Jointly towards SDG Ocean and Coasts: Mission Ocean

United Nations General Assembly chamber. Image: Chris Erbach via wikimedia commons (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

While Future Ocean’s research group on Our Common Future Ocean focusses on ocean sustainability and policy making towards an UN Sustainable Development Goal – SDG – specifically aiming at the ocean, the issue is also at the forefront of international ocean campaining right at this moment. The Global Ocean Commission funded by Pew Charitable Trusts and hosted by Oxford University’s Somerville College and represented by well-known Co-chairs Jose Maria Figueres, Trevor Manuel and David Miliband, is a global initiative aiming at the ocean being accepted as an integral part of the United Nation’s sustainability strategy.

Yesterday their Missionocean-Campaign (“From Decline to Recovery: A Rescue Package for the Global Ocean”) was launched, presenting eight proposals aiming at policy making for ocean recovery, based upon a report issued prior to the UN’s final decisions towards future SDGs.

Prof. Dr. Martin Visbeck

Prof. Dr. Martin Visbeck

“The ocean commission has produced an insightful report about the challenges that face the ocean today. I am very happy that their first recommendation is directed at the world leaders to establish a stand alone SDG for ocean and coasts. I applaud the initiative and wish the missionocean-campaign a great success.” (Martin Visbeck)

An integral part of the campaign is happening on the web, you can follow Global Ocean Commission’s feed on Twitter @GOceanC , essential news on the campaign can also be found on Future Ocean’s feed @thefutureocean. Furthermore, you also can sign the Mission Ocean-Petition  to support a new agreement for high seas protection in September 2014.