United Nations Ocean Conference

Recently, the United Nations had hosted the first large-scale ocean conference devoted for protecting and saving the oceans.  The Ocean Conference is a United Nations Conference of world community to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14. The conference served as a platform for the world community to discuss innovative ways to sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Need

Tiny islands states such as Palau, Fiji and Tuvalu are concerned about the lives of their citizens because of climate change, pollution and overfishing.

The decades of unsustainable exploitation patterns, climate change and associated rising ocean temperatures have resulted in various problems like acidification, coral bleaching and changing wildlife patterns.

The oceans are important as the temperature pattern of oceans drives the climate and weather systems. The oceans also absorb about half of the carbon dioxide emitted by the humans.

There is an urgent need to conserve underwater resources by implementing the SDG 14, which specifies targets to manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems.

Outcomes

• The conference resulted in adoption of a 14-point Call for Action by the participating Heads of State. The leaders also pledged their commitment to conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas and marine resources.
• At the conference, issues ranging from plastic pollution in the oceans, ocean acidification and illegal fishing were elaborately discussed.
• Formation of a task force on marine litter by the International Solid Waste Association was also announced.
• The Global Ocean Commission had made recommendations to improve the oceanic ecosystem by checking illegal and unregulated fishing activities; ending harmful subsidies in seas and establishing binding international safety standards.

SDG 14 Targets

• Prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds by 2025.
• Sustainably managing and protecting marine and coastal ecosystems by 2020.
• Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification.
• Regulate harvesting, end overfishing and destructive fishing practices by 2020.
• Conserve at least 10% of coastal and marine areas by 2020.
• By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies that contributes to overcapacity and overfishing as well eliminate subsidies that result in illegal, unregulated fishing.
• Increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries by sustainable use of marine resources by 2030.

Way forward

The governments around the world have to work towards addressing the existing gaps in regulation, policy areas, or implementation to deliver on sustainable fish stocks and healthy oceans.