PARIS - The ocean covers two-thirds of the planet and is vital for human well-being. It provides invaluable ecosystem services, contributes to global food security, and offers immense opportunities for economic growth, employment and development. However, our ocean is under immense pressure from a wide range of human activities, and the environmental basis of many of these economic opportunities is threatened. This pressure will increase unless governments take bold action to ensure a sustainable use of the ocean, and the protection of its natural resources.
To support government efforts to transition to a more sustainable ocean economy, the OECD is mobilising expertise across multiple policy fronts, covering environmental, economic, financial and social dimensions. Working with both developed and developing countries, the OECD aims to ensure that all societies can harness the benefits of the ocean on a sustainable and inclusive basis.
Healthy oceans and ecosystems underpin the ocean economy, and provide critical support functions upon which human health and well-being depend. The multiple benefits that can be derived from healthy and resilient marine ecosystems range from coastal and habitat protection to climate mitigation and food provisioning.
The OECD is helping governments reconcile the ever-growing use of marine resources with the need to safeguard and improve the health of ocean ecosystems.
The OECD is building a comprehensive database on a sustainable ocean economy. Reliable and timely data on the sustainability of the ocean economy, the well-being and resilience of coastal communities and the health of marine ecosystems are scarce.
Ocean plastics pollution
The ocean is under increasing stress from multiple urban and rural sources of pollution, notably the incorrect disposal of plastic from land-based and sea-based sources.
In 2019, 6.1 Million tons of plastic waste leaked into rivers, lakes and the ocean. Over the years, significant stocks of plastics have already accumulated in aquatic environments, with 30 Million tons in the ocean.
The build-up of plastics in rivers and the slow transport downstream implies that leakage into the ocean will continue for decades to come even if mismanaged waste is significantly reduced.
The ocean and climate change
Nature can be a major part in strengthening coastal climate resilience. This includes integrating hard protective infrastructure like sea walls with nature-based solutions, such as protection or restoration of coastal ecosystems.
Countries must increase climate ambition. OECD work explores approaches to reduce and manage risks with a focus on policy action, finance and the role of technology in supporting effective risk governance processes.
Delaying climate action will increase costs. If more stringent policies are introduced later, they will affect a larger stock of high-carbon infrastructure built in the intervening years, leading to higher levels of stranded assets across the economy.
Environment Ministers' commitments on plastics
In the Declaration on a Resilient and Healthy Environment for All, adopted at the Environment Ministerial meeting on 31 March 2022, Ministers committed to strive to announce, by the 2022 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM), national-level visions, actions and plans to combat plastic pollution.
This note brings together 30 submissions of commitments and is featured along with videos of selected Ministers and State Secretaries.
Declaration on a Resilient and Healthy Environment for All, committed to: “Strive to announce at the 2022 OECD Council at the Ministerial Level (MCM) national-level visions, actions, or plans, that could include:
- strengthening domestic policies and fostering international cooperation, working towards the prevention, reduction and elimination of all plastic pollution in the environment;
- encouraging the sustainable design of plastic products that are reusable, repairable, recyclable or, where viable alternatives do not exist, recoverable and, where feasible, do not contain substances that are harmful to human health and the environment;
- promoting sustainable production and consumption, and circularity of plastics, stimulating research, technological and social innovation in materials science, finance, business models and behavioural change among citizens;
- enhancing financing and circularity including, as appropriate, by strengthening extended producer responsibility;
- enhancing plastic waste prevention, environmentally sound waste management and clean-up activities.”
