The sixth Our Ocean Conference generated 370 pledges for a clean, healthy and productive ocean. The Our Ocean conferences offer an opportunity to announce new voluntary actions to protect the ocean, responsibly manage marine resources and promote sustainable economic growth.
The Government of Norway hosted the 2019 Our Ocean Conference, focused on the theme the state of the sea and measures to ensure healthy, clean and productive seas. The Conference convened from 23-24 October, in Olso, Norway, and brought together 500 world leaders and 100 youth representatives from 100 countries. In an opening address, Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg said Norway will step up its efforts both nationally and internationally and called on all countries to do more to support the world’s oceans.
Among the 370 commitments, 22% of commitments (81) focus on the sustainable blue economy theme. The remaining commitments focus on climate change (76 commitments, 21%), marine pollution (76 commitments, 21%), sustainable fisheries (60 commitments, 16%), marine protected areas (MPAs, 53 commitments, 14%), marine security (20 commitments, 5%), and future Our Ocean Conferences (4 commitments, 1%). In terms of budget, 80% of funding, or USD 51.1 billion is committed to tackle climate change, followed by 16% of funding, or USD 10.2 billion to building a sustainable blue economy. Governments made the majority of commitments, representing 62% of commitments, or 229 commitments, and 7% of total funding. The private sector represents 16% of commitments, or 61 commitments, but these commitments totaled 79% of total funding, at USD 50.3 billion.
The European Union (EU) announced 22 new commitments, totaling 540, to promote a sustainable blue economy, combat marine pollution and promote green shipping. The EU announced it will provide 40 million to improve the marine ecosystem worldwide through a partnership programme with countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) regions. The EU will provide 250 million to support ocean research through the Horizon 2020 innovation programme.
The EU launched the Ocean Tracker, an interactive map first announced in 2017. The Ocean Tracker enables users to track progress on commitments made by European governments, businesses and NGOs on protecting the marine environment. According to the European Commission (EC), 80% of the EU’s 77 ocean commitments announced since 2014 have either been fully delivered or are close to completion, including 50% of the commitments made in 2018.
1990-2019, IISD