Human Development Forum Ocean for Life
Ocean for Life Human Development Forum
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Ocean for Life 1 Acknowledgements Executive Editor: Jon Ingleton Programme Leads: Ben Cornwell, Sean Nicklin Writer: Emily Eastman Researcher: Josie Ingleton Designer: Bruce Graham Printed in the UK by Gomer Press Ltd. With thanks to all the stakeholder authors for their support in compiling Ocean for Life and for their continued efforts in working towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Centre Scientifique de Monaco Comunidad y Biodiversidad Conservation International European Marine Observation and Data Network Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation High Seas Alliance Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO International Maritime Organization International Maritime Services International Seabed Authority International Windship Association IUCN Centre for Policy and Law Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) Bremen Marine Conservation Institute Océans Connectés PSL Université Paris, Mercator Ocean International Seas at Risk TotalEnergies United Nations UN Tourism Waitt Institute World Ocean Observatory World Resources Institute
Ocean for Life 2 Acknowledgements.............................................................................01 Our ocean, our obligation, our opportunity..................................05 A message from Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General, International Maritime Organization Foreword. ............................................................................................. 06 By Jon Ingleton One ocean for all human life............................................................08 An interview with Ambassador Peter Thomson, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean Data, diplomacy and the future of our blue planet ......................14 An interview with Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and Assistant Director-General of UNESCO, and Former Minister of Climate and Environment for Norway Harnessing tourism for ocean health ..............................................16 An interview with Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director of UN Tourism New depths of governance ..............................................................20 An interview with Leticia Carvalho, Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority Guardians of the blue: the global push to protect the high seas ..............................................................................23 An interview with Minna Epps, Director, Global Ocean Policy, IUCN Centre for Policy and law Charting a course for cleaner seas: inside the IMO’s expanding oceans agenda .............................................26 An interview with Gyorgyi Gurban, Head of Projects implementation at the International Maritime Organization Partnerships are essential to deliver Sustainable Development Goal 14 ............................................................................. 29 Chris Goldsworthy, CEO, the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology Accelerating action for a sustainable ocean economy ...............32 Cynthia Barzuna, Global Deputy Director, Ocean Program, World Resources Institute Protecting biodiversity beyond borders: the transformative journey to a High Seas Treaty ...........................................................35 Rebecca Hubbard, Director, High Seas Alliance Contents
Ocean for Life 3 The value of ocean data and marine knowledge for a sustainable ocean ............................................................................38 Kate Larkin, Angeliki Karampourouni, Kara McKee, Conor Delaney, Tim Collart, EMODnet Secretariat, Seascape Belgium Solutions from the sea: innovation and resilience in Latin American and Caribbean fishing communities ..................43 Stuart Fulton, Director of Development, Comunidad y Biodiversidad Gabriela Cuevas, Innovation Catalyst, Comunidad y Biodiversidad From target to impact: the Blue Park Standard accelerates meaningful ocean protection ...........................................................47 Sarah O. Hameed, Jessica M. MacCarthy, Lance E. Morgan, Marine Conservation Institute From vision to action: healthy oceans, thriving economies and brighter futures.......................................................50 Ute Zischka, Senior Director of Programs, Waitt Institute Shayna Brody, Communications Director, Waitt Institute Lauren Dvonch, Communications Fellow, Waitt Institute A global biodiversity data strategy and initiatives for sustainable ocean activities ..............................................................53 Mathieu Reverberi, Ocean & Biodiversity Coordinator, TotalEnergies Laurent Cazes, Ocean Delegate, TotalEnergies A stewardship journey in maritime sustainability..........................57 Brendan Cooley, Managing Director, International Maritime Services First bite of the ‘Blue Doughnut’: creating an ocean wellbeing economy for people and planet ....................................61 Dr Monica Verbeek, Executive Director, Seas at Risk, Helen Willetts, Communications Director, Seas at Risk, Ann Dom, Senior Policy Advisor, Seas At Risk An emerging ocean: safeguarding the Central Arctic through conservation and cooperation ........................................................64 Louie Porta, Program Director, Marine Conservation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Education: a tool for transformational change .............................67 Peter Neill, Founder, World Ocean Observatory Advancing ocean knowledge ...........................................................70 The research and education initiatives of the Centre Scientifique de Monaco When the ocean rises against us: why nature-based solutions are our best defence .........................................................72 Nick Hardman-Mountford, Rod Braun and Jill Hamilton, Conservation International – Centre for Oceans Annalise Bayney, Rene Edwards and Damian Fernandes, Conservation International – Guyana, Gina Griffith, Conservation International – Suriname New alliances for the ocean we want in times of turbulent global governance ........................................................... 76 Raimund Bleischwitz, Scientific Director, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) Bremen, Professor, University of Bremen, Atique Rahman, PhD, NAM Fellow – Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) Bremen, Associate Professor, Dept of International Relations, University of Dhaka Long-term global ocean observation systems for regions and citizens ........................................................................ 80 Carole Saout-Grit, Founding Director, GlazeO, and CEO, Océans Connectés, Sabrina Speich, Professor, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL Université Paris, and member of the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace, PierreYves Le Traon, Scientific Director, Mercator Ocean International, and Research Director, Ifremer The second age of wind and a transition to a secure and sustainable maritime future .....................................................83 Gavin Allwright, Secretary General, International Windship Association The ocean seascape: awash with promises ..................................86 By Emily Eastman
Ocean for Life 5 Our ocean, our obligation, our opportunity A message from Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General, International Maritime Organization The ocean sustains life on Earth as we know it. It allows us to breathe and regulate our climate. The ocean brings food to our table, connects people across continents and provides global blue ways for the ships which transport 80% of world trade. But our ocean is under threat. Plastic pollution, rising temperatures, acidification, overfishing. Our oceans are struggling to keep up with human pressure. The ocean’s decline is not a coincidence. It is driven by human activities, however, that also means that we have the power to reverse it. It is our obligation to work collaboratively to reduce pollution, protect marine life and shift to sustainable habits. Protecting and restoring the ocean is not just a duty. It is our opportunity to build a healthier planet, stronger economies and a safer future for generations to come.
Ocean for Life 6 Foreword By Jon Ingleton Every part of the ocean is now under threat, impacted by the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.” Those words come from the 2025 Ocean State Report, published by Copernicus Marine Service of the EU Space Programme. Destructive human activity continues unabated. “Over the recent decade, total human impacts to the world’s oceans have, on average, nearly doubled and could double again in the next decade without adequate action,” according to a recent report by the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis at UC Santa Barbara. The diagnosis is bleak but not hopeless: “Last year brought both successes and disappointments in global efforts to tackle the triple planetary crisis,” says Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme. “Humanity is not out of the woods. Temperatures are rising. Ecosystems are disappearing. And pollution remains a deadly threat. These are global problems that require global solutions. The world must pull together to build a fairer, more sustainable planet.” This call to action is widely shared across the UN system and its sentiments are deeply embedded among sustainable ocean stakeholders, as you’ll read in the pages that follow. Ocean threats are not separate problems but interrelated failures of stewardship, governance and funding that map onto visible inequities between countries and communities. One message was repeated in Nice during the UN Ocean Conference 2025, and Ambassador Peter Thomson ensured it remains both urgent and clear: “There cannot be a healthy planet without a healthy ocean.” He urged a new relationship with the sea, “one of regeneration, reciprocity, and respect, resetting the balance in our connection with nature.” Ambassador Thomson’s words at the conference and in this book are both a diagnosis and a demand to summon all international leaders to act. Tangible progress at the conference and beyond gives grounds for cautious optimism, a view that is shared by many of the authors within these pages. Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and Assistant Director-General, UNESCO, shares some conditional positivity on page 14: “The amazing thing is that if we protect the ocean, it can recover with astonishing speed. Awareness today is far higher than 20 years ago. The question is whether we can act fast enough.” Member States, UN system leaders, philanthropic partners and commercial supporters have stepped forward with clearly articulated ambitions backed by new coalitions to address current and future “ Image: Carlos Sánchez
Ocean for Life 7 problems. The Nice Ocean Action Plan, supported by over 170 countries, reaffirms a global commitment to SDG14 and strengthens the social, environmental and economic connections required for decisive action. Momentum has also accelerated the entry into force of instruments that have long been negotiated, including the High Seas Treaty, the creation of new Marine Protected Areas and the launch of the Coalition for a Quiet Ocean. Minna Epps, Director, Global Ocean Policy, IUCN Centre for Policy and Law, underlines the significance of the High Seas Treaty entering into force in January 2026, on page 23: “It’s been 20 years in the making. Witnessing it was a career highlight. But of course, we don’t want to stop there, we want it to be a universal treaty, ratified by as many states as possible.” Optimism must be tied to realism otherwise good intention will be remembered for the spectacle it was rather than the positive change that it inspired. Only eight% of the ocean is protected and overfishing, harmful subsidies, plastic pollution, destructive human activity, acidification and climate pressures remain entrenched. As we look forward, national leaders and ocean stakeholders must commit to: • Rapid ratification and implementation of the High Seas Treaty, alongside the global plastics treaty and moratoria on destructive practices • Scaling the roll-out of Marine Protected Areas and marine restoration projects, with sufficient funding and with due consideration given to indigenous expertise • Investing in proven innovation, including AI, robotics and smart ocean monitoring technologies • Aligning ocean governance with climate goals to ensure ocean health is effectively integrated into global climate treaties, and financial mechanisms • Mobilising capital through blue bonds, resilience funds and ocean climate finance to underwrite and protect long-term stewardship. Ocean for Life is one of many clear calls for pragmatic action in recent times. We must come together to convert scientific evidence and moral urgency into effective policy and good governance. Ocean health is not an abstract theory, it is a non-negotiable requirement for a healthy planet that can provide a stable climate, food security and human wellbeing. Arsenio Dominguez, secretary general of the International Maritime Organization, is, on page 5, uncompromising: “Protecting and restoring the ocean is not just a duty. It is our opportunity to build a healthier planet, stronger economies and a safer future for generations to come.” This book has been published during a time when geopolitical issues have distracted global leaders, and their development budgets, just as they were pledging greater resources to guarantee a sustainable future for the ocean. Consequently, countless ocean stakeholders that are running restoration and protection projects have seen their funding decimated, necessitating operational cutbacks and project cancellations. There will always be competition for time, resources and funding. Now is the time to pursue a strategic and evidence-based programme of activity that turns political will into durable outcomes. Just as the ocean sustains humanity, we must sustain it – through urgency, wisdom and enduring resolve. We have the knowledge and many of the tools, what we need now is political and social courage, reliable financial instruments and the will to implement at the scale and speed that science demands. Jon Ingleton Executive Editor, Ocean for Life
Ocean for Life 8 Peter Thomson has a mantra that he repeats every day: “You can’t have a healthy planet without a healthy ocean, and the ocean’s health is currently, measurably in decline.” These few words, he says, summarize an urgent existential challenge for humanity. “When we talk about the ocean’s health, we are really talking about our own health,” says Thomson, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean. “The principles of ocean literacy recognize that the ocean is one giant, living body of water and we depend on it to sustain all human life. Everything is connected: a melting Greenland ice sheet raises sea levels around the world. An intricate pattern of ocean currents moves around the planet, influencing climate zones and weather patterns everywhere. If we carry on polluting and depleting the ocean it will survive, albeit in an altered state. But humans will not survive if the ocean is unable to continue providing us with the food we eat and the oxygen we breathe. We can’t leave our children and grandchildren to face that legacy.” Right now, the alarming decline of coral reefs illustrates just how close we are to leaving that legacy. These vital ecosystems cover less than 1% of the ocean floor and support 25% of all marine life. In 2021, reports revealed that rising ocean temperatures had caused a 14% loss of global corals. In 2024 – the year global average surface warming crossed the Paris Agreement threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels – the world saw the largest global mass coral bleaching event ever recorded. If we don’t act now, things will quickly get worse. “At 1.5 degrees warming, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that the world will lose around 75% of its coral reefs,” Thomson says. “But at 2 degrees, that figure rises to 99%. We are currently on track for over 2 degrees warming this century, so we’re in imminent danger of losing all our coral reefs. If we lose that great swathe of marine biodiversity, that brings into question the ability of the ocean to be healthy in human terms. “Preserving ocean and coastal ecosystems is an existential issue for our children and grandchildren – destroy the wellbeing of the ecosystems and we destroy our own future. The corollary is plain: ruled as we must be by the principle of intergenerational justice, we have to stop and reverse the decline in ocean health – and we need to take action now.” Taking action Knowing where to start is the first big challenge. In 2015, Thomson helped to develop Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life below water (SDG14), which identifies the critical targets involved. Now, he is dedicated to fostering international efforts to achieve those aims. “The scale of tasks we have before us is as broad as the ocean itself,” Thomson says. “We need to address critical threats to the ocean’s ecosystems, including pollution, rising sea temperatures and unsustainable fishing practices. If I could make just one big change, it would be to stop burning fossil fuels, which are the primary cause of greenhouse gases and global warming. Once we stop burning coal, gas and oil, we will give ourselves a fighting chance to curb ocean warming, the altering of ocean currents, sea level rise, coral die-off, ocean acidification, accelerating loss of marine biodiversity and the worst of climate change.” One ocean for all human life An interview with Ambassador Peter Thomson, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean Preserving ocean and coastal ecosystems is an existential issue for our children and grandchildren, according to Peter Thomson
Ocean for Life 9 This green energy transition is already underway, but the pace of progress so far illustrates the frictions that can hold things back. For instance, the International Energy Agency reports that oil and gas industry operations are responsible for almost 15% of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, but the industry contributes only 1% of the required investment towards the green energy transition. The power to counter that indifference lies in consumers’ hands. “The worst thing we can do is fall into the monstrous moral malaise of doing nothing,” Thomson says. “As consumers we can force the pace of the transition, and we must accept that the responsibility falls on each one of us to make the change. A year ago, I bought an electric vehicle and its beneficial effect on my family budget, its comfort and reliability, and the fact that I will never again have to pull into a smelly petroleum station to fill up, has been hugely rewarding. It’s like giving up smoking: once you’ve given up your petroleum addiction, you’ll never go back.” As the wave of consumer action continues to build, Thomson is optimistic about the green transition – even if progress on implementing the Paris Climate Agreement is slower than hoped. “Looking at the rate of global electrification and the declining cost of green energy – thanks especially to the competitive affordability of solar panels – we’re approaching a point where it will be economically irrational to continue investing in oil and gas,” he says. Powerful policy Good intentions may drive change, but robust policy can accelerate the pace. Thomson cites plastic as a case in point. “I’m old enough to remember when there was no plastic pollution,” he says. “Plastic was initially seen as ‘cheap and nasty’ and the idea that we should just throw it away didn’t sit well with people like my mother, who would wash plastic bags and dry them on the line. But eventually we succumbed, and now we have a planet which is infused with microplastics, including in our own bodies. The chemicals it contains are doing significant harm to the health of animals, humans and the natural environment.” Thomson points to a lack of legal checks and balances that is partly to blame for the “plastic plague” humanity has created for itself. “We’ve been very backward on the connection between the plastic industry and poor health,” Thomson says. “Reliable research studies are already telling us that many of the thousands of chemicals used in plastic are hazardous and may be causing cancers, mutagenicity and endocrine disruption. I think we’ve really missed our responsibility here – plastics are poisoning the planet and the full life-cycle of plastic will plague us long into the future. Nobody’s being held to account for that.” The Global Plastic Pollution Treaty, under negotiation by United Nations Member States, seeks to change that. When it is eventually concluded, this legally binding international agreement must address the entire lifecycle of plastics, from design to production and disposal. Thomson hopes that the legislation will include important human health provisions and help to make green alternatives to plastic a viable option for consumers. “I’m not suggesting we’re ever going to get to a plastic free world, but it doesn’t have to be the way it is today,” Thomson says. “The friendly plastic alternatives, such as algae, haven’t SUSTAINABLE BLUE ECONOMY Ocean resources: aquaculture “Aquaculture represents the future of aquatic foods, with the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO’s) Blue Transformation strategy providing the basis for an efficient, inclusive, resilient aquatic food regime on the planet,” Thomson says. “The development of truly sustainable aquaculture will see appropriate species being farmed and fed with suitable feedstocks in locations that are harmonized with healthy marine ecosystems. Resilience will emerge from scientifically-managed wild-catch fisheries operating within strictly enforced biologically sustainable limits.” Algae – which already accounts for 30% of global aquaculture in net weight – is looking like the star of the sustainable aquaculture show. “Research and product development is underway to explore algae’s greater use in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, textiles, clothing, cosmetics, bio-packaging, biofuels and biofertilizers, human food and animal feed, particularly for sustainable aquaculture,” Thomson says. “Algae has always been available to us as a packaging material, and considering its carbon sequestration properties and the vast farming prairies the ocean offers for algae production, it is amazing that plastic got the free ride it did.” Image: iStock/raung
Ocean for Life 10 gone away, but they can’t compete with the virgin polymers being spewed out of the oil and gas industry. And with US$40 billion worth of investment in future production plants for plastics, these alternatives will never compete unless some decisive action is taken.” Change without frontiers All human life may depend on one living body of water, but national priorities – whether driven by people, history, culture, geography or natural resources – don’t always agree. As an advocate and leader of SDG14 and a supporter of the United Nations Ocean Conferences, Thomson’s mission is to find a point of convergence where every nation can be happy with a global set of ocean protection and restoration solutions and policies. “Two truths have emerged in the twenty-first century,” Thomson says. “The first is that the green transition is fundamental to the future of humankind on planet Earth. The second is that the ocean plays a vital role in overcoming the planetary emergencies of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss – known as the triple planetary crisis. Thanks to the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021 to 2030), there is more activity and more money going into ocean science now than ever before.” Midway through the Ocean Decade, a growing commitment to international cooperation on ocean health is bearing fruit. “The Plastics Treaty is still under negotiation, but the World Trade Organization has now ratified the first part of the agreement to end harmful fisheries subsidies,” Thomson says. “Meanwhile, ocean health has enjoyed strong recognition at recent UNFCCC conferences of parties (COPs). At COP26 in Glasgow, the Climate Pact highlighted the importance of maintaining the integrity of all ecosystems including forests, cryosphere and the ocean, and gave prominent recognition to marine ecosystems as sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases. At that Glaswegian COP, the decision was made to integrate oceanbased action into the mandates of relevant UNFCCC bodies and to begin the annual Ocean and Climate Change Dialogues.” A wealth of ocean-health focused activity followed. “In 2022, COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh underscored the ocean’s role by encouraging the inclusion of ocean-based action in national climate goals, including nationally determined contributions,” Thomson says. “This was followed by COP28 in Dubai where, informed by the first global stock-take, formal recognition was given to the critical role of the ocean in achieving net-zero emissions, with a call to scale up mitigation actions such as preserving coastal and ocean ecosystems. Also in 2023, delegates at the United Nations Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) adopted the BBNJ Agreement, which will usher in comprehensive international governance for the high seas. The required number of BBNJ ratifications has now been reached, meaning the treaty will come into force in January 2026. At UNFCC’s COP29 in Baku, the ocean-climatebiodiversity nexus was firmly entrenched through a multitude of events held in the conference’s Ocean Pavilion, and this will be repeated at COP30 in Belém.” One of Thomson’s most important missions is to support work arising from of the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD). The CBD COP15 in 2022, held in Montreal, SUSTAINABLE BLUE ECONOMY Ocean resources: fisheries FAO reports show that overfishing – currently at 34% – is increasing incrementally, with illegal fishing and overcapacity fishing fleets as two major causes. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is overhauling the subsidies that support these activities, but there is still more work to do. “WTO successfully reached agreement on banning subsidies that help illegal fishing, and that agreement has now been ratified by the required number of parties,” Thomson says. “Unfortunately, WTO has yet to reach agreement on banning subsidies that contribute to the overcapacity of fishing fleets, and until that’s done, it’s difficult to imagine we’ll eradicate overfishing of global stocks. “We must also be prepared to grasp the thorny issues still confronting us, such as the negative impact of various foreign fisheries access arrangements on coastal communities and the biodiversity within their waters. We need to foster greater respect for the rights and needs of small-scale fishers; ensure aquatic foods are ethically and responsibly sourced; and combat illegal fishing through enhanced monitoring control, and surveillance measures.” Image: iStock/Joao Manita
Ocean for Life 11 recognized that biodiversity loss is accelerating – and that the ocean must play a central part in the goal to protect 30% of the planet by 2030. At that conference, the Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted by a resounding multilateral consensus, with the 30x30 target at its heart. “The goal of 30x30 is incredibly important,” Thomson says. “A million species are already under threat of extinction thanks to greenhouse gas emissions and consequent global warming, compounded by our rampant pollution of land and sea. If we allow that to continue we will be looking at a giant cascade of biodiversity loss, with our own species eventually carried away on that waterfall to oblivion. It was thus very important at the CBD COP16, held in Cali, that we established a clear pathway for the Ocean’s role in achieving planetary 30x30. As a result, the Friends of Ocean Action (which Thomson co-chairs) announced it would commission the preparation of an Ocean 30x30 Action Plan to provide the necessary policy guidance for countries and organisations. The plan was subsequently launched at the third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice. “We committed to a widely inclusive exercise for the identification, compilation and presentation of a plan to identify where and how ocean 30x30 can be achieved,” Thomson says. “Our plan is to create the top 20 high seas marine protected areas (MPAs) while taking the exclusive economic zones, which occupy 38% of the ocean, into consideration. While it is an informal plan, it is one that we can all work with. And it’s a living plan that will evolve over time.” It takes time to put those international wheels in motion, and cynics might say that too often, a lot of talk leads to very little action. But Thomson believes that the frank and inclusive dialogue about ocean health is the best foundation for united action. “I was part of the group of ambassadors that created SDG14 and back then, it seemed like an impossible task,” he recalls. “When the superpowers don’t want something it’s hard to get it past them, but we got it done because small island developing states could see that it was so badly needed. We could see the size of the pollution problem, the depleting fish population, the rising sea level. At that point there wasn’t a Sustainable Development Goal for the ocean and so having created SDG14, the next task was to find a home for it. That’s when we bought in the United Nations Ocean Conference – which was another massive task to get passed by the big superpowers that didn’t want it. These are all big steps taken by the action of many. You need a hard-headed pragmatism sometimes to get the job done.” Building a sustainable blue economy A lot has changed since what Thomson calls the “dark days” before SDG14 – a time when most people just weren’t aware of the issues at stake. Starting that conversation and raising awareness has paved the way towards international collaboration. But with many lives and livelihoods depending on ocean industries, it’s essential that nobody is left behind. “While delving into the scientific, technical, and policy aspects of marine conservation, we mustn’t lose sight of the human dimensions involved,” Thomson says. “For example, many coastal communities around the world rely on coral reefs for their livelihoods, blue food security and cultural heritage, and their wellbeing must be included in SUSTAINABLE BLUE ECONOMY Developing nature-positive ocean-based sectors “The ocean’s tides, currents, waves and winds can provide us with all the renewable energy we need,” Thomson says. “When we combine that with the power of solar energy, we see that adequate investment in marine renewable energy, in nature-positive ways, will enable us to consign the planet-warming pollution of fossil fuel energy to a bygone era.” Research into the ocean’s genetic properties is also paving the way for novel industries to support human resilience. “In the fast-approaching post-antibiotic age, science points to the ocean’s properties as our pharmaceutical and nutraceutical frontier,” Thomson says. “For example, on a recent visit to Iceland, I was introduced to an array of creams, cosmetics, supplements, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals, all based on cod enzymes and Omega-3 oils. Most inspiring was that this diverse product range was a beneficial outcome of the Icelandic cod industry’s zero wastage policy.” Image: iStock/Sloot
Ocean for Life 12 any deliberations. We mustn’t lose sight of the fact that by empowering local communities and promoting sustainable livelihoods, we can ensure that the benefits of conservation are shared equitably. “We continue to be caught up in the age-old arm wrestle between conservation and exploitation, which neither side should win entirely. You don’t want to kill the goose that lays the golden egg, but you have to put food on your family’s table. That’s what SDG14 is, a goal to get the balance right between conservation and sustainably using the ocean’s resources.” The only way to balance those interests is through a sustainable blue economy – with the emphasis firmly on ‘sustainable’. “We will increasingly turn to the ocean for solutions to help us cope with the changes caused by the triple planetary crisis, be that in terms of renewable energy, carbon sequestration, medicine, food security or nutrition,” Thomson says. “Through that emerging realization, international organizations have accepted the concept of a sustainable blue economy as a prudent path to a resilient future. This principle is captured in SDG14’s call to conserve and sustainably use the ocean’s resources, implying circular practices that exist in harmony with nature – such as only fishing within biologically sustainable levels.” Thomson sees growing momentum towards habits that support the sustainable blue economy principles: decarbonizing ocean-based industries; promoting sustainable use and management of ocean resources; and pursuing naturepositive ocean-based sectors. “There is some momentum towards changing habits,” he says. “For example, source-to-sea – also known as ridge-to-reef – is now a very strong ethos that is understood everywhere in the Pacific.” Thomson tells of how, when snorkelling at a small resort in the Yasawa Islands in his native Fiji, he was amazed by the rich biodiversity he saw. “I asked the manager why the site was so incredible,” he recounts. “They told me it’s because of the site’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) status. The indigenous people own those islands and they work all the jobs, so it’s in their vested interest that the bay the tourists see is an MPA. They see the economic logic in sustaining the island’s biodiversity.” This symbiotic relationship between the ocean and those who use it illustrates the benefits that the nature-positive, regenerative principles of sustainable blue economy can bring. “We can be confident that a development approach that harnesses the power of the ocean while protecting its resources will be the best friend of coastal communities and the coral reefs they live alongside,” Thomson says. “By investing in ocean-based industries such as sustainable fisheries, nature-positive aquaculture, the greening of coastal shipping and marine tourism, we can build a sustainable blue economy that creates jobs, reduces poverty, and safeguards marine ecosystems.” Opportunity, resolve and hope Humanity has created enormous challenges for itself through pollution, greenhouse gases and the consequent warming of the planet. But driven by the principle of intergenerational justice, Thomson has faith in our power to stop and reverse the decline. SUSTAINABLE BLUE ECONOMY Decarbonizing ocean industries “Electrical power is coming forward as the clean energy alternative for short-haul marine craft like ferries and river transport, while green hydrogen, biofuels, methanol and wind have emerged as future alternatives for shipping propulsion,” Thomson says. To accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by at least 20% – and ideally 30% – by 2030. These targets – part of IMO’s wider ambition is to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 – have stimulated innovation among shipping operators. But they are only part of the story. “What about the little tramp steamers that work up and down the coast, and all the people pulling on a benzene-powered outboard engine?” Thomson asks. “They don’t fall within IMO’s responsibilities, so we have to find effective ways to bring the green transition to them as well.” Image: iStock/Scharfsinn86
Ocean for Life 13 “My role brings a heavy responsibility that has involved many jet-lagged moments of dejection in the depths of the night,” Thomson says. “But as a grandfather of four bright young girls who face the precarious future presented by climate change, it’s a responsibility that also bestows a bright light of opportunity, resolve and hope.” There is still a lot to achieve. Despite ocean science attracting more funding than ever before, SDG14 is widely recognized as the most under-funded of all the global goals. For instance, a 2024 World Economic Forum white paper showed that $175 billion per year is needed to achieve SDG14 by 2030; and yet, between 2015 and 2019, less than $10 billion was invested. Most of that funding comes from philanthropy and Official Development Assistance (ODA), according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development estimates – and yet SDG14-related funding comprises only 1% of global ODA. “If we accept that the sustainable blue economy is a core element of human resilience on a dangerously warming planet, we need to be directing far greater financial resources towards it,” Thomson says. “We must change that underfunding paradigm as if our futures depend on it – because in fact, they do.” Meanwhile, efforts continue to build the knowledge that can power positive change – not least through the CBD, SDG14 and the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science. “All of the global gatherings seeking to address the issues are grounded in ocean science,” Thomson says. “We know that our knowledge of the ocean’s properties remains insufficient for us to make the big decisions on the existential challenges confronting us. That’s why now it is time to double down on the work of the Decade of Ocean Science, because we urgently need the results of science to create and achieve our policy aspirations.” For today’s efforts to succeed, it’s vital to equip new generations with the skills to keep building on them. “To overcome the challenges ahead, young people must be fully conversant with the principles of ocean literacy,” Thomson says. “They must be part of the movement to spread the word that an essential component of our security on this planet is the restoration of humanity’s relationship with the ocean to one of respect and balance. Ocean literacy should be taught in every corner of our world – in every school, community and university.” As the world seeks sustainable solutions to restore the ocean’s wellbeing, Thomson says each of us must play our part. “We must all see ourselves as consumers who influence demand, as citizens who influence policy,” Thomson says. “We all have choices to make. Whether a country, a transnational corporation, a local community or an individual, we must ask ourselves what more we can do to reduce our carbon footprints. “We also need to innovate and accelerate the transition. With every year that passes now, the ocean breaks its temperature records causing rising sea levels, marine biodiversity loss and death of coral. As a result, the scope of ocean issues requiring urgent attention is daunting and we should not underestimate the testing tasks ahead. But that must not deter us. Every action we take today that improves global warming and safeguards biodiversity – even by a fraction of a degree – is an action that reduces the suffering of future generations.” “Every action we take today that improves global warming and safeguards biodiversity – even by a fraction of a degree – is an action that reduces the suffering of future generations,” says Thomson
Ocean for Life 14 Data, diplomacy and the future of our blue planet An interview with Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and Assistant Director-General of UNESCO, and former Minister of Climate and Environment for Norway There’s a school of thought which posits that a person needs an emotional connection to the ocean in order to become its steward. If there’s someone who exemplifies this, it’s Vidar Helgesen, a seasoned diplomat and now head of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC). “I was born in the Arctic, in an ocean town with parents from an island just outside that town. The ocean was very much part of life. It was engrained in our entire culture,” he says. That lived connection evolved into a career-long commitment to ocean governance, from leading fisheries negotiations to becoming coordinating minister for ocean management and planning in Norway. He proposed that Norway establish a high-level panel for sustainable economy and, once agreed, became the country’s ocean ambassador, prior to his role with IOC. It’s from this experienced position that he reflects on the profound challenges facing the ocean – and the possibilities for recovery if global will, scientific knowledge and collective responsibility align. Plugging the knowledge gaps The ocean resides at the frontline of what the United Nations calls the ‘triple planetary crisis’ of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. “The ocean has absorbed more than 90% of all excess warming from climate change and 25% of carbon dioxide emissions,” Helgesen says. Because of that, we see warming, acidification, oxygen loss, overfishing and other human pressures. The biodiversity loss is critical as well. Pollution goes far beyond plastics; nutrient pollution, for instance, is devastating ecosystems. Unless action is scaled up, the ocean’s life-support systems will be further eroded. Part of Helgesen’s role is plugging the knowledge gaps: coordinating among Member States, convening working groups of experts and distilling the current state of science and knowledge. “It’s all about relevant collaboration,” he says. “Our Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS), for example, is relevant to the High Seas Treaty. So we’re heavily engaged in those discussions. We have the secretariat for the global ocean observation system, where Member States provide the infrastructure but we have the coordinating role and make the data available. We coordinate the global tsunami early warning system. But it all comes back to the fundamentals of ocean observation and data, because that underpins ocean planning and early warning systems.” Coordination such as this is not easy. “You need to have the machinery and the documentation in place to provide this knowledge base and capacity development,” he says. And still, vast gaps persist. Despite technological advances, just 27% of the sea floor is mapped and an estimated 15-25% of ocean species have been identified. That is where initiatives such as the UN Decade of Ocean Science (2021-2030) come in. “It has been the largest ever mobilisation of ocean science efforts,” says Helgesen. “We’re seeing progress – more mapping, more biodiversity data – but there are still enormous gaps. And the deeper you go, the shallower our knowledge.” Access to data is as much a political and economic issue as a scientific one. Private companies, offshore industries and Born in an Arctic town, the ocean has always been an important part of Vidar Helgesen’s life
Ocean for Life 15 governments hold vast stores of information, yet just 3% of the data in IOC’s OBIS comes from the private sector, and half of that is from Norway alone, where national regulations require companies to share what they collect. “Unlocking existing data is as important as generating new data,” he says. “A lot sits in corporate or government coffers, and too often it isn’t shared.” It’s estimated that if the private sector were to release data into the OBIS, 20 percentage points could be added to the sea floor mapping. Now at the midway point of the decade, IOC recently completed an evaluation of progress to date. “One of the remaining challenges is a matter of openness. Government decision-making processes need to be better designed, and the science community needs to place emphasis and priority on these critical areas and engage with politics. You need to engage with the bureaucracy, because that’s where knowledge is distilled for policymakers.” Beyond 2030, the knowledge gained will be carried forward and adapted. This call for transparency gives hope to the potential of multilateralism. Despite countries’ recent failure to agree on a plastics treaty – talks collapsed in August – it is promising that so many engaged in talks in the first place. Elsewhere, and despite fraught negotiations, the recently agreed High Seas Treaty has increased the reach of nations to protect biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. IOC’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission is expected to play a role in its implementation by providing scientific baselines and capacity development. “We’re a technical, highly specialised agency,” says Helgesen. “Governments negotiate; our job is to be useful by providing the knowledge base.” Data-based predictions in uncertain times Such data will prove critical as the world works to protect itself from an increasingly unpredictable ocean. “We have tsunami early warning systems, but nothing similar for the ocean hazards increasing as a result of climate changes: ocean heatwaves, sea level rise, storm surges, green heat waves, harmful algae blooms, invasive species, ecosystems collapsing, coral bleaching and so on. For vulnerable nations, particularly small island developing states and coastal countries in Africa, capacity-building is critical. These countries are already on the frontlines – we need to prioritize their capacity to plan and adapt.” Advances in ocean observation will help, but technology can only go so far. Helgesen highlights the ongoing need for human involvement in data collection. “AI is only as useful as the data you feed it.” He offers a metaphor: “You can build a beautiful fountain, but if the water supply is blocked, it won’t last. We need to ensure the plumbing – the data flow – is there. And that’s still a major deficiency.” This data flow has financial implications, too – a critical factor considering Sustainable Development Goal 14, Life Below Water, is the least funded of all 17 SDGs. Less than 1% of development assistance is targeted towards oceanrelated projects. But, says Helgesen, the economic case for investment is strong. “The recovery and regeneration capacity of oceans is such that they are eminently investable,” he says. And corporate engagement is growing. Shipping companies, for instance, have incentives to support ocean observation that improves weather prediction and fuel efficiency. “There are altruistic motives, yes, but there are also clear business interests. Better data can save money, reduce emissions and prevent accidents.” The politics of visibility One of the greatest challenges in mobilizing support for ocean sustainability is perception. “We don’t have human settlements in the ocean, no media, no pressure groups,” says Helgesen. “That makes it harder to engage the public and politicians.” But as awareness increases, pressure is mounting for those in power to take urgent action – and this must start with climate action. “The most important action to prevent warming of the ocean is not in the ocean, it’s on land. We need to get emissions down. That is number one.” But responsibility is layered. Governments, under international law, bear the primary duty to regulate industries and safeguard ecosystems. Corporations, increasingly pressured by investors and consumers, have a role in both mitigation and innovation. And individuals, Helgesen argues, should not underestimate their influence. “We can choose our diet, our investments, our modes of transport. As consumers, we influence corporations and governments. We shouldn’t shy away from responsibility.” It’s this message that will endure as the next generation takes the mantle of ocean stewardship. And Helgesen is cautiously optimistic. “Be curious. Try to find knowledge beyond TikTok. Listen not to influencers, but to brainfluencers. If you want a future that sustains life on the planet, you need to be part of the solution.” Despite the daunting scale of the challenges, Helgesen believes hope is warranted. “The amazing thing is that if we protect the ocean, it can recover with astonishing speed. Awareness today is far higher than 20 years ago. The question is whether we can act fast enough.” Just 3% of the data in IOC’s Ocean Biodiversity Information System comes from the private sector, and half of that is from Norway alone, where national regulations require companies to share what they collect (Image: iStock/bruev)
Tourism now accounts 33% of the global ocean economy,” says Zoritsa Urosevic Tourism is intricately intertwined with the wellbeing of our planet, its people and economies. At its best, it brings investment in natural environments, prosperity for local communities and unique experiences for travellers. But excessive visitor numbers and unsustainable activities can damage all those things. Ocean and coastal areas are especially impacted. “People have a strong desire to be near the ocean,” says Zoritsa Urosevic, executive director of UN Tourism, the United Nations specialized agency for responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. “Fifty% of international tourism is connected to ocean destinations. That means that when we talk about protecting the ocean, we are also talking about protecting the very foundation of half of our tourism industry.” From an economic perspective, tourism stands out as a key driver of economic growth, especially in ocean and coastal areas. “Tourism now accounts 33% of the global ocean economy, making it the number one sector in the ocean-based economy – ahead of fisheries and maritime transport,” Urosevic says. “For islands, it can represent up to 70% of gross domestic product (GDP). If we look at all islands together – excluding Singapore – tourism accounts for 53% of service exports and 38% of goods and services exports. That shows how fundamental tourism is to island economies.” UN Tourism is the United Nations specialized agency for responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. It understands tourism as a multifaceted sector that can contribute to the achievement of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) by reducing poverty, generating employment and fostering innovation. To help the industry Harnessing tourism for ocean health An interview with Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director of UN Tourism Ocean for Life 16
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