UN Global Compact Announces New Business Action Platform for the Ocean

OSLO, Norway, February 2, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Today, the United Nations Global Compact announced the formation of a Business Action Platform for the Ocean — a three-year global programme bringing together business, civil society, the UN and Governments to advance the ocean economy and sustainable development. The programme is part of a broader portfolio of Action Platforms introduced by the UN Global Compact to facilitate the achievement of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Global Goals. 

Supported by the Government of Norway as its first Government partner, the Action Platform will develop a business leadership framework focused on the growth, innovation and sustainability of the ocean, with a specific aim to scale-up the commitments and performance of companies on this critical agenda.

At the announcement event hosted in Oslo, Norway, the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry, Torbjørn Røe Isaksen, said, “the ocean economy is particularly important for Norway. Our ocean space is six times bigger than our land areas. Industries such as oil, fisheries and the maritime industry accounts for 214,000 jobs nationally, and we believe the ocean economies will create 40 million jobs globally by 2030.”

Lise Kingo, CEO & Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, added, “this new Action Platform for business is designed to leverage ocean sustainability to address major challenges across the UN Sustainable Development Goals. From acidification, marine litter and overfishing, the health of the world’s oceans is fragile and under pressure. We know that the global business community can play a significant role in ensuring this crucial resource is sustainably managed. This ambitious Action Platform aims to mobilize the private sector to innovate, make investments and form partnerships to deliver the Global Goals through sustainable ocean action.”

Today’s announcement was attended by a group of 40 participants from Norway's energy, transport and seafood sectors as well as civil society, the UN and Government, including State Secretaries Ingvil Smines Tybring‐Gjedde and Roy Angelvik. Over the next three years, a diverse group of multi-stakeholder partners will aim to deliver leading action on ocean sustainability and advance shared ocean priorities.

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About the UN Global Compact Business Action Platform for the Ocean

The Business Action Platform for the Ocean will focus on growth, innovation and sustainability, exploring how to best protect the health of the ocean. It aims to mobilize the private sector to take tangible action, make investments and form partnerships to leverage the ocean as a resource to deliver the Global Goals.