Valuing the Ocean Environment

This research paper preview examines the economic cost of avoidable climate damage to the ocean, comparing a low-emissions scenario (RCP2.6) with a business-as-usual scenario (RCP6). It focuses on five priceable categories of ocean services to estimate the financial difference between these two pathways by 2050 and 2100.

• The analysis estimates that by 2100, the cost of environmental damage to the ocean under a high-emissions pathway (RCP6) will reach US$ 1,980 billion, which represents 0.37 percent of global GDP. In contrast, the avoidable damage—the difference between the high-impact and low-impact (RCP2.6) scenarios—is US$ 1,367 billion per year by 2100, or 0.25 percent of GDP.
• The economic valuation focuses on five specific categories of ocean services with measurable damages: fisheries, sea-level rise, storms, tourism, and the ocean carbon sink. By 2100, the highest avoidable costs are associated with the ocean carbon sink (US$ 457.8 billion), tourism (US$ 337.7 billion), and sea-level rise (US$ 333.2 billion).
• The authors distinguish between priceable services and 'priceless' values. While the economic impact of industries like whale-watching tourism or the storm protection provided by coastal wetlands can be estimated, the intrinsic value of whales, wetlands, and their biodiversity cannot be assigned a meaningful price.
• The document identifies that the poorest countries are the most vulnerable to ocean-related climate impacts. Specific examples include African and east Asian countries facing losses from latitudinal shifts in capture fisheries, Vietnam and Bangladesh dealing with sea-level rise, and Caribbean and Pacific island nations experiencing downturns in tourism.

APA

Noone, K., Sumaila, R., Diaz, R. J., Ackerman, F., & Stanton, E. A. (n.d.). Valuing the Ocean Environment. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Preview-ValuingTheOceanEnvironment-EconomicPerspectives.pdf

Chicago

Noone, Kevin, Rashid Sumaila, Robert J Diaz, Frank Ackerman, and Elizabeth A. Stanton. Valuing the Ocean Environment. Stockholm Environment Institute, n.d. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Preview-ValuingTheOceanEnvironment-EconomicPerspectives.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Noone |first1=Kevin |last2=Sumaila |first2=Rashid |last3=Diaz |first3=Robert J |last4=Ackerman |first4=Frank |last5=Stanton |first5=Elizabeth A. |title=Valuing the Ocean Environment |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Preview-ValuingTheOceanEnvironment-EconomicPerspectives.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{noonendvaluing, author = {Noone, Kevin and Sumaila, Rashid and Diaz, Robert J and Ackerman, Frank and Stanton, Elizabeth A.}, title = {{Valuing the Ocean Environment}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Preview-ValuingTheOceanEnvironment-EconomicPerspectives.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }