Healthy Ocean
Overview
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, unstainable 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.
Background
Ocean-based Climate Action
Resolution 79/2 · Regional Dialogue · OBCA initiative
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:
- Promoting capacity-building, innovation and technology development and transfer, on mutually agreed terms, through the exchange of knowledge, experience, and best practices.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
26–30 October 2026 · Accelerating SDG 14
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)
UNGA proclamation · ESCAP support through UN-Oceans
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 need have little capacity to apply existing knowledge on the ocean into their policy decisions. Therefore, 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
Changing Sails: Accelerating Regional Actions for Sustainable Oceans in Asia and the Pacific, the theme study for the seventy-sixth session of the Commission, presents 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.
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 the annual Asia-Pacific Day for the Ocean to promote the engagement of all stakeholders, including civil society, the youth, academia, the private sector and the scientific community.
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UN DESA, with the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and in collaboration with the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS) hosted a webinar on 3 June 2020 to mobilize stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region, to share information and to collect ideas and proposals on how to keep the momentum towards Ocean Action and the engagement of stakeholders in Asia-Pacific in the preparatory process of the UN Ocean Conference.
UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development
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ESCAP supports the ocean decade and is committed to its regional implementation, embracing “The science we need for the ocean we want” in Asia and the Pacific.
SEA circular works with national and provincial governments, private sector corporations, civil society groups and NGOs, to promote circular economy principles and seek solutions to marine plastic pollution. SEA circular works to support market-based solutions, enhance science, raise awareness and promote behaviour change, towards less plastic wasted in South-East Asia. See more here, or contact: sea-circular@un.org
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.