Search Climate Insights Directory

This briefing provides an overview of indicator-based tools used to assess ocean risks and vulnerabilities, based on a systematic review of grey literature and peer-reviewed articles. It highlights a tendency to focus on climate change over other risks and notes significant data gaps in specific developing regions.

This document consists of negotiating mandates and reports from several South African provincial legislatures—Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North West, and Western Cape—regarding the Marine Spatial Planning Bill [B 9D-2017]. The provinces generally support the Bill, which aims to establish a framework for marine spatial planning, coordinate ocean use across multiple sectors, and promote a sustainable ocean economy, while proposing various amendments related to governance, definitions, and inclusivity.

This executive summary synthesises three reports from the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) regarding the 'Blue Acceleration'—the rapid expansion of ocean-based industries. It highlights the systemic inequities of this growth, noting that benefits primarily flow to powerful states and corporations while Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) face disproportionate risks. The document emphasizes the need for multidimensional risk assessments, the integration of local and indigenous knowledge, and gender-transformative approaches to ensure an equitable and resilient ocean economy.