Implementing SDG 14 with the Communities of Ocean Action

The forthcoming Ocean Conference, co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal, will come at a critical time as the world is strengthening its efforts to mobilize, create and drive solutions to realize the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 in the context of an ongoing global pandemic. How we respond to COVID-19 beyond the immediate and necessary recovery of health and livelihoods will likely determine not only whether we will reach SDG 14, but also how sustainable the world of tomorrow will be. The high level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development: The 2017 Ocean Conference co-hosted by Fiji and Sweden paved the way for action oriented, science based innovative solutions aimed at reversing the decline in the health of our ocean for people, planet and prosperity.

At the 2017 conference, approximately 1,400 voluntary commitments (VC) for concrete action to advance implementation of SDG 14 were made by Member States, the UN system, and an array of stakeholders including civil society, the private sector and academia. To date, over 1,600 VCs are registered online and the registry of voluntary commitments remain open. These commitments were one of the major outcomes of the conference and marked a global breakthrough on the path to sustainable management and conservation of our oceans, seas and marine resources. To follow-up on the implementation of these voluntary commitments as well as to catalyze and generate new ones, the UN launched nine thematic multi stakeholder Communities of Ocean Action (COA) of which are closely aligned with the targets of SDG14 .

Recently, an online survey on the implementation of VCs published on the Ocean Conference Registry was carried out to get an update on the achievements and challenges as well as to receive suggestions on its implementation. The assessment of the impact of these commitments based on the survey and other available information, concluded that the VCs have collectively furthered the attainment of SDG 14. Nevertheless, various challenges to their implementation have been reported such as, the lack of resources, funding, technical expertise, partner cooperation as well as political environment. Furthermore, the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic that broke out last year has further exacerbated challenges in the implementation of the VCs.

This webinar will take a look at the status of implementation of the VCs as well as the impacts of the COVID-19.

Registration link.

Investing in SDG 14

The objectives of this webinar are threefold. First, it will explore the ways in which the public and private sectors, including NGOs and philanthropies, can more effectively finance the implementation of SDG14. Second, it will discuss how the important link between the Ocean and the Climate can be strategically factored into public and private investment decisions for the Sustainable Blue Economy. Third, this webinar aims to share best practices and examples of innovative financing tools and instruments that are showing positive results.

Biodiversity: The Ocean’s Role

Marine life, the world’s climate, our economy and social well-being depend on the existence of a healthy ocean. Although some improvements have been observed, recent assessments show that the Ocean continues to be exploited in an unsustainable manner. Climate change and competition for natural resources are adding further pressure on the marine environment. The decline of biodiversity, the Ocean’s degrading health, and the ongoing climate crisis demand special attention and a nexus approach.

On the margins of the 2020 Biodiversity Summit, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, Peter Thomson, in coordination with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), is organizing a High-Level Side-Event on “Biodiversity – the Ocean’s Role”. The event is being held for the purpose of discussing the Ocean’s integral role on this planet as the largest reservoir of biodiversity and life.

The webinar will feature a number of High-Level speakers, who will participate by video message or in the event’s livestream.

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