Organizer(s): ESCAP UNSD University of New South Wales Australia
Description: Organizers: Co-hosted by the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), supported by the World Bank Blue Economy Program. The ocean is the life source of our planet, and a critical foundation of social and economic development. All countries have committed to conserve and sustainably use the ocean by 2030, and a growing number have established ambitious strategies to develop their ocean economy. These commitments and strategies have been made in an era of profound challenges and change. Many marine and coastal ecosystems show rapid ongoing declines which are expected to compromise—sometimes irreversibly—benefits and opportunities that the ocean provides to people. Ocean-based economies have entered a historic period of structural transition, where the importance of established sectors (e.g. capture fisheries, oil and gas) are declining relative to emerging sectors (e.g. aquaculture, offshore renewable energy, biotechnology). Ocean economy growth prospects beyond 2030 are limited, without transformative action to achieve sustainability. The Global Ocean Accounts Partnership brought together governments, international institutions, research organisations and other stakeholders, who have committed to support the sustainable development of the ocean through better organisation, inter-connection and standardisation of ocean-related data and statistics. The first Global Dialogue on Ocean Accounting brought together 100+ technical experts and decision-makers from around the world, to share experiences and lessons learned about ocean accounting, and plan collaborative efforts to ensure that the values and benefits of the ocean are recognised and accounted for, in all relevant policies and decision-making about social and economic development. The first Global Dialogue on Ocean Accounting brought together 100+ technical experts and decision-makers from around the world, to share experiences and lessons learned about ocean accounting, and plan collaborative efforts to ensure that the values and benefits of oceans are recognised and accounted for, in all relevant policies and decision-making about social and economic development. The Global Dialogue and associated side events were designed in particular to bring together stakeholders involved or interested in the following initiatives: ESCAP’s 2018 Regional Expert Workshop on Ocean Accounts for which this event functions as a direct follow-up. Deliberations of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, concerning national accounting for oceans. The World Bank Blue Economy program and PROBLUE trust fundsupporting integrated and sustainable economic development in healthy oceans. Venue John Niland Scientia Building, University of New South Wales, Sydney, High Street, Kensington, New South Wales, 2052, Australia.
