Against a backdrop of global uncertainty and questions about whether multilateral processes can still deliver, the countries represented at the latest UN Ocean Conference were largely united on the need for a more ambitious response to the challenges facing our ocean. Here is what needs to happen now.
Pursuing a sustainable blue economy requires striking a delicate balance between using the ocean’s resources and respecting its natural limits, especially amid the escalating climate crisis.
Unlocking the full potential of the sustainable ocean economy will require bold investments, policy reform and coordinated action to bridge the growing blue finance gap.
Countries which govern half the world's territorial oceans have yet to integrate ocean-focused solutions into their nationally determined contributions, or NDCs, due for an update by February 2025.