United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that build on decades of work, including SDG 14, Life Below Water.

OSPAR published an updated report on OSPAR's contribution to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Click on the image to access the report.

OSPAR works as a part of a global network of governance platforms where Contracting Parties work together to ensure the sustainable management and use of coastal, marine and ocean resources. OSPAR is a Regional Seas Convention established and managed by its Contracting Parties. OSPAR collaborates with UNEP and its Regional Seas Programme to provide sustainable mechanisms for enhancing cooperation and collaboration on joint programmes, projects and activities, helping governments implement SDG 14 to help make the 2030 Agenda a reality.

At the United Nations (UN) Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14, held in New York in June 2017, OSPAR registered 2 voluntary commitments. We regularly report our progress to the UN Registry on Voluntary Commitments.

OSPAR's Voluntary Commitments

Ocean Action #47414: North-East Atlantic Environment Strategy 2030

OSPAR’s North-East Atlantic Environment Strategy 2030 (#OceanAction47414)

The North-East Atlantic Environment Strategy (NEAES) 2030 was adopted on 1 October 2021 in Cascais, Portugal. This was supported by a high-level review of OSPAR's previous strategy for the decade 2010-2030.

Ocean Action #47413: OSPAR’s second Regional Action Programme on Marine Litter

OSPAR’s second Regional Action Programme on Marine Litter (#OceanAction47413)

For more information on OSPAR's second Regional Action Programme on Marine Litter, please visit our dedicated web pages https://www.ospar.org/work-areas/eiha/marine-litter/regional-action-plan

Ocean Action #46914 on Ocean Acidification

At its Minsiterial meeting in Cascais in 2021, OSPAR Contracting Parties agreed a voluntary commitment on ocean acidification (#OceanAction46914).

Briefing note on OSPAR's voluntary commitment

Ocean Action #17198: The Caribbean Environment Programme

Commitment between the Secretariats of the Caribbean Environment Programme and the OSPAR Commission to explore opportunities for inter-regional cooperation (#OceanAction17198)

For more information on OSPAR's work with the CEP, please refer to OSPAR and Cartagena Convention collaboration

Ocean Action #21204: the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission

Commitment between the Secretariats of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission and the OSPAR Commission under the collective arrangement (#OceanAction21204)

For more information on OSPAR's work with NEAFC, please refer to the collective arrangement (Agreement 2014-09).

The regular work of OSPAR in applying an ecosystem-based approach to management of human activities contributes to many of the SDGs. As a Commission for the protection of the North-East Atlantic, OSPAR contributes strongly to the implementation of SDG 14 Life Below Water. This includes ongoing work for marine protection and conservation as well as elimination of polluting hazardous substances from the marine environment. The OSPAR common indicators which are used for producing regionally comparable assessments of the status and pressures affecting the marine environment, are also linked to the goals and indicators of SDG 14 which enables reporting of progress on this goal using regional assessment outcomes. OSPAR implements SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals by collaborating with other regional and global organisations and authorities to share lessons learned on best management practices.

Image credit: Azote Images for Stockholm Resilience Centre