A sustainable ocean is critical to the economy and human wellbeing, globally and locally, supporting resilience and recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. Our marine ecosystems support livelihoods, poverty alleviation and food security, as well as mitigating climate change, to name just a few benefits. Integrated governance must address significant pressures (e.g. over‑exploitation of resources, pollution and biodiversity loss) and sustain the ecosystem services that humans depend upon. 

Scotland is a global leader in ambitious policy for societal change and implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably through the National Performance Framework (NPF), the ‘Just Transition’ and the ‘Wellbeing Economy’. 

This programme aimed to facilitate interaction between diverse policy and science stakeholders for these policy agendas in Scotland. The focus was on an integrated understanding of the role of the ocean, its resources and socio-economic benefits, informing decision-making that addresses SDGs at multiple governance levels. Climate, seafood and connected issues are key areas of Scottish marine science expertise and were key themes and entry points for examining links to a wide range of SDGs.

Focussing on the themes of Climate Change and Seafood led to identification of connections to a wide range of SDGs and policy areas, including energy, production and consumption, natural capital, resource use and the circular economy, supply chain transparency, employment and nutritional health. 

Approaching these through the lenses of (a) the Just Transition and (b) biodiversity and ecosystem function, the team worked to integrate social, economic and ecological factors to deepen the understanding of interdependencies, synergies and trade-offs, enabling better integration of ocean considerations into policy and decision-making. 

Useful resources:

• PCSD Video  – a nice explainer of Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development
• SDG report highlighting key entry points to leverage interlinkages and accelerate progress across SDGs. (Global Sustainable Development Report 2019: The Future is Now – Science for Achieving Sustainable Development, (United Nations, New York, 2019)).
• Global Biodiversity Outlook (5^th Ed.) – Summary for Policy Makers, highlighting progress towards the achievement of global biodiversity goals and targets  and their links to the SDGs.
• IPBES report for policy-makers - 2019 global assessment of the status and trends of the natural world, social implications, direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity and ecosystem services loss, and possible actions.
• 2019 Summary report of the Conference on synergies between the Paris Agreement and the SDGs: Maximizing Co-Benefits by Linking Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and Climate Action2019.
• SROCCC report (Chapter 5) - the centrality of the ocean for the multiple dimensions of human well-being and livelihoods, including through the energy budget, carbon cycle, nutrient cycle, marine biodiversity and associated ecosystem services and assesses ocean-climate related trends, impacts and adaptation to a changing climate. Summary for Policy Makers
• 2020 information note for the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice on how to strengthen adaptation and mitigation action.