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WEF urges targeted financing for ocean health, achieving SDGs

The World Economic Forum report argues that by redesigning the SDG14 data infrastructure, there is a better chance to achieve the 2030 targets for a healthy and sustainable ocean and planet.

Reaching SDG14 targets requires not only increasing investment, but also directing resources to places and communities that need it most.

Improving the integration of current data systems and moving towards outcome-based financing is key to success.

These are the findings of a new white paper, published on World Ocean Day by the World Economic Forum (WEF), outlines critical steps to channel funding to support the health of the ocean and those who depend on it.

The report, SDG14 Financing Landscape Scan: Tracking Funds to Realize Sustainable Outcomes for the Ocean, highlights the fragmented nature of current data on ocean financing.

It also stresses the need for innovative tools to track commitments towards and investment in the Sustainable Development Goal for the ocean (SDG14), with better traceability and granularity of information on financial commitments for the ocean.

It notes that SDG14 remains the least funded of all 17 global goals, yet achieving it will have significant exponential benefits for people and the planet.

Key targets in SDG14 include ending overfishing and harmful fisheries subsidies, tackling marine pollution and minimizing ocean acidification, protecting and restoring ocean ecosystems, and supporting artisanal fishers and Small Island Developing States.

 “When accomplished, SDG14 will have impacts that extend far beyond the ocean itself, by boosting food and job security, bolstering our ability to tackle the climate crisis, strengthening coastal defences, and enhancing health and wellbeing for people everywhere,” said Kristian Teleki, Director of Friends of Ocean Action at the WEF.

“We cannot afford to waste precious time or money, and need to direct financing to the areas that need it most. This landscape report is intended to help us do just this.”

When accomplished, SDG14 will have impacts that extend far beyond the ocean itself, by boosting food and job security, bolstering our ability to tackle the climate crisis, strengthening coastal defences, and enhancing health and wellbeing for people everywhere.

Data integration

Emerging from this new landscape scan is the need to improve the resolution and integration of current data systems and in parallel move towards outcome-based financing. Doing so will require a substantial shift across multiple institutions that track and report on funding.

It is also essential to improve SDG14 data capacity at the national and trans-national level. Existing funding streams for SDG14 must be optimized, and critical resources for ocean health must be directed to promote gender equity, target least developed areas, and efficiently leverage funding across sectors to support a sustainable blue economy.

“Our research shows that we must shift to tracking output rather than boosting input in order to overcome the challenges of transparency, traceability, optimization and personalization of financing data,” said Jillian Conrad, Lead Author of the report and Student Fellow at the Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus Centre at UW EarthLab.

“The ocean needs ambitious funding and results if we are to promote equitable development of marine systems to benefit coastal communities and stop the decline in ocean health, which has knock-on detrimental effects on us all.

“With a dynamic tool tracking how financing ties to impact, the global community can better direct SDG14 funding with the greatest possible positive impact for people and the ocean alike,” she added.

A Friends of Ocean Action statement released earlier this year – No Healthy Planet without a Healthy Ocean – also calls for global action around critical opportunities in 2022, to advance progress for a thriving ocean and stop the decline in its health.

The global community is convening for the UN Ocean Conference from 27 June to 1 July 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal, co-hosted by the governments of Portugal and Kenya. This is a critical opportunity to advance ocean financing and progress towards achieving SDG14.

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