A shift to a sustainable ocean economy: Facilitating post-COVID-19 recovery and resilience

The ocean’s resources sustain the livelihoods of about 3 billion people worldwide, the vast majority of whom live in developing countries. But those livelihoods are under threat, as the ocean and its ability to sustain life are in grave danger due to human activities, such as pollution and overfishing.

Every year, an estimated 5 to 12 million metric tonnes of plastic flow into the ocean, which represents 95% of our planet’s biosphere. And due to overfishing, the percentage of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels fell from 90% in 1990 to less than 66% in 2017.

The 4th Oceans Forum, to be held from 6 to 8 April 2022, is a unique platform to identify ways to change course.

It’s an opportunity to find solutions for using trade as a tool to protect our ocean and its resources, accelerating the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14’s trade-related targets.

Topics

The high-level opening of the Oceans Forum will tackle challenges and opportunities for the ocean economy to contribute to a sustainable and resilient post-COVID-19 recovery for all countries.

During three days, the forum will convene experts and representatives from United Nations agencies, regional bodies, governments, civil society organizations, and research and scientific institutions to address the following topics:

• Emerging sustainable ocean economy sectors, such as seaweed production
• Transparency and fish subsidies support mechanisms
• Ocean economy markets and non-tariff measures reform
• Social sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture value chains
• Sustainable and resilient maritime supply chains
• Trade-related aspects of marine litter and plastic pollution

Hybrid format

Taking into consideration current COVID-19 safety measures, the forum will be held as a hybrid event. It is open to the public, but registration is required.

Morning sessions will convene from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and afternoon sessions from 3 to 5 p.m. CET.

Expected outcome

H.E. Ms. Usha Dwarka-Canabady, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Mauritius to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, will chair the forum.

As the chair, Ms. Dwarka-Canabady will consolidate the forum’s conclusions and recommendations in an official report that will be sent to the governments of Portugal and Kenya, the co-conveners of the 2022 United Nations Oceans Conference, which will be held in Lisbon from 27 June to 1 July.

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CoNGO Notes: To learn about collaborative work done by NGOs about the issue above and related matters, visit the work of CoNGO related NGO substantive committees. For specific information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-NY, please visit ngocsd-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org.