April 8, will feature high-level discussions with the presence of the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Luciana Santos, other ministers, federal government authorities, and representatives from state governments leading the implementation of Ocean Literacy and Blue Curriculum actions.
Alongside educators, policymakers, and civil society from various countries, authorities and notable figures will discuss the critical role of education in addressing climate change and promoting an inclusive, sustainable blue economy aligned with the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.
The official launch of the Blue Curriculum reinforces the crucial role of education in fostering planetary citizenship, grounded in science and social engagement, placing Brazil at the forefront of preparations for the Climate Conference (COP30), to be held in Belém, Pará. It also demonstrates Brazil’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030).
Major milestones already achieved by Brazil in Ocean Literacy:
- Inclusion of Ocean Literacy in school curricula in 20 municipalities and 4 states (São Paulo, Pernambuco, Ceará, and Pará);
- Organization of Regional Blue Curriculum Forums with broad national participation;
- Engagement of more than 100,000 students through the Blue School Program;
- Active participation of 350 scholarship students and 30 teachers in science clubs and youth leadership projects;
- International leadership through the Brazilian Ocean Olympiad (>62,000 students across Brazil), which became international in 2024, involving more than 15 countries.
Key Federal Government initiatives announced during the International Blue Curriculum Forum
During the Forum, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), part of the Ministry of Education (MEC), will announce major national initiatives related to the Blue Curriculum, totaling investments of over R$ 5 million (approximately US$ 900,000).
The event will mark the official launch of the 2025 National Science and Technology Week, which will center on Ocean Literacy, encouraging dialogue among schools, universities, and civil society on innovation, sustainability, and ocean conservation.
An unprecedented initiative by CAPES/MEC will be presented: specialized training in Ocean Literacy for Sustainable Development, reaching more than 1,000 Brazilian teachers, conducted by a national network of seven federal universities located in Brazil’s coastal regions.
Calls for the 2nd International Ocean Olympiad and the 5th Brazilian Ocean Olympiad will also be announced, aiming to expand student engagement nationally and internationally in activities promoting awareness and education on ocean, climate, and socio-environmental issues. The 2024 edition of the Brazilian Olympiad recorded over 62,000 student participants nationwide.
Finally, highlighting the country’s commitment to gender equity in science, the creation of 10 Ocean Literacy Clubs exclusively for girls will be launched—an innovative initiative with R$ 1 million in funding to strengthen female participation in ocean sciences and youth leadership in sustainability and conservation efforts.
These initiatives reaffirm Brazil’s commitment to mainstreaming and inclusive implementation of Ocean Literacy in education, consolidating the country’s leadership in global sustainability education.
Official Quotes:
Vidar Helgesen
Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and Assistant Director-General of UNESCO
“Brazil’s federal launch of the Blue Curriculum represents a major achievement for Brazil and a proud moment for the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. Brazil’s leadership reflects the essence of the vision of the Commission and indeed of the UN Decade for Ocean Science: to bring together governments and the science community in achieving the ‘Ocean We Need for the Future We Want.’ And, as we are all aware, we can only do that through education.”
Francesca Santoro
Senior Programme Officer of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and Coordinator of the UN Ocean Decade Coordination Office on Connecting People and the Ocean
“Brazil is now a global reference in ocean education. The Blue Curriculum shows that it is possible to turn scientific knowledge into concrete public policy, with the engagement of educators, students, and communities. This is the essence of the Ocean Decade: action based on science and collaboration.”
Ronaldo Christofoletti
Professor at UNIFESP and Co-Chair of the UNESCO Ocean Literacy Expert Group
“The Blue Curriculum is born from the active and diverse voices of Brazilian society. During the regional workshops for the Ocean Decade held in 2020 across all five regions of the country, the inclusion of Ocean Literacy in education was identified as a priority by every group involved. This is, therefore, a direct response to the voice of the people. It brings to life a collective desire to shape citizens who understand the ocean’s importance to Brazil’s present and future and its key importance for climate resilience. At the same time, it is a return to the essence of a country that is, by geography, history, and culture, deeply connected to the sea.”
Luciana Santos
Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation
“Brazil is already showing, with concrete results, how science can transform education and strengthen citizenship. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation has led key actions in Ocean Literacy, such as expanding the Blue School Program—already engaging more than 100,000 students nationwide—the creation of science clubs, the training of ocean youth ambassadors, the internationalization of the Ocean Olympiad, and the articulation of a university network for teacher training. The launch of the Blue Curriculum is not a starting point—it is the consolidation of a living, collective, future-focused process. It is also a gesture of sovereignty and strategic vision: a country that understands the ocean’s importance for climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development is better prepared to face the challenges of the 21st century.”
Camilo Santana
Minister of Education
“The Blue Curriculum marks a historic milestone for Brazilian education. It strengthens and diversifies the National Common Curricular Base by incorporating an essential dimension that was long overlooked: our relationship with the ocean. Brazil is not only a continental country—it is profoundly oceanic. With over 8,000 kilometers of coastline, tens of millions living in coastal areas, and a history, culture, and economy shaped by the sea, integrating Ocean Literacy into curricula means recognizing who we are and preparing our children and youth to understand their role in a world that demands sustainable solutions and integrated knowledge. We are educating a generation to think of Brazil in terms of all its geography, biodiversity, and potential.”
Photo: Maré de Ciência / Rafael Vargas
