First World Ocean Assessment
The UN has published the First Global Integrated Marine Assessment, also known as the 'First World Ocean Assessment.' The assessment is expected to provide a scientific basis for consideration of ocean issues, including Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 (Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development). The report addresses ten main themes: climate change; overexploitation of marine living resources; food security and food safety; patterns of biodiversity and changes; pressures from increased uses of ocean space; threats from increased pollution; effects of cumulative impacts; inequalities in the distribution of benefits from the ocean; the importance of coherent management of human impacts on the ocean; and problems of delay in implementing known solutions. The Assessment does not provide recommendations for actions; rather, it presents science-based information on oceans for national governments and other stakeholders to use in deciding on actions.
