BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6af35b7f9dc68 DTSTART:20210609T120000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20210609T143000Z LOCATION:Online\, SUMMARY:UNCTAD15 pre-event: Harnessing the benefits of the ocean economy fo r sustainable development CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:A sustainable and resilient ocean economy is vital for achievin g the policy objectives set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Develop ment\, as well as other international agreements\, including the SAMOA Pat hway\, Paris Agreement\, the Convention of Biological Diversity and the Se ndai Framework. For small island developing States (SIDS) and other vulner able island nations\, as well as coastal developing countries\, the sustai nable development of the ocean economy\, including fisheries and aquacultu re\, coastal tourism\, maritime transport\, offshore hydrocarbon and renew able energy\, ecosystem services and the potential use of marine genetic r esources\, holds considerable promise. At the same time\, these economies face important trade-related and environmental challenges\, including mari ne and coastal pollution\, ocean acidification\, natural disasters and cli mate change impacts\, as well as constraints in terms of geography\, conne ctivity and capacity.While the COVID-19 pandemic and its extensive socio-e conomic impacts may give rise to new priorities\, it underlines the critic al importance of openness\, trade and infrastructure readiness\, economic diversification\, risk-assessment and resiliency building. Changing circum stances arising from the impacts of the pandemic will need to be considere d as part of future trade\, logistic and development strategies going forw ard.Key issues for considerationSustainable trade in ocean-based goods and services. UNCTAD estimates the value of tradable oceans-based goods and s ervices is about $2.5 trillion annually. Oceans and seas support almost 3 billion people living by the coast. However\, the overall value of key oce an assets is much larger and has been estimated conservatively to be at le ast $24 trillion. There is a need to introduce significant structural chan ges in our economies\, on how we trade\, patterns of consumption and produ ction\, food and transport systems\, in ways that may have seemed too disr uptive or expensive before. These changes are needed to ensure the sustain ability of oceans.Fisheries and aquaculture. Fish is one of the most inter nationally traded foods\, with a total export value of $164.1 billion in 2 018. Developing countries have a share of about 54% by value and 60% of traded quantities and\, with a net revenue higher than that of all other a gricultural commodities combined. However\, we have reached the limit of w hat can be harvested from the ocean. To ensure the sustainable use of mari ne resources requires innovative policy\, regulatory and entrepreneurial o ceans economic approaches including in the way to trade and conduct busine ss. It should also include efforts to conclude a multilateral fish subsidi es agreement that would allow phasing out harmful economic incentives for stocks sustainability and to channel fresh resources towards blue investme nt.Sustainable shipping. Over 80% of the volume of world merchandise trad e is carried by sea\, from port to port\, with around 60 percent of seabor ne trade loaded and unloaded in developing countries. For SIDS and other i sland nations\, shipping and seaports are lifelines for external trade\, f ood and energy security\, and tourism\, as well as in the context of DRR. At the same time\, SIDS face particular transport-related challenges\, inc luding limited connectivity to global shipping networks\, high transport c osts\, and vulnerability to ship-source pollution\, as well as climate cha nge\, which need to be addressed as part of sustainable development strate gies and plans. Initiatives to reduce emissions from maritime transport an d increase energy-efficiency\, including those under the auspices of the I MO\, are important for achievement of global climate goals and can also re duce the carbon footprint for regional value chains and developing country exports.Climate resilient ports. Seaports are essential to all ocean econ omy activity. They provide access to global trade\, markets\, and supply-c hains for all countries\, and are integral to maritime transport\, as well as fisheries\, offshore energy exploration and economic activities in coa stal zones. However\, these critical assets are at considerable and growin g risk of climate change impacts from coastal flooding and extreme events. In the absence of adaptation\, related damage\, disruption and delay may have important trade-related repercussion and compromise the sustainable d evelopment prospects of vulnerable island nations and coastal populations. Multifaceted and innovative approaches to adaptation and resilience build ing will be required to address this challenge\, and upscaled capacity-bui lding will be critical for those at greatest risk.Sustainable tourism. Tou rism represents a significant part of the ocean economy in many parts of t he world.  At the same time\, it has been one of the most impacted oceans -based sectors because of the COVID-19 pandemic with a reduction of over 7 0% in international tourists’ arrivals in 2020. Rebuilding inclusive\, resilient\, and sustainable tourism will require fresh investment that pro tects and regenerates the ecosystems on which it depends and reinvest tour ism revenues into local communities to build capacity and increase local e mployment\, diversify economic opportunities and increase resources for co astal and marine restoration and protection.Sustainable offshore energy. U pscaling capacity for energy efficiency and renewable energy generation (i ncluding offshore) may also bring major co-benefits\, in terms of climate change mitigation and adaptation (e.g. to the impacts of rising temperatur es)\, as well as reduce dependency on energy imports and related expenditu re. Exploring ways to increase investment in alternative energy sources an d low-cost innovations will be key in diversifying the energy mix in many SIDS and coastal developing countries.Objectives of the HL panelWhile the ongoing pandemic has given rise to a range of new challenges\, the UNCTAD1 5 Conference\, to be held from 3–7 October 2021\, offers a timely oppor tunity for consideration of policy responses that support blue COVID-19 re covery strategies and address the socio-economic and environmental challen ges that coastal developing countries and vulnerable SIDS face in harnessi ng the benefits of the ocean economy. This HL panel discussion\, held on t he margins of the UN World Oceans Day provides a platform for exchange on some of the key challenges and opportunities to help identify priority are as for accelerated policy action and inform related intergovernmental proc esses\,  particularly  UNCTAD15 and the 2nd UN Ocean Conference in 2021.  <\;p>\;A sustainable and resilient ocean economy is vital for achiev ing the policy objectives set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Devel opment\, as well as other international agreements\, including the SAMOA P athway\, Paris Agreement\, the Convention of Biological Diversity and the Sendai Framework. For small island developing States (SIDS) and other vuln erable island nations\, as well as coastal developing countries\, the sust ainable development of the ocean economy\, including fisheries and aquacul ture\, coastal tourism\, maritime transport\, offshore hydrocarbon and ren ewable energy\, ecosystem services and the potential use of marine genetic resources\, holds considerable promise. At the same time\, these economie s face important trade-related and environmental challenges\, including ma rine and coastal pollution\, ocean acidification\, natural disasters and c limate change impacts\, as well as constraints in terms of geography\, con nectivity and capacity.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;While the COVID-19 pandemic and its extensive socio-economic impacts may give rise to new priorities\, it underlines the critical importance of openness\, trade and infrastruct ure readiness\, economic diversification\, risk-assessment and resiliency building. Changing circumstances arising from the impacts of the pandemic will need to be considered as part of future trade\, logistic and developm ent strategies going forward.<\;/p>\;<\;h4>\;Key issues for consid eration<\;/h4>\;<\;p>\;<\;strong>\;Sustainable trade in ocean- based goods and services.<\;/strong>\; UNCTAD estimates the value of t radable oceans-based goods and services is about $2.5 trillion annually. O ceans and seas support almost 3 billion people living by the coast. Howeve r\, the overall value of key ocean assets is much larger and has been esti mated conservatively to be at least $24 trillion. There is a need to intro duce significant structural changes in our economies\, on how we trade\, p atterns of consumption and production\, food and transport systems\, in wa ys that may have seemed too disruptive or expensive before. These changes are needed to ensure the sustainability of oceans.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;& lt\;strong>\;Fisheries and aquaculture. <\;/strong>\;Fish is one of the most internationally traded foods\, with a total export value of $164. 1 billion in 2018. Developing countries have a share of about 54%&\;nbs p\;by value and 60%&\;nbsp\;of traded quantities and\, with a net reven ue higher than that of all other agricultural commodities combined. Howeve r\, we have reached the limit of what can be harvested from the ocean. To ensure the sustainable use of marine resources requires innovative policy\ , regulatory and entrepreneurial oceans economic approaches including in t he way to trade and conduct business. It should also include efforts to co nclude a multilateral fish subsidies agreement that would allow phasing ou t harmful economic incentives for stocks sustainability and to channel fre sh resources towards blue investment.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;<\;strong> \;Sustainable shipping. <\;/strong>\;Over 80%&\;nbsp\;of the volume of world merchandise trade is carried by sea\, from port to port\, with a round 60 percent of seaborne trade loaded and unloaded in developing count ries. For SIDS and other island nations\, shipping and seaports are lifeli nes for external trade\, food and energy security\, and tourism\, as well as in the context of DRR. At the same time\, SIDS face particular transpor t-related challenges\, including limited connectivity to global shipping n etworks\, high transport costs\, and vulnerability to ship-source pollutio n\, as well as climate change\, which need to be addressed as part of sust ainable development strategies and plans. Initiatives to reduce emissions from maritime transport and increase energy-efficiency\, including those u nder the auspices of the IMO\, are important for achievement of global cli mate goals and can also reduce the carbon footprint for regional value cha ins and developing country exports.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;<\;strong>\; Climate resilient ports. <\;/strong>\;Seaports are essential to all oc ean economy activity. They provide access to global trade\, markets\, and supply-chains for all countries\, and are integral to maritime transport\, as well as fisheries\, offshore energy exploration and economic activitie s in coastal zones. However\, these critical assets are at considerable an d growing risk of climate change impacts from coastal flooding and extreme events. In the absence of adaptation\, related damage\, disruption and de lay may have important trade-related repercussion and compromise the susta inable development prospects of vulnerable island nations and coastal popu lations. Multifaceted and innovative approaches to adaptation and resilien ce building will be required to address this challenge\, and upscaled capa city-building will be critical for those at greatest risk.<\;/p>\;<\ ;p>\;<\;strong>\;Sustainable tourism. <\;/strong>\;Tourism repre sents a significant part of the ocean economy in many parts of the world. &\;nbsp\;At the same time\, it has been one of the most impacted oceans -based sectors because of the COVID-19 pandemic with a reduction of over 7 0%&\;nbsp\;in international tourists’ arrivals in 2020. Rebuilding in clusive\, resilient\, and sustainable tourism will require fresh investmen t that protects and regenerates the ecosystems on which it depends and rei nvest tourism revenues into local communities to build capacity and increa se local employment\, diversify economic opportunities and increase resour ces for coastal and marine restoration and protection.<\;/p>\;<\;p&g t\;<\;strong>\;Sustainable offshore energy. <\;/strong>\;Upscaling capacity for energy efficiency and renewable energy generation (including offshore) may also bring major co-benefits\, in terms of climate change m itigation and adaptation (e.g. to the impacts of rising temperatures)\, as well as reduce dependency on energy imports and related expenditure. Expl oring ways to increase investment in alternative energy sources and low-co st innovations will be key in diversifying the energy mix in many SIDS and coastal developing countries.<\;/p>\;<\;h4>\;Objectives of the HL panel<\;/h4>\;<\;p>\;While the ongoing pandemic has given rise to a range of new challenges\, the UNCTAD15 Conference\, to be held from 3 –7&\;nbsp\;October 2021\, offers a timely opportunity for considerati on of policy responses that support blue COVID-19 recovery strategies and address the socio-economic and environmental challenges that coastal devel oping countries and vulnerable SIDS face in harnessing the benefits of the ocean economy. This HL panel discussion\, held on the margins of the UN W orld Oceans Day provides a platform for exchange on some of the key challe nges and opportunities to help identify priority areas for accelerated pol icy action and inform related intergovernmental processes\, &\;nbsp\;pa rticularly &\;nbsp\;UNCTAD15 and the 2nd UN Ocean Conference in 2021.&l t\;/p>\;<\;p>\;&\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;\n\nView meeting on unctad.or g\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/unctad15-pre-event-harnessing-benefits-ocean -economy-sustainable-development DTSTAMP:20261110T175927Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR