The health of the ocean is deeply tied to the health of the planet and our economies—millions of people across the world depend on it for sustenance, security and livelihoods.
Marine fisheries provide 57 million jobs, and in least developed countries fish is the primary source of protein for more than half the population.
Like in the Fiji Islands, where coastal communities depend on the sea, the ocean is a lifeline—providing food, income, and cultural identity. Women play a vital role in small-scale fisheries, harvesting marine resources like octopus that sustain both livelihoods and local nutrition.
Ocean-related tourism grows by an estimated US$134 billion a year. In some countries, it supports a third of the labour force.
Yet the ocean is in deep trouble. It is 30 percent more acidic than in pre-industrial times and ocean heat is at record levels.
Drowning in plastic, suffering from destructive overfishing, one of our most precious natural resources could soon be on life support, with devastating consequences.
What does
the ocean
do for us?
71%
Earth is more water than land—the ocean covers 71 percent of the Earth's surface. And it plays an important role in climate control.
CO2
It absorbs about 23 percent of CO2 emissions every year and more than 90 percent of excess heat.
$2.3 trillion
The ocean is an economic powerhouse—it contributes about $2.3 trillion to the global economy and feeds more than 3 billion people.
GDP
If the ocean was a country, it would be the world’s fifth largest economy in terms of GDP.
Oxygen
The ocean produces 50 to 60 percent of all oxygen, making it vital for the survival of the planet and the species which depend on it.
SDG 14
Yet, Sustainable Development Goal 14 – life below water – is the most underfunded. Less than 1 percent of climate finance goes towards protecting the ocean. At the same time, unchecked exploitation is pushing marine life towards collapse.
The facts at sea — plastics
Marine pollution
Marine pollution is reaching extreme levels. In 2021 there was more than 17 million metric tonnes of plastic in the ocean, a figure that’s expected to double by 2040.
Single use plastic
About 89 percent of plastic found on the ocean floor is single use. And every year an estimated 5 million to 12 million metric tonnes of plastics enters the ocean.
2040
By 2040, up to 37 million tonnes of plastic could pollute the ocean every year. This is not only an environmental catastrophe, it’s an economic liability. Clean up and financial losses cost around $13 billion a year.
Guiding the ocean
back to health
This year a concerted push is being made to change the trajectory of ocean health.
The United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) will be hosted by France and Costa Rica in Nice, from 9 to 13 June with the theme “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”.
It will build on the results of the preceding UN Ocean Conferences, held in New York in 2017 and in Lisbon in 2022, and will galvanize innovation, spark new and expanded commitments and increase financing.
We must close the $175 billion annual ocean finance gap. Financial instruments, including blue bonds, debt-for-nature swaps and public-private partnerships are unlocking funds.
“From Costa Rica's perspective, it is imperative that the international community intensify its efforts to conserve and sustainably use marine ecosystems, in accordance with the guidelines of the Paris Agreement and the commitments adopted at COP16 of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Protecting marine biodiversity, strengthening the resilience of coastal communities with an inclusive approach, and adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change alongside people require robust ocean governance based on science, marine communities, multilateral cooperation and compliance with international regulatory frameworks,” said Franz Tattenbach Capra, Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica.
Investing in the ocean is not just conservation. A healthy ocean contributes to climate resilience, food security and jobs, especially in Small Island Developing States.
In Lobitos, Peru, women are leading local efforts to protect the sea and their communities. As the UN Ocean Conference calls for bold investments in ocean health, financing tools like blue bonds can help scale grassroots action and close the $175 billion ocean finance gap.
Turning the tide
UNDP is committed to raising awareness of the ocean’s crucial role in maintaining ecosystem health and supporting blue and green economies. We focus on governance, financing and innovation, and we advocate for global cooperation to protect and sustainably use the ocean.
We help countries to meet their ocean targets through their National Biodiversity Action Plans, which align with their Nationally Determined Contributions towards climate action. Strategic guidance and technical advice is provided through UNDP’s Nature Pledge, Climate Promise and Ocean Promise.
This work cannot be done alone. We build diverse global and local partnerships and promote practical solutions for ocean management.
The Ocean Innovation Challenge and Global Fund for Coral Reefs are mobilizing new sources of private and public funds.
Meeting challenges
UNDP’s Ocean Innovation Challenge launched in 2020 and is backed by the Swedish and Norwegian development agencies. It promotes investment in blue economies, sustainable fisheries and marine biodiversity. Whether it’s recycling coconut husks or extending the lives of fishing nets, successful innovators benefit from capital, mentoring and promotion.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are among the most vulnerable to ocean exploitation. Not only do their economies depend on tourism and fishing, they pioneer ‘whole of island’ approaches that put their connected land, water and ocean resources at the heart of economic growth.
SIDS lead the way in demonstrating solutions for prosperous and transformative development that embeds the true value of the ocean into policy and practice.
Vulnerable to climate-related disasters, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala and Mexico have established repair teams to clear debris from the reefs following tropical storms. This is supported by the Mesoamerican Relief Fund, which provides financial backing for rapid response.
Fishermen display their catch in Comoros, where marine livelihoods depend on rich coastal waters teeming with species found nowhere else on Earth. As part of the Comoros Emerging Plan 2030, the nation is working to protect this biodiversity and become a carbon sink.
Comoros’ unique ecosystems are internationally recognized as a national treasure and a vital heritage for Africa and the world. They serve to bring tourists to these tiny ‘Islands of the Moon’ and provide vital revenues for local communities.
To address the growing pressures from climate change, deforestation and unsustainable fishing, the Comorian government has made ambitious commitments through the Comoros Emerging Plan 2030. It plans to reduce greenhouse gases and increase its CO2 absorption by 2030. This ecological transition, positioning Comoros as a carbon sink, is supported by UNDP, the French Development Agency and the Global Environment Facility.
In Barbados, “BlueBOT”, the brainchild of inventor S. Antonio Hollingsworth, is working with UNDP’s Accelerator Lab using underwater robotics, deep machine learning and artificial intelligence to gather data on the health of coral reefs and other sea life.
In Barbados, remote monitoring of underwater footage during BlueBOT’s coral reef mapping is part of a UNDP-supported initiative using robotics and AI to advance marine biodiversity monitoring and expand access to the underwater environment.
UNDP Indonesia has taken significant strides to address the challenge of marine debris and promote sustainable waste management. The long-term target is to meet the UNEA 5.2 resolution to reduce plastic pollution to near zero in 2040 and support the government’s commitment to 70 percent plastic waste management by 2025. Between 2018 and 2022 there was a 36.35 percent reduction in marine debris. More than 18 ministries and institutions are involved and the initiative is backed by the Government of Norway.
A global emergency
The ocean affects us all, no matter where we live. And it is facing a global emergency at the same time as tourism, fisheries and shipping are rapidly expanding. We must ensure a just transition to a sustainable ocean economy, one that thrives within planetary boundaries. SDG14 underpins global economic development. Meeting it will alleviate poverty, promote stable economic growth and social well-being everywhere – especially in Small Island Developing States and least developed countries.
This year’s Ocean Conference is a valuable opportunity to build new partnerships and showcase the work—large and small—that can bring real change and safeguard the ocean and its economy for generations to come.
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