U.S. YOUTH ACTION COUNCIL FOR THE UN OCEAN DECADE ADVANCED LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IS FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD
Heirs To Our Ocean established the U.S. Youth Action Council for the United Nations Ocean Decade (U.S. YAC UN Ocean Decade) in 2020 to ensure that young people ages 16–25 from across the U.S. and U.S.-occupied lands can contribute meaningfully to critical decision-making this Decade. As the next generation of leaders, we youth will inherit the challenges facing our Blue Planet, making our involvement today imperative.
In 2025, we reached a milestone with member representation across all cohorts reaching 30 different U.S. states, territories and occupied lands.
Heirs To Our Ocean is a Decade Implementation Partner of UNESCO-IOC’s Ocean Decade. The U.S. YAC UN Ocean Decade, a program of Heirs To Our Ocean, is an official Decade Action.
August 13, 2025 – Application Opens for 6th Cohort
YOUTH ADVANCED LEADERSHIP SKILL-DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY
RECRUITING YOUTH AUGUST 2025 TO JOIN THE 6TH COHORT
RECEIVE APPLICATION UPDATES BY:
Subscribing to our newsletter below
Following our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, BlueSky and Facebook.
Apply if you are a youth leader who:
Is age 16–25;
Resides in the U.S., including U.S. territories and occupied lands.
Can commit to a term of September 29, 2025, through May 16, 2026, with proactive engagement as set forth in About 6th Cohort U.S. YAC UN Ocean Decade document.
Is working toward solutions in ocean, climate, and related humanitarian issues.
3rd Cohort member from Hawai’i meets with congressperson at U.S. YAC UNOD’s U.S. Capitol Hill Advocacy Days in Washington D.C.
6TH COHORT
APPLICATION TIMELINE
Your application will be fully complete once you have:
Submitted the application form
Completed your group interview
Emailed your two letters of recommendation to emily@h2oo.org
SUBSCRIBE FOR EMAIL UPDATES HEREU.S. YAC UN Ocean Decade Impact
WHAT YOUTH ALUMNI ARE SAYING
IMPACT SINCE 2020
REAL-WORLD IMPACT
POLICY
The U.S. YAC UN Ocean Decade Policy Working Group Committee has equipped over 210 youth with real-world policy advocacy skills since its inception.
Youth have received training how to:
Read, analyze, and track legislation;
Prepare and deliver compelling advocacy messages;
Develop policy fact sheets;
Plan effective followup conversations with lawmakers and agencies;
And more!
To date, we have supported the first five cohorts of the U.S. Youth Action Council for the UN Ocean Decade in holding over 320 youth-led meetings with federal elected leaders to advocate for a safer, healthier future.
REAL-WORLD IMPACT
MOVEMENT-BUILDING
The U.S. YAC UN Ocean Decade has mobilized over 7,300 youth advocates in actions designed to drive meaningful youth inclusion in the UN Ocean Decade.
These actions included:
Leading 30+ ocean and water literacy presentations in schools and communities
Coordinating nationwide plastic brand audits to support stronger plastic pollution policies, including a Global Plastics Treaty
Launching social media campaigns to grow awareness and engagement
Gathering community petition support tied to Hill Day advocacy
Publishing youth-written articles in global media like ECO Mag
Hosting a youth webinar and workshop on Ocean Decade engagement
Presenting and mobilizing supporters at H2OO’s first virtual community gathering
Organizing a press conference in Washington D.C. to amplify youth calls to action after Hill Days
WATCH U.S. YAC UN Ocean Decade Press Conference
REAL-WORLD IMPACT
EDUCATION
The U.S. YAC UN Ocean Decade has advanced ocean and climate literacy, and furthered education of intersectionality and environmental justice, by both creating educational tools for and presenting to diverse audiences.
Ocean Decade Education Tools include:
A Spanish-language Ocean + UN Ocean Decade community awareness presentation toolkit
A children’s book series introducing ocean literacy principles and Indigenous knowledge to ages 6–8
A comprehensive educational toolkit about the UN Ocean Decade’s 10 Challenges with diverse youth perspective and interactive learning opportunities included.
ACCESS Youth Perspectives: UN Ocean Decade 10 Challenges Toolkit
WHAT U.S. YAC UN OCEAN DECADE MEMBERS GAIN
Access to High-Level Opportunities:
Engage in real-world opportunities such as UN Conferences and other collaborative stakeholder events or working groups.
Real-World Skill & Leadership Development:
Participate in skill-building workshops such as empathetic leadership, public speaking and presenting, policy advocacy, communications and storytelling.
Empowerment:
Gain confidence and tools to organize, implement and lead an 8-month national action project.
Networking Opportunities:
Connect with a diverse group of youth leaders and professionals in the fields of eco-justice, climate, ocean science, and conservation.
Global Impact:
Contribute to advancing the UN Ocean Decade Vision 2030, furthering the needs and priorities of your communities in your work.
Expert Mentorship:
Receive guidance and support from experienced leaders and advocates.
HELP US PUBLISH OUR CHILDREN’S BOOK!
The U.S. YAC UN Ocean Decade has created a children’s book to inspire young water stewards through storytelling and science. It is currently being finalized with editing and illustrations.
Help us bring it to life! We’re raising $5,000 to cover final editing, illustration, publishing, and global distribution.
DONATE HEREWe’re also seeking volunteers and experienced publishers, and writers to help bring this project across the finish line and into the hands of youth around the world.
Artwork by Gavin Tesser, 5th Cohort U.S. YAC UN Ocean Decade member and Creative Illustration Intern for Summer 2025.
CHALLENGE 10
VISION 2030 CHALLENGE 10 WHITE PAPER
As a member of the IOC/UNESCO’s Expert Working Group for Decade Challenge 10, which is the only Decade challenge that considers human behavior and relationship with the ocean, we ensure the voices of youth ages 16–25 were included in the drafting of the Vision 2030 Challenge 10 White Paper. Youth of the U.S. YAC UN Ocean Decade were offered the opportunity to contribute to this Challenge 10 road map intended to pave the way toward solutions. Notably, this is the only UN Ocean Decade Vision 2030 White Paper that incorporates the perspectives of youth ages 16–25.
Including youth voices under 25 in the Decade is essential, as valuing and integrating their perspectives not only empowers them to become catalysts for advancing the UN Ocean Decade’s priorities well into the future, it also represents the greatly-needed diversity in high-level decision-making spaces offering the effectiveness of intergenerational collaboration in achieving long-term solutions.
READ WHITE PAPER on challenge 10 HEREALUMNI OF U.S. YAC UN Ocean Decade
U.S. YAC UNOD Affiliations
H2OO’s U.S. YAC UNOD is affiliated with the U.S. National Committee (USNC) for the Ocean Decade, which is housed under the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
