The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences (XMAS 2025)

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) plays a pivotal role in understanding and addressing the complex dynamics of coupled human-sea systems. These systems, at the intersection of human activities and marine environments, are critical to sustainable development. This paper examines the strategies and outcomes of UNESCO's work through the Ocean Decade, the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB), Global Geoparks, Natural Heritage, and the International Science Decade. The study employs a qualitative analysis of UNESCO's initiatives, focusing on their methodologies for assessing and simulating human-sea interactions. It reviews the frameworks, partnerships, and scientific endeavors that form the bedrock of these initiatives.