High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy

High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy
Name	High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy
Formation	2018
Type	Intergovernmental high-level initiative
Headquarters	N/A
Region served	Global
Leader title	Co-chairs
Website	N/A

High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy was launched as a multilateral initiative in 2018 to align national policies with ocean stewardship and sustainable use. It convened heads of state and government to coordinate responses across maritime sectors and marine conservation, engaging prominent actors from diplomacy, environmental advocacy, and scientific institutions. The Panel sought to influence international fora including the United Nations system, the World Economic Forum, and regional organizations such as the European Union and the African Union.

Background and Formation

The Panel emerged following discussions at the 2017 Our Ocean Conference and reflects commitments made during the United Nations Ocean Conference (2017), with endorsement by leaders who previously participated in events like the G20 Summit and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Founding impetus drew on precedents set by bodies such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Montreal Protocol, and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Its formation involved diplomatic engagements among signatories from nations including France, Norway, Indonesia, Jamaica, and Ecuador, and intersected with initiatives by the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprised heads of state and government from diverse maritime jurisdictions including archipelagic states like Fiji and Philippines, coastal powers like United Kingdom, United States, and Brazil, and small island developing states such as Tuvalu and Barbados. Governance arrangements featured co-chairs drawn from national leaders and advisory inputs from experts affiliated with institutions such as Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Secretariat functions were supported by organizations including World Resources Institute, Conservation International, and the Pew Charitable Trusts, while oversight engaged entities like the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme.

Mandate and Objectives

The Panel's mandate emphasized translating high-level political commitment into tangible policy outcomes aligned with instruments such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Sustainable Development Goal 14, and regional agreements like the Noumea Convention. Objectives included accelerating marine protection akin to targets under the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, promoting sustainable fisheries consistent with the Food and Agriculture Organization frameworks, reducing pollution in line with the MARPOL Convention, and catalyzing blue finance mechanisms used by actors such as the Asian Development Bank and the European Investment Bank.

Key Initiatives and Reports

The Panel produced flagship reports synthesizing evidence from entities including the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and research centers like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and CSIRO. Major initiatives included national Ocean Action Plans informed by case studies from Norway and Seychelles, proposals for marine spatial planning influenced by examples from Australia and Canada, and policy packages addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in coordination with the North Atlantic Fisheries Organization and the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation. Reports engaged contributors such as Jane Lubchenco, Sylvia Earle, and institutions like the Royal Society and the World Wildlife Fund.

Impact and Criticism

Supporters credit the Panel with elevating ocean issues at summits including the United Nations General Assembly and influencing national pledges at COP25 and COP26. It has been acknowledged by funders like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation for mobilizing policy dialogues. Critics argue the Panel replicated existing multilateral processes such as those led by the International Maritime Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization without binding mechanisms, highlighting concerns voiced by advocacy groups including Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. Scholars affiliated with Oxford University, Harvard University, and University of Cape Town have debated its efficacy and equity implications for indigenous peoples represented by organizations like Pacific Islands Forum and Caribbean Community.

Partnerships and Funding

Operational partnerships involved collaborations with the World Bank Group, regional development banks such as the African Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, and philanthropic partners including the Rockefeller Foundation and the Oak Foundation. Funding combined government contributions from participating states and grants administered by intermediaries such as Conservation International and the Nature Conservancy, while technical support drew on networks spanning the Smithsonian Institution, The Ocean Conservancy, and academic partners like University of Washington. The Panel engaged bilateral partners including United Kingdom Department for International Development equivalents and multilateral funds such as the Global Environment Facility.

Category:Marine conservation