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Programme on Sustainable Ocean Planning launched at the 2024 UN Ocean Decade Conference

Focused on ‘delivering the science we need for the ocean we want’, the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference was hosted by the Government of Spain in Barcelona from 10-12 April 2024. The conference brought together the global Ocean Decade community and partners to celebrate and take stock of progress and set joint priorities for the future. On this occasion, the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership joined the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO in launching a new Decade Programme for Sustainable Ocean Planning.

Under the Ocean Decade’s Vision 2030 process, Sustainable Ocean Planning has been identified as an umbrella framework for marine policies towards achieving a sustainable and equitable ocean economy. The aim is to accelerate collective action for an ocean that benefit people, nature and economy. Recognizing both the local and global dimensions of our ocean, sustainable ocean plans  foster the co-creation of knowledge-based and innovative solutions to enable countries to reach sustainable management of 100% of ocean areas under their national jurisdiction. Sustainable Ocean Plans are characterized by nine common attributes. A Sustainable Ocean Plan is: 

  1. Developed in an inclusive way so that all relevant interests are heard and addressed from the outset 

  1. Integrative, coordinating between government agencies, ocean sectors and processes 

  1. Iterative, in that it works for today whilst anticipating the changes of tomorrow 

  1. Place-based, encompassing all marine and coastal areas within national waters 

  1. Ecosystem-based, recognising the interactions within ecosystems and with people 

  1. Knowledge-based, underpinned by the best available science and knowledge, including local and indigenous knowledge 

  1. Politically endorsed by the national government at the highest levels 

  1. Sufficiently financed over the long-term 

  1. Sufficiently capacitated to ensure implementation 

 

The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership is proud to play an integral role in the co-creation of the new Decade Programme for Sustainable Ocean Planning. 

UN Ocean Decade Conference - SBEP