A commitment to reduce ocean noise pollution
(
Non-governmental organization (NGO)
)
#OceanAction41469
Description
Numerous measures have already been put in place, including voluntary vessel-quieting guidelines within the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Additionally, mitigation strategies related to reducing noise and ship strikes have been implemented in several jurisdictions. However, additional and sustained international collaboration and partnerships, leading to specific actions, are needed to ensure a long-term and sustained reduction of the impacts on marine life of noise pollution generated by industrial activity, particularly shipping and energy exploration.
The Partners will establish a multi-stakeholder Working Group to agree on mitigation actions (technologies, operational management measures, area- and species-specific measures) that businesses could implement in order to minimize ocean noise emissions. Given the cross-sectoral nature of the shipping industry, breadth of noise from other sources (e.g., offshore energy exploration, military) and the global scale of this issue, collaboration and constructive dialog among diverse industry, scientific, government and non-governmental organizations will continue to be critical, as clearly demonstrated within the IMO vessel-quieting guideline development.
The main milestones in the process will be:
Situation analysis: this phase will generate an inventory of the primary noise sources, their geographical distribution, key industry actors, and current and best practices. This analysis will support the stakeholder analysis which will guide the membership of the Working Group originally established at the February 2017 UN Prep. Meeting, so that it will be fully representative (i.e., industry, scientific, regulatory, and conservation stakeholders). A decision-making and governance system for the process will be established by the partners early-on in the process.
Development of commitments: the WG will develop the science-based commitments, with all parties able to share their views, values and needs. The aim is to develop a set of scientifically rigorous, cost-effective and outcome-focused commitments, the implementation of which can be objectively measured. These will include noise reduction targets for individual noise sources (e.g., 3 dB reduction compared to nominal baseline levels per ship class in 5 years and another 3 dB the next 5 years).
Launch the commitments: Commitments will be made by industry and government participants on a rolling basis, with updates made periodically at intergovernmental fora, including at the 2018 UN Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea and at the 2020 IUCN World Conservation Congress.
Implement the commitments: Promote the Commitments among industry players and relevant government agencies and track implementation through a publicly accessible platform. By the end of 2020 and again in 2025, industry, government, scientists and NGOs who have contributed.to the process will come together to share experiences and assess the progress made.
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
International Fund for Animal Welfare (Non-governmental organization)
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Southall Environmental Associates (Private Sector)
Douglas P. Nowacek, PhD, Duke University, Scientific Community Member
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
SDGS & Targets
Goal 12
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
![Goal 12](/sites/default/files/goals/E_SDG_Icons-12.jpg)
12.1
Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries
12.1.1
Number of countries developing, adopting or implementing policy instruments aimed at supporting the shift to sustainable consumption and production
12.2
By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
12.2.1
Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP
12.2.2
Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP
12.3
By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses
12.3.1
(a) Food loss index and (b) food waste index
12.4
By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
12.4.1
12.4.2
(a) Hazardous waste generated per capita; and (b) proportion of hazardous waste treated, by type of treatment
12.5
By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
12.5.1
National recycling rate, tons of material recycled
12.6
Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle
12.6.1
12.7
Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities
12.7.1
Number of countries implementing sustainable public procurement policies and action plans
12.8
By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
12.8.1
Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment
12.a
Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production
12.a.1
Installed renewable energy-generating capacity in developing and developed countries (in watts per capita)
12.b
Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
12.b.1
Implementation of standard accounting tools to monitor the economic and environmental aspects of tourism sustainability
12.c
Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities
12.c.1
Amount of fossil-fuel subsidies (production and consumption) per unit of GDP
Goal 14
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
![Goal 14](/sites/default/files/goals/E_SDG_Icons-14.jpg)
14.1
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.1.1
(a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density
14.2
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
14.2.1
Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas
14.3
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
14.3.1
14.4
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
14.4.1
14.5
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
14.5.1
14.6
By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
14.6.1
Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
14.7
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
14.7.1
Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries
14.a
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
14.a.1
14.b
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
14.b.1
Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries
14.c
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"
14.c.1
Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources
SDG 14 targets covered
Name | Description |
---|---|
14.1 | By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution |
14.2 | By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans |
14.5 | By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information |
14.a | Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries |
Deliverables & Timeline
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
Title | Progress Status | Submitted |
---|---|---|
Partnership Progress 2019-10-15 | On track |
Feedback
Action Network
![Ocean conference wheel logo](/sites/default/files/2022-05/ocean_conference_logo.png)
Timeline
Entity
Other beneficiaries
Industry (oil and gas, commercial shipping)
Government (military)
Private sector (tourism)
Ocean Basins
Communities of Ocean Action
Website/More information
Countries
Contact Information
Howard Rosenbaum, Director, Ocean Giants Program, WCS