Scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation for the implementation of SDG 14: stocktaking, partnerships and solutions
Ipieca attended the second UN Ocean Conference which took place in Lisbon, Portugal, 27 June-1 July. The conference's overarching theme was 'Scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation for the implementation of SDG 14 Life below water: stocktaking, partnerships and solutions'.
More than 6,000 participants, including 24 heads of state and government and over 2,000 representatives of civil society, attended the conference, advocating for science-based and innovative solutions to start a new chapter of global ocean action.
Key insights
The conference featured a range of topics, including:
- The ocean as a carbon sink and solution to climate change
- Marine pollution including plastic pollution
- Minimizing and addressing ocean acidification, deoxygenation, and ocean warming
- Blue economy and finance: strengthening ocean-based economies
- Marine protected areas: managing, protecting, conserving and restoring marine and coastal ecosystems
- Climate change and biodiversity in oceans
- Sustainable fishing/fisheries
- Knowledge transfer and capacity building of marine science/technology
- The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea including the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty
- The Importance of partnerships: leveraging interlinkages between SDG 14 and other goals towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Over 300 voluntary commitments, with approximately 50 high-level commitments and pledges, including an investment of at least USD 1 billion to support the creation, expansion and management of marine protected areas and Indigenous and locally governed marine and coastal areas by 2030, made by the Protecting Our Planet Challenge.
Ipieca will keep abreast of any developments related to ocean matters within the UN to inform members and identify any areas to be considered by Ipieca.