United Nations Global Compact Launches the Ocean Stewardship 2030 Report

May 30, 2020 8:00 PM ET

United Nations Global Compact Launches the Ocean Stewardship 2030 Report

UNITED NATIONS, May 30, 2020 /3BL Media/ - The United Nations Global Compact today launched the Ocean Stewardship 2030 report  — a roadmap for how ocean-related industries and policymakers jointly can secure a healthy and productive ocean by 2030. According to the report, transparency, cooperation and good standards will enable more sustainable food production, transport and energy production while dramatically improving ocean health.

The report will be presented during the Online High-Level Meeting on Sustainable Ocean Business on 2 June. Speakers for this event include Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway, Michael Lodge, Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International, and Rodolphe Saadé Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM. Further details on the agenda and registration can be found here

As we enter the Decade of Action on the Global Goals, the ocean could sustainably produce significantly more food to provide adequate nutrition for the 820 million people currently estimated to be food insecure, according to the report. As shipping moves about 90 per cent of the world’s goods, decarbonized shipping can be a key factor in increasing sustainable global trade. In addition, offshore renewable energy is playing a significant role in mitigating global climate change. At the same time, addressing ocean waste and pollution, as well as ocean science and data sharing, all represent large scale business opportunities. 

“The ocean plays an important role in recovering better from the COVID-19 pandemic and achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,”  said Lise Kingo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. “As we enter the Decade of Action, this roadmap shows how businesses and Governments can work together to take the necessary actions for our ocean.’’ 

The Ocean Stewardship 2030 report describes five areas critical for success, suggests two ambitions per area and puts forward several recommendations addressing critical dimensions of public and private governance to accelerate ocean-related solutions. 

“True ocean stewardship requires us to care for the ocean's health and the sustainability of its resources. It is about finding the right balance between protection and production,’’ said Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean. ‘’The private sector is increasingly recognizing its responsibility, alongside Governments and civil society, to become committed ocean stewards.’’

“For investors and listed companies, the roadmap of the Ocean Stewardship 2030 report and the Sustainable Ocean Principles provide the right framework for responsible business practices in the ocean,’’ said Stéphane Boujnah, CEO and Chairman of the Managing Board of Euronext.

The report is based on input from over 300 stakeholders and was developed in collaboration with DNV GL, following previous collaborative publications including Global Goals, Ocean Opportunities and Mapping Ocean Governance and Regulation. Remi Eriksen, CEO of DNV GL, said, “This report contains clear points of action for Governments and businesses, building on the Sustainable Ocean Principles. It calls for cross-sectoral, holistic responses, and elevates the ambition for industry leadership.’’ 

Click here to read the report. 

ABOUT THE UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL COMPACT

As a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Launched in 2000, the mandate of the UN Global Compact is to guide and support the global business community in advancing UN goals and values through responsible corporate practices. With more than 10,000 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and more than 60 Local Networks, it is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world.    

For more information, follow @globalcompact on social media and visit our website at unglobalcompact.org

ABOUT THE SUSTAINABLE OCEAN BUSINESS ACTION PLATFORM

The Sustainable Ocean Business Action Platform of the United Nations Global Compact convenes leading actors from business, academia and Government institutions to determine how ocean industries can advance progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Media contacts:

Sturla Henriksen
+47 911-222-55
henriksen@unglobalcompact.org

Erik Giercksky
+47 996-474-55
giercksky@unglobalcompact.org