FRIENDS OF OCEAN ACTION IMPACT REPORT PHASE I: 2018 – 2020 Friends of Ocean Action | World Economic Forum Impact Report 2 Foreword 02 Message from the Director 03 Executive summary 05 Creating the momentum 09 Events convened by the World Economic Forum 10 Virtual Ocean Dialogues 2020 11 The UpLink Ocean Solutions Sprint 12 Ending plastic pollution: Global Plastic Action Partnership 13 Expanding marine protection and conservation 14 Ensuring sustainable ocean production: blue food 15 Ending illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing 16 Building the Global Tuna Alliance 17 Advocating for the Port State Measures Agreement 18 Eliminating harmful fisheries subsidies 19 Decarbonizing shipping: Getting to Zero Coalition 20 Liberating ocean data 21 Financing ocean innovation 22 Other areas of work 23 Looking to the future 24 Acknowledgements 26 Cover image: Fishermen in Chonburi province in Thailand © GettyImages Image: © GettyImages Friends of Ocean Action | World Economic Forum Impact Report 4 FOREWORD Image: © David Mills/WorldFish, Flickr In 2017, at the first UN Ocean to a date to be announced director, Kristian Teleki, and his Conference, we brought once circumstances allow. dedicated team, together with home the urgent need for the the resources of the World world’s attention to pressing In the meantime, the work of Economic Forum and the ocean issues. The conference Friends of Ocean Action has World Resources Institute. was dedicated to supporting been forging on. In response the implementation of to the 2020 postponements Friends of Ocean Action has SDG14, and it succeeded of critical international received generous support in registering over 1,300 convenings, we pioneered the from the Benioff Ocean voluntary commitments to first ever truly global virtual Initiative, the Government this effect, from actors around ocean gathering in the form of of Canada, the Government the globe. But we knew the Virtual Ocean Dialogues. of Sweden and Vulcan Inc. these promises needed to Attracting over 800,000 On behalf of the Friends be propelled into action by participants, the Virtual Ocean and all who are working to working with key stakeholders Dialogues lifted conventional reverse the decline in the who would complement barriers to inclusivity and ocean’s health, we express UN efforts to conserve and energized ocean activists in sincere gratitude to these sustainably use the ocean’s the fields of marine protected benefactors. As the Co-Chairs resources. This led to the areas, sustainable and of Friends of Ocean Action, creation of the Friends of improved nutrition from the we also wish to give thanks Ocean Action (FOA) platform, ocean, renewable energy, to the Friends themselves for and it has been truly inspiring ocean data, greening of their high-minded support to see how fast and far the shipping, stemming marine over the last three years. Friends have been able to pollution, and financing for the accelerate the ocean agenda sustainable blue economy. In its next phase, Friends of over the last three years. Ocean Action will face a rising During the past three years, swell of ocean challenges, Friends of Ocean Action the Friends have charted both old and new; but we has been driven by a deep courses to solutions through are undaunted. During this commitment to the UN’s development of globally- next phase, we will take to Sustainable Development reaching digital platforms, the scale the practical solutions Goals, in particular SDG14, launch of major publications, identified in the work of the the so-called “ocean’s goal”. pursuit of much-needed last three years. We will As such, the second UN research, creation of media build on the strengths of the Ocean Conference mandated campaigns, involvement in Friends to elevate critical to be held in Lisbon, hosted multilateral negotiations, voices across the ocean by the governments of and launch of six major agenda globally. And as we Portugal and Kenya, is of platforms that are now push forward in pursuit of the ISABELLA LÖVIN PETER THOMSON special importance to our further illuminating the path attainment of SDG14 and the work. As a result of the global to a healthy ocean. None Sustainable Development Co-Chair, Co-Chair, pandemic, the UN General of these advances would Goals as a whole, we hope Friends of Ocean Action Friends of Ocean Action Assembly postponed have been possible without you will join us in the quest Former Deputy Prime Minister UN Secretary-General’s the second UN Ocean the exceptional skills and for a thriving, resilient, life- of Sweden Special Envoy for the Ocean Conference from June 2020 resolute commitment of the supporting ocean and planet. Impact Report 2 While the ocean may and inspiring the shared As we enter into the next separate us physically, it knowledge, influence and phase of Friends of Ocean also connects us and is part resources of the Friends Action (2021–2024), there is of our collective DNA. With towards the achievement clearly much to do and we every passing moment, of SDG 14. need to seize this point when especially as we emerge the political, business and from the COVID-19 crisis, we The first phase of Friends of societal stars are aligning to are realizing that the ocean Ocean Action demonstrated set the ocean on a true path is far too big to be ignored a collective strength and for recovery. The Friends and that we have a unique steadfast commitment to in this coming phase will opportunity to make the next a healthy ocean. Building be seeking to continue the decade the moment in time on that strength, the sprint to shorten the distance when we turn the corner in Friends have elevated and between ideas and action the recovery of this planetary encouraged worldwide ocean and to be the agents of ocean support system that covers action throughout business, change for the benefit of two-thirds of the planet. academia, international people and planet. This is organizations, science and not a journey that the Friends An incredible foundation has government circles. While will be taking by themselves, Kristian Teleki been laid, especially in these the vastness of the ocean but rather we hope they will past few years since the UN is matched only by the inspire others to join them in Ocean Conference in 2017, complexity of the problems this endeavour. for this recovery to flourish. it faces, thanks to the quality Director, However, this will happen and influence of its members The words of Amanda Friends of Ocean Action only when we move the and secretariat, Friends Gorman, who spoke emphasis from “diagnosing of Ocean Action has been during President Biden’s the patient” to taking action able to rise to the challenge inauguration, capture the and “treating the patient”. by maximizing resources, aspirations and renewed amplifying calls to action and optimism that fuel not only Friends of Ocean Action was engaging an ever-growing Friends of Ocean Action but, set up for exactly this reason: network of leaders and we hope, motivate others in with the aim of turning plans practitioners around all corners of the world to and talk into progress and the world. make the ocean a better and targeted collective action, healthier place for all. Image: © Joe Sylvester/WorldFish, Flickr Friends of Ocean Action | World Economic Forum Impact Report 3 The story of the ocean and the story of humanity“ Are one and the same, There are more lessons to learn, Still more work to be done. So we lift our faces to the sun. May the seas help us see healing and hope, May we sing out the ocean’s survival and revival. Being the people of this blue planet is our most Profound privilege and power, For if we be the ocean’s saviours, Then it is surely ours.1 1 From “Ode to Our Ocean” by Amanda G0rman. Image: Rifky/CIFOR © Flickr Friends of Ocean Action | World Economic Forum Impact Report 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I“ think Friends of Ocean SETTING OFF AND SUSTAINING Action has raised my A WAVE OF CHANGE ambition level of what can be done. Thomas Thune Andersen The successes of Friends a unique collection of ocean • Marine protection and of Ocean Action in Phase I leaders who have broken down conservation are owed to the collective silos and built up networks • Sustainable food from the strength of the members of to allow collaboration and ocean Chairperson the Friends of Ocean Action exchanges across industries, • Ending illegal fishing: Ørsted and Lloyd’s Register platform – the Friends – and geographies and fields of traceability and Friend of Ocean Action their ability to promote ocean expertise to address ocean • Ending illegal fishing: solutions, persist in the face issues. Through their influence, policy and governance of a global pandemic, propel as well as convening and • Eliminating harmful change in top-level political engaging in physical and fisheries subsidies arenas and launch powerful virtual events, Friends of • Financing ocean partnerships. This report Ocean Action has assembled innovation celebrates this collective work a wide range of stakeholders • Decarbonizing shipping in Phase I. Specific information to bring awareness to ocean • Tackling plastic pollution and data on the outcomes of health issues – including • Liberating ocean data Phase I have been gathered raising the profile of the ocean • Gender parity in the ocean through multiple sources, to audiences not typically • Science-based targets including interviews with key engaged on these topics – and • Understanding deep-sea Friends and a survey to the driving momentum and action resources extended Friends of Ocean towards positive change. Action community. These issues were addressed Identified and elevated as action tracks that have The achievements of the ocean solutions created solid progress in Friends of Ocean Action setting the global ocean Over the past three action agenda and putting Phase I (2018–2020) years, Friends of Ocean us on the right path towards Action created innovative ocean recovery.