Overview
Protecting Our Ocean
Asia-Pacific is home to the most biologically diverse and productive marine ecosystems on Earth. From fisheries to marine-based tourism, our 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, unsustainable trade and transport, 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 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3) was a milestone in the protection of the ocean and the marine environment. The Nice Ocean Action Plan, including voluntary commitments and the political declaration, marked a turning point for the entry into force of the BBNJ agreement, the creation of marine protected areas, the strengthening of the fight against illegal fishing, and the development of a roadmap to decarbonize maritime transport.
Plastic pollution was also placed at the heart of priorities in the Nice Call to Action, signed by 96 countries, which aims to eliminate plastic pollution by 2040. UNOC-3 thus set a decisive course toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14 by 2030.
ESCAP contributed to discussions on regional ocean governance in support of Ocean Action Panel 8 and on ocean, climate and biodiversity interlinkages in support of Ocean Action Panel 7 . The conference concluded with an ambitious political declaration .
ESCAP member States ratified their commitment to ocean protection 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, and Resolution 79/2 on regional cooperation to accelerate climate action on oceans in Asia and the Pacific for sustainable development.
Background
Ocean-based Climate Action
During the Seventy-ninth session of the Commission, held in May 2023, ESCAP member States adopted Resolution 79/2 to accelerate ocean-based action to combat climate change. This included capacity building, innovation, technology development and transfer, and requested the ESCAP secretariat to convene a dialogue on ocean-based climate action (OBCA) prior to the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference.
The Regional Dialogue was organized on 19 September 2024. Co-hosted by the Governments of Indonesia, Fiji, and the Maldives, along with ESCAP, in collaboration with UNEP, the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA), and UNDP, the dialogue took place under the framework of a joint contribution to the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Building on the annual discussions of the Asia-Pacific Day for the Ocean, it provided a platform for member States and key stakeholder groups to identify challenges and options for regional action on ocean-based climate action. The focus was on opportunities for regional cooperation identified by the Regional Initiative on Ocean-Based Climate Action.
The dialogue concluded with the launch of the OBCA initiative. The initiative encourages members and associate members to accelerate action by:
- a. Promoting capacity-building, innovation and technology development and transfer, on mutually agreed terms, with regard to ocean-based action to combat climate change through the exchange of knowledge, experience, and best practices.
- b. Promoting the importance of systems thinking and science-based decision-making and policy development and implementation at all levels based on data and information collection, as appropriate, at regular intervals for monitoring progress on the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals 13 and 14.
- c. Strengthening cooperation, technical assistance, and resource mobilization for sustainable ocean-based action to combat climate action in Asia and the Pacific, as appropriate, with a view to highlighting the role of oceans in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and increasing resilience to climate change.
- d. Promoting international cooperative measures, as appropriate and relevant, to support and work towards the prevention, reduction, and elimination of pollution in the marine environment, as it relates to climate risk reduction and mitigation.
Asia-Pacific Ocean Week
ESCAP will host the Asia-Pacific Ocean Week from 26 to 30 October 2026. This event will convene key stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of SDG 14 in the region and relevant international or regional frameworks (OBCA initiative, BBNJ, KMGBF, etc.). The week also aims to strengthen regional ocean governance in Asia and the Pacific and foster synergies among the scientific community, civil society, the private sector, and policymakers.
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.
Accelerating SDG 14
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.
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.”
Key resources
- 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.
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. It also highlights the need to enforce international conventions, norms and standards in relation to maritime shipping, sustainable fisheries and marine pollution. The study helped inform Resolution 76/1 “ Strengthening cooperation to promote the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific ”. Access the report here .
Asia-Pacific Day for the Ocean
Member States reinforced ESCAP’s mandate on 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, bringing together stakeholders from civil society, youth, academia, the private sector and the scientific community.
- 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)
Tools and Methodologies
Accelerating implementation of SDG 14
Inadequate marine governance is threatening ocean and coastal ecosystems in our region. Countries with the greatest need have little capacity to apply existing knowledge on the ocean in their policy decisions. ESCAP is developing a methodology (existing now as two knowledge products) to help prioritize needs, identify entry points to achieve SDG 14, and support follow-up and review processes.
SDG 14 In Asia and the Pacific: An Accelerator Approach for Implementation
SDG 14 Accelerator: A Methodological Guide
Ocean Cities
Unplanned urbanization in island States threatens resilience, increases vulnerability and further degrades coastal and marine ecosystems. ESCAP is working 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.
Ocean Cities: Regional Policy Guide
Ocean Cities: Snapshot for Policy-makers
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
Closing the loop on plastic waste
Over half of global land-based plastic waste leakage into the ocean originates in just five Asian countries. Yet, the contribution of informal waste management to reducing pollution, remains largely overlooked. ESCAP is gathering evidence in pilot cities in Asia to identify opportunities to return plastic resources into the production cycle by linking informal and formal waste processes.
Closing the Loop: Regional Policy Guide
Closing the Loop: Sai Mai District, Bangkok Case Study
Sai Mai: Pilot City Infographic
Closing the Loop: Pune, India Case Study
Tools
5D World Map System - Keio University
5DWMS provides a multi-dimensional global knowledge platform to collect and analyze ‘real time’ data on SDGs-related phenomena. The system integrates the analytical visualization of sensing data into a knowledge sharing with multimedia (images, videos, etc.), which helps community-based data sharing, awareness building and evidence-based decision making.
The UN Global Compact Action Platform for Sustainable Ocean Business will focus on growth, innovation and sustainability, exploring how to best protect the health of the ocean. It aims to mobilize the private sector to take tangible action, make investments and form partnerships to leverage the ocean as a resource to deliver the Global Goals.
Breaking the Plastic Wave: A Comprehensive Assessment of Pathway Towards Stopping Ocean Plastics Pollution- Developed by The Pew Charitable Trusts and SYSTEMIQ, this publication presents a first-of-its-kind model of the global plastics system. It is an evidence-based roadmap that describes how to radically reduce ocean plastic pollution by 2040 and shows there is a comprehensive, integrated, and economically attractive pathway to greatly reduce plastic waste entering our ocean.
National Guidance for Plastic Pollution Hotspotting and Shaping Action- The attention on plastic pollution has intensified in recent years among national governments and the global community. The ‘National Guidance for Plastic Pollution Hotspotting and Shaping Action’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Guidance’) aims to provide a structure for the methods of identifying plastic leakage ‘hotspots’, finding their impacts along the entire plastic value chain, and then prioritising actions once these hotspots are identified.