Protect the Ocean: How Much is Enough? Discussions on the Global Ocean Protection Target

日期:

This report reviews the historical evolution of the targets for global ocean protection, and references major discussions in both academic and policy areas, including the theoretical basis for the targets and the debates over the targets’ effectiveness. GHUB’s suggestions are also provided.

 

 

 

 

 

 

⬇️  PDF

Publication Date: March 2021

(English summary only)

The 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is going to be held in Kunming. The conference will review the implementation work of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, adopted in 2010, and in particular of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. CBD's parties will negotiate and adopt a new Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, which determines the goals and directions of global biodiversity conservation towards the year 2030 and beyond. The international community is looking forward to COP15 with great interests and high expectations.

Meanwhile, the period of 2011-2020 have witnessed waves of global ocean protection movements and actions, as well as the unprecedented increase in the political will to protect the ocean in the international community. It is thanks to these that the global ocean protection target COP15 will adopt is getting unprecedented attention. Calls for Protecting 30% of the world's ocean by 2030 (the 3030 target) have kept popping up in many places and on many occasions; the 3030 target has also appeared as one of the text options in the draft of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

This report reviews the historical evolution of the targets for global ocean protection, and references major discussions in both academic and policy areas, including the theoretical basis for the targets and the debates over the targets' effectiveness. GHUB's suggestions are also provided.


It is hoped that the summaries and reflections in this report will help readers concerned about the post-2020 global marine conservation targets to gain a deeper understanding of the relevant historical context, their necessity and limitations, and on the basis of this understanding to actively participate in debates and actions on marine biodiversity conservation, bringing together more attention and ideas for global marine conservation in the next decade.