Ocean Stewardship - society now depends on the ocean more than at any time before.
Learning from the Past is being launched at a moment of unprecedented focus on ocean health and the need for a rapid transition to a safe, sustainable ocean economy operating on healthy seas. We will seize the opportunity to align our efforts with science-led ocean stewardship with a particular focus on the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
Oceans are fundamental to the well-being of our planet and its peoples. Oceans provide vital natural capital. They are integral to the functioning of our planet’s weather and climate, capturing carbon and providing half of the oxygen we breath. However, vital ocean systems are under immense stress due to a cycle of decline in ocean health. The impact of Climate change includes temperature increase, sea level rise, and acidification. Plastic pollution is reaching critical levels and a range of marine ecosystems have been profoundly degraded by human activity.
Ocean industries underpin our critical infrastructures and supply chains - shipping, fishing, energy production, cables and pipelines. Oceans contribute $1.5 trillion annually to the global economy, and this number is expected to double to $3 trillion by 2030. Forty percent of the global population lives near the coast. The UN estimates that the ocean supports directly the livelihood of about 500 million people and many poorer countries are almost wholly dependent on the ocean economy.
The scale of the challenge we all face is evident and international action to reverse the cycle of decline in ocean health and create improved conditions for sustainable development of the ocean is scaling-up.
The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development
“The vision of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) is the "science we need for the ocean we want". The Ocean Decade is a convening framework for diverse stakeholders to co-design and co-deliver solution-oriented research needed for a well-functioning ocean in support of the UN 2030 Agenda.”
“The Decade will encourage the science community, the policy-makers, the private sector and the civil society to think beyond business as usual and aspire for real change."
We believe that Learning from the Past can contribute important insight to this agenda and we will do this both directly and by working with partners such as The Ocean Foundation.
The Lloyd's Register Foundation is also supporting The Ocean Decade Heritage Network which as a recognised partner of the Decade, coordinates a targeted global response through chairing the Decade Action Cultural Heritage Framework Programme (CHFP) – currently the only Action that addresses cultural heritage. The ambition of the network through the CHFP is that:
“By the end of the UN Ocean Decade, the historical dimension of people’s relationships with the sea will be integrated within ocean science and policy. The ‘ocean we want’ will be inspired and informed by the long and diverse histories and living heritage of people and the sea.”
We are excited to have the chance to contribute to delivery of the seven Ocean Decade Outcomes that describe the Ocean We Want:
- A clean ocean where sources of pollution are identified and reduced or removed.
- A healthy and resilient ocean where marine ecosystems are understood, protected, restored and managed.
- A productive ocean supporting sustainable food supply and a sustainable ocean economy.
- A predicted ocean where society understands and can respond to changing ocean conditions.
- A safe ocean where life and livelihoods are protected from ocean-related hazards.
- An accessible ocean with open and equitable access to data, information and technology and innovation.
- An inspiring and engaging ocean where society understands and values the ocean in relation to human wellbeing and sustainable development.
The contention of the CHFP is not just “how can cultural heritage help deliver the Decade?” but “without cultural heritage, how can you deliver the Decade?”
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Through working with the CHFP, Learning From the Past will also support the broader UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.”
SDG 14 will be a key focus, “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”. However, we believe that there is scope for greater recognition of the value of heritage and culture in a number of the SDGs and we will work to contribute insights and evidence across a range of projects.
Always at the fore of LFP is the thinking
"If it is not Safe, it is not Sustainable".
