The United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference 2022 was co-hosted by the governments of Kenya and Portugal from June 27 to July 1, 2022, at the Lisbon Altice Arena Convention Center in Lisbon, Portugal.
- The UN Ocean Conference 2022’s overall theme is “Scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation for the implementation of Goal 14: stocktaking, partnerships and solutions.”
Leadership of the UN Ocean Conference 2022
Secretary-General of the Conference – Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.
Special Adviser to the Presidents of the Ocean Conference on the ocean and legal matters – Miguel de Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs.
UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean
Ambassador Peter Thomson of Fiji was appointed as UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean in 2017 by the UN Secretary-General Guterres.
- The appointment of a special envoy is meant to drive coordinated efforts to implement the outcomes of the United Nations Ocean Conference2017, the first UN Ocean Conference, thereby preserving the momentum for action to conserve and sustainably utilise the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.
4 Special Events That Accompanied UN Ocean Conference 2022
i.UN Ocean Conference Youth and Innovation Forum, Cascais in Portugal
ii.Localizing Action for the Ocean: Local and Regional Governments Special Event
iii. High-Level Symposium on Water: Bridging SDG 6 and SDG 14 – fresh and saltwater communities working together, Lisbon in Portugal
iv.Sustainable Blue Economy Investment Forum (SBEIF), a special event of the 2nd United Nations Ocean Conference, Cascais in Portugal
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life Below Water
SDG 14 highlights the importance of conserving and sustainably using the world’s oceans, seas, and marine resources. It was adopted in 2015 as a key component of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its set of 17 transformative goals.
- SDG 14 is directed by specific targets that focus on a variety of ocean challenges, such as reducing marine pollution, protecting marine and coastal ecosystems, minimising acidification, ending illegal and over-fishing, increasing investment in scientific knowledge and marine technology, and respecting international law that calls for the safe and sustainable use of the ocean and its resources.
UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021 – 2030
The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 establishes a shared framework to ensure that ocean science can fully support countries’ efforts to sustainably manage the ocean.
- In particular, it insists in meeting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—by establishing a new foundation across the science-policy interface to boost ocean and coast management for the benefit of humanity.
Related events hosted by the Ocean Decade
i.The High-Level Ocean Decade Alliance Event at the 2022 UN Ocean Conference was the first in person meeting of Alliance Patrons and members.
- The event will be co-hosted by the Presidents of Portugal and Kenya – both of whom are founding Patrons of the Alliance – and the Director-General of UNESCO.
ii.The Ocean Decade Forum 2022
The Ocean – Earth’s Biggest Ally
i.The ocean covers 70% of the Earth’s surface, is the largest biosphere, and is home to up to 80% of all species on the planet.
ii.It generates 50% of the oxygen (O2) we need, absorbs 25% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and absorbs 90% of the extra heat produced by those emissions.
iii. It serves as “the lungs of the planet,” and also as the planet’s greatest carbon sink, acting as a crucial buffer against the effects of climate change.
iv.It supports infinite biodiversity and generates the food, employment, and mineral and energy resources necessary for life on Earth to exist and prosper.
Threats to the Ocean
According to science, the ocean is facing unprecedented threats as a result of human activities.
- Due to increasing population, its health and ability to sustain life is at stake, and it will get worse as the world population grows and human activities increase.
- It is being impacted by acidification, oxygen loss, marine heatwaves as well as the melting of sea ice and glaciers.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh took part in “UN Ocean Conference 2022” at Lisbon
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministries of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, attended the “UN Ocean Conference 2022” in Lisbon, Portugal.
- During the conference, he delivered the keynote address on the theme “Scaling up Ocean Action Based on Science and Innovation for Goal 14 Implementation: Stock Taking, Partnerships, and Solutions.”
- The conference featured participants from over 130 countries.
The leaders reaffirmed the declaration entitled “Our ocean, our future: call for action”, adopted by the high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, held from June 05 – 09, 2017.
Bilateral Meeting with Norway Environment Minister
On the side-lines of the UN Ocean Conference 2022, Dr Jitendra Singh has also held a bilateral meeting with the Minister for Climate and Environment of Norway, Espen Barth Eide.
- Both the Ministers have reviewed the dialogue and progress on topics including the blue economy, integrated ocean management, marine pollution, green shipping, and ocean-based renewable energy.
The meeting followed the 5th India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy for Sustainable Development, which was held in New Delhi (Delhi) on June 23, 2022.
- It was co-chaired by Secretary Dr M. Ravichandran, Ministry of Earth Sciences, and the Norwegian Ambassador, Hans Jacob Frydenlund.
The Task Force was established in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to assist growth in the Blue Economy as the 6th dimension of his Vision of New India by 2030.
UN Ocean Conference 2022: ‘Blue Deal’ To Enable Sustainable Use of Ocean Resources for Economic Development
The 2022 United Nations Ocean Conference proposed the “Blue Deal,” which would enable the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth.
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), it includes global trade, investment, and innovation to establish a sustainable and resilient ocean economy.
The need for ‘Blue Deal’
i.The sustainable growth of the ocean economy, which includes fisheries and aquaculture, coastal tourism, maritime transport, offshore renewable energy, ecosystem services, and marine genetic resources, can benefit coastal and island developing countries.
ii.By facilitating 80% of global trade volume, it can generate jobs and income for these nations. It also supports 80% of the world’s organisms.
iii. Nearly 3 billion people, the majority of whom reside in developing nations, rely on the resources of the ocean for food, employment, and income.
iv.According to the UN, the ocean is the “next great economic frontier” since it has the potential for wealth and economic growth, employment, and innovation.
- Additionally, it offers assistance to developing countries in improving their trade policies to enable the sustainable use of the ocean, seas, and coasts for economic growth while maintaining the health of the ocean.
UNCTAD With Respect to Ocean
i.UNCTAD experts published a research paper in October 2021 advocating a global trade, investment, and innovation Blue Deal.
ii.According to the experts, the economy after COVID-19 pandemic, should prioritise sustainability and resilience in ocean-based value chains.
iii. The report revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic had an uneven effect on ocean industries such marine fisheries, marine and coastal tourism, and maritime transport.
- The paper outlined a number of proactive policy suggestions for establishing a post-COVID-19 Blue Recovery in trade, finance, and innovation.
- Some of the recommendations include expanding digitisation efforts to lower costs for business in developing countries, setting up a blue bank for investments, and improving regulations of blue finance.
iv.These suggestions are seen as a call for a Blue New Deal, which is seen as the sister initiative to the Green New Deal, which is already getting political traction and support globally.
UNESCO Launches State of the Ocean Report (StOR) 2022: Pilot Edition
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) launched its key State of the Ocean Report (StOR) 2022: Pilot Edition.
- This pilot edition of the StOR was proposed and developed to demonstrate the feasibility of keeping the world up-to-date on the current state of the ocean.
The report is organised around the initial challenges of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, 2021-2030, drawing on examples from Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC) -led or partnered activities.
- IOC is the UN body responsible for supporting global ocean science and services.
The IOC enables its 150 Member States to work together to protect the health of our shared ocean by coordinating programmes in areas such as ocean observations, tsunami warnings and marine spatial planning.
UN Ocean Conference 2022: 198 Countries Adopt Lisbon Declaration
The Lisbon Declaration on ocean conservation was unanimously adopted by all 198 members of the United Nations on July 01, 2022. The nations agreed to take urgent science-based and innovative actions.
- They acknowledged the need for capacity building support for developing nations, especially small island developing states and least developed countries.
Participants at the conference also agreed to work on preventing, reducing and controlling marine pollution. It includes:
- Nutrient pollution
- Untreated wastewater
- Solid waste discharges
- Hazardous substances
- Emissions from the maritime sector, including shipping, shipwrecks
- Anthropogenic underwater noise
Other pledges include developing and promoting innovative financing solutions to assist create sustainable ocean-based economies, as well as increasing nature-based solutions to help save and preserve coastal communities.
Highlights:
i.As part of their commitment to attaining SDG 14 and developing a sustainable ocean-based economy, member countries have also committed to empowering women and girls.
ii.The conference has put forward for the fifth session of the intergovernmental conference on an international legally binding instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.
iii. The fifth round of negotiations to implement the international treaty will take place in New York, United States (US) from August 15-26, 2022.
- It aims to protect biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, which lie outside the 200-mile (322-kilometre) Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of countries.
iv.The participants expect to get the finance for solutions discussed in Lisbon at the 27th Conference of Parties (CoP 27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It will be held in Egypt in November 2022.
About United Nations (UN):
Secretary-General – António Guterres
Establishment – 1945
Headquarters – New York, USA
