Asia-Pacific is home to the most biologically diverse and productive marine ecosystems on Earth. From fisheries to marine-based tourism, the ocean is a vital source of livelihood, employment, nutrition and economic growth and is essential in balancing our climate. Marine and coastal ecosystems are the first line of defense from saltwater inundation and storms. Yet, rampant marine pollution, ocean acidification and warming, destructive fishing practices, and inadequate coastal and marine governance threaten the health of our ocean and its capacity to nurture sustainable development. Countries in Asia-Pacific are both major sources of ocean degradation and highly vulnerable to its impacts.
At the global level, Sustainable Development Goal 14 – Life below water – offers a framework on how countries can conserve and sustainably use the ocean, seas and marine resources for development. The United Nations Ocean Conference recently committed to halting and reversing the decline in the health and productivity of the ocean and its ecosystems and to protect and restore its resilience and ecological integrity. It also recognized that the well-being of present and future generations is inextricably linked to the health and productivity of the oceans; and stressed the importance of enhancing understanding of the health and role of the oceans.
ESCAP member States ratified their commitment to the protection of the ocean, through Resolution 76/1 on “Strengthening cooperation to promote the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific”.
Asia-Pacific Day for the Ocean
Member States reinforced ESCAP’s mandate on the ocean-related work, strengthening current partnerships and developing new partnerships for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources, including through participatory, multi-stakeholder dialogue platforms. In line with this mandate, ESCAP hosts its flagship Asia-Pacific Day for the Ocean annually, to bringing together a variety of stakeholders, including civil society, the youth, academia, the private sector and the scientific community. You may find information about the event here:
- Sixth Asia-Pacific Day for the Ocean (30 October 2023)
- Fifth Asia-Pacific Day for the Ocean (29 November 2022)
- Fourth Asia-Pacific Day for the Ocean (27 October 2021)
- Third Asia-Pacific Day for the Ocean (29 October 2020)
- Second Asia-Pacific Day for the Ocean (8 November 2019)
- First Asia-Pacific Day for the Ocean (20 November 2018)
The Ocean Decade (2021-2030)
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development for the ten-year period beginning on 1 January 2021. ESCAP, through its membership in UN-Oceans, supported the preparation process of the implementation plan as mandated in the governance structure of the Ocean Decade.
In line with the challenges and objective of the Ocean Decade, ESCAP developed a Regional Decade Program: Accelerating the delivery of SDG14 in Asia and the Pacific, to support member States to accelerate actions to implement the 2030 Agenda and to reach SDG14 by 2030. The Decade Program is a joint contribution by ESCAP, UNEP and UNDP to the Ocean Decade, and it promotes the protection and safeguarding of ecosystems health, including marine ecosystems and their interconnectedness with land ecosystems from a one-health approach.
Among other activities, the Decade Program encourages youth action through the Asia-Pacific Ocean Youth Championship.
Ocean-based solutions for climate action
In 2022, under the G20 Presidency of Indonesia, ESCAP, together with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO provided technical assistance to the Climate Sustainability Working group, addressing the priority issue of enhancing land- and sea-based actions to support environment protection and climate objectives, through delivery of a study on: Promoting Ocean-based Solutions to Climate Change Through Enhanced Cooperation in Science, Research, and Innovation.
Accelerating the implementation of SDG 14
Inadequate marine governance is threatening ocean and coastal ecosystems in the Asia-Pacific region. Countries with the greatest needs have little capacity to apply existing knowledge on the ocean into their policy decisions. Therefore, ESCAP has developed a methodology to help prioritize needs, identify entry points and existing frameworks that can be leveraged to accelerate implementation of SDG 14 and its targets, and support follow-up and review processes: “SDG 14 in Asia and the Pacific: An accelerator Approach for Implementation.”
- Policy brief: The policy brief serves as a tool to systematize regional priorities with the aim to scope governance gaps, opportunities for action to support regional action in line with SDG 14. To facilitate transformative changes with focus on SDG 14 in Asia and the Pacific, accelerators are introduced as tools that optimize development benefits aligned to national priorities by identifying and planning pivotal interventions with positive multiplier effects.
- Methodological guide: The work presented here provides a step by step approach for developing an Accelerator Action Plan for SDG 14. The methodology uses policy tracking, interconnections between SDGs and participatory scenario planning to develop pivotal interventions to increase the rate of delivery of SDG 14. The Accelerator is designed as a strategic planning instrument for national governments in the Asia-Pacific region operating in data-limited contexts.
Ocean cities
Unplanned urbanization in island States threatens resilience, increases vulnerability and further degrades coastal and marine ecosystems. ESCAP has worked with Pacific island States to design an ocean focused climate responsive policy guide for urban development. This approach bridges the gap between the built and natural environment to protect ocean-based livelihoods in island systems.
ESCAP’s initiative on ‘Adapting Sustainable Urban Development to Island Systems’ in partnership with Pacific island developing States aimed to develop an integrated policy approach for ocean-focused and climate-responsive urban development adapted to island systems. The approach integrated nature-based solutions, coastal zone conservation and marine spatial planning in island settlements, promoting urban resilience and protecting ocean-based livelihoods.
A series of “Oceans Cities” concise policy briefs bridge the built and natural environment for urban development in island States in line with Pacific priorities, including issues of urban planning and coastal zone management, nature-based solutions, and community resilience.
The ocean cities regional policy guide ‘Delivering Resilient Solutions in Pacific Island Settlements’ based on the policy briefs is tailor-made for challenges in island systems and includes concrete policy recommendations and practical guidance for local and national governments to apply an integrated approach.
As a companion document to the ocean cities regional policy guide, the ‘Ocean Cities Snapshot for Policy-makers’ provides an executive summary of the Ocean Cities concept, the context, challenges and opportunities of Ocean Cities. It also outlines several policy recommendations for the implementation of solutions for simultaneously achieving urban climate resilience, improved sustainability of ocean resources and better integration of landscape and seascape planning.
- Ocean Cities of the Pacific Islands Policy Brief #1 the Ocean and the City
- Ocean Cities of the Pacific Islands Policy Brief #2 the Ocean and the City
- Ocean Cities of the Pacific Islands Policy Brief #3 the Ocean and the City
Changing Sails: Accelerating Regional Actions for Sustainable Oceans in Asia and the Pacific
The theme study for the seventy-sixth session of the Commission, presented four key focus areas for urgent action to halt and reverse the declining health of oceans and marine ecosystems. The lack of data on oceans, growing demand for inclusive and green maritime shipping, deteriorating fish stocks and gaps in fishery management and the mounting pressure of marine plastic pollution are highlighted in the study.
The theme study calls for enhanced sharing of ocean data and stronger investment in national statistical systems for collecting and harmonizing ocean data. In addition, the need for enforcing international conventions, norms and standards in relation to maritime shipping, sustainable fisheries and marine pollution. Access the report here.