Global Stability and Ocean Health: A Friends of Ocean Action Vision for 2030

Friends of Ocean Action argues that ocean health is a prerequisite for global stability and economic prosperity, calling for a 'whole-ocean governance approach' by 2030. The group highlights a significant gap in the goal to protect 30% of the ocean, noting that only 3.5% currently has adequate protections. The vision emphasizes scaling proven solutions, increasing sustainable ocean finance—which saw €8.7 billion in new commitments in 2025—and ensuring the direct participation of Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities, and Small Island Developing States in decision-making processes.

• There is a significant gap between the global commitment to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 and current progress; while approximately 10% is designated as protected, only 3.5% is considered to have adequate protections.
• Sustainable ocean finance is growing through mechanisms like blue bonds and blended-finance vehicles, with the 2025 Blue Economy and Finance Forum identifying over US$25 billion in existing investments and securing €8.7 billion in new commitments for ocean health through 2030.
• The ocean economy currently supports at least 133 million jobs globally, with the potential for a sustainable ocean economy to support up to 184 million direct jobs by 2050.
• Recent geopolitical and climate events, including the 2026 closures in the Strait of Hormuz and droughts in the Panama Canal, demonstrate how disruptions to critical waterways impact global trade, energy markets, and supply chains.

APA

World Economic Forum (2026). Global Stability and Ocean Health: A Friends of Ocean Action Vision for 2030. https://reports.weforum.org/docs/Friends_of_Ocean_Action_Vision_to_2030.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Global Stability and Ocean Health: A Friends of Ocean Action Vision for 2030. 2026. https://reports.weforum.org/docs/Friends_of_Ocean_Action_Vision_to_2030.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=World Economic Forum |title=Global Stability and Ocean Health: A Friends of Ocean Action Vision for 2030 |date=September 2026 |url=https://reports.weforum.org/docs/Friends_of_Ocean_Action_Vision_to_2030.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{worldeconomicforum2026global, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Global Stability and Ocean Health: A Friends of Ocean Action Vision for 2030}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2026}, month = sep, url = {https://reports.weforum.org/docs/Friends_of_Ocean_Action_Vision_to_2030.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }