The European Union announced 22 new commitments at the 2019 edition of Our Ocean conference, held in Oslo, Norway on 23-24 October 2019, for the better governance of the oceans. In addition, the EU is also launching ‘The Ocean Tracker', an interactive map to follow the over 10 billion euros commitments already made by governments, businesses and NGOs.
Commissioner Karmenu Vella, responsible for Environment, Maritime affairs and Fisheries who represented the EU at this conference called for increased action for ocean governance: “Ocean sustainability is a global challenge that needs crosscutting and international action. It is time to take ocean governance to the next level. With this new set of commitments and the delivery of The Ocean Tracker, the EU demonstrates its leadership in ocean sustainability”.
Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, said: “Oceans are not only our common wealth, but our future. It is our responsibility to ensure that they are healthy and protected worldwide. In our future partnership with ACP countries, we will continue acting as an international driving force by championing sustainable management of marine resources, while fostering blue economy and opportunities to improve people's lives”.
These EU commitments are meaningful actions to strengthen ocean governance, in particular with regard to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and more specifically, the Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. The EU pledges include projects to tackle plastic pollution, make blue economy more sustainable and improve research and maritime surveillance.
The Ocean tracker, itself a commitment made in 2017, when the EU hosted the Our Ocean in Malta, will make sure that the progress of all pledges is clear to see.
For its part, the EU has made 77 commitments since the launch of Our Ocean conferences in 2014. Almost 80% of all EU commitments have been or are close to being delivered, including 50% of the announcements made last year alone.
The 22 EU commitments, worth almost €540 million, consist of concrete and targeted actions to tackle key ocean challenges such as the impact of climate change, strengthen our knowledge base, drive innovation and to promote the development of the sustainable blue economy within and beyond Europe.
- Supporting ocean research: Under Horizon 2020, the EUs' research and innovation program, €250 million will be dedicated to improve our understanding and boost new technologies for sustainable fisheries, tackling marine pollution, decarbonising shipping and promoting blue renewable energy.
- Fighting marine pollution: The European Commission will also contribute to the fight against marine pollution by promoting “green shipping”. Ships, which reduce the amount of waste produced on board or handle the waste in an otherwise sustainable manner, will be rewarded for these efforts through a reduction of the waste fee that they have to pay when calling in an EU port.
- Boosting the blue economy and innovation: more than €100 million will be dedicated to promote the further development of a sustainable blue economy in Europe. This includes investment in companies that contribute to lowering carbon emissions, strengthening the circular economy and ecosystem conservation.
- Joining forces worldwide for more results: Action at home for a sustainable blue economy and better ocean governance are matched by promoting its development abroad. At the Our Ocean conference, the EU will sign a new partnership program to provide €40 million for supporting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture value chains in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) countries.
- Understanding and adapting to climate change: €12.8 million will be dedicated to the Copernicus program on sea ice and cryosphere climate monitoring to better understand climate change effects in the Arctic and Antarctic. Furthermore, the EU will contribute €9.9 million to the Joint Pacific Initiative on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Resilience launched by France to increase the capacities of 19 Pacific states and territories to adapt to the impact of climate change and other stressors and to protect and enhance biodiversity.