Deep Dives
Thought-provoking research providing extensive learning opportunities

A transition to sustainable ocean governance

Rudolph TB., et al., Nature Communications Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

A new relationship between humanity and the ocean is required to secure the continuity of the diverse life support roles provided by the sea. Ocean governance faces the challenge of reflecting the multi-dimensional and interconnected role that the ocean plays in environmental health, economic prosperity and human well-being including justice and equity.

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The Value of Restored UK Seas

Teresa Fenn et al., WWF Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

Our study attempts to value the economic benefits of an “ocean recovery” scenario based on ambitious action in these four areas between now and 2050, compared to what would happen if current trends continue. But these values are an underestimate: we haven’t attempted to model all the potential benefits, and of course it’s impossible to assign an economic value to the joys and delights our seas give us.

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PODCAST/WEBINAR: Seeing the Ocean as a Solution, Not a Victim

Nicholas Walton Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

The ocean has great potential to become a solution, but only if there's the political will to build a strong ocean economy. 

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Waste and  Opportunity 2020: Searching for corporate leadership

Conrad MacKerron, KellyMcBee, & David Shugar Plastics & Pollution

This study measures the progress of 50 large companies in the beverage, quick-service restaurant, consumer packaged goods, and retail sectors on six core pillars where swift action is needed to reduce plastic pollution.

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Deep-sea mining: An environmental solution or impending catastrophe?

Elizabeth Claire Alberts Energy Solutions Plastics & Pollution

Deep-sea mining has not yet begun anywhere in the world, but many companies are already prospecting the seabed for nodules and other forms of minerals to assess their size, composition, distribution, and economic value.

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Business for Ocean Sustainability

One Ocean Foundation BrightTalk Energy Solutions ESG Fisheries & Aquaculture GreenMoney Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

The ocean matters and has widespread implications beyond the ocean itself.

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The Business Case for Marine Protection and Conservation

Friends of Ocean Action Impact Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

Friends of Ocean Action Impact Report: The Business Case for Marine Protection and Conservation

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Finding Plastic Patches in Coastal Waters using Optical Satellite Data

Biermann, L., et al., Nature Plastics & Pollution

Satellites collecting optical data offer a unique perspective from which to observe the problem of plastic litter in the marine environment, but few studies have successfully demonstrated their use for this purpose.

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Increasing finance for a healthy ocean

The Friends of Ocean Action BrightTalk Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture GreenMoney Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

The Ocean Finance Handbook, is a guide to support an increase in finance flowing towards the sustainable blue economy. The Handbook provides a key resource to enhance understanding of finance for a healthy ocean and generate conversations between financial institutions and marine-based businesses, conservation professionals and ocean project managers.

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The Blue Economy and the United Nations’ sustainable development goals: Challenges and opportunities

Lee, KH et al., Environment International Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

The “Blue Economy (BE)” is an increasingly popular concept as a strategy for safeguarding the world’s oceans and water resources. It may emerge when economic activity is in balance with the long term capacity of ocean ecosystems to support the activity in a sustainable manner.

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The Ocean as a Solution to Climate Change

Ove Hoegh-Guldberg Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

The HLP report offers the first comprehensive, integrated assessment of the mitigation potential of a suite of ocean-based activities: renewable energy, transport, food production, and ecosystems, and the potential future contribution from carbon storage if current concerns can be resolved.

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Addressing Marine Plastics: A Systemic Approach – Recommendations for Actions

UN Environmental Program Plastics & Pollution

Addressing marine plastic pollution is an urgent action, considering the rising levels of plastics in the environment and the impacts to coastal and marine ecosystems.

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Prey-size plastics are invading larval fish nurseries

Gove, J.M., et al., PNAS Plastics & Pollution

Many of the world’s marine fish spend the first days to weeks feeding and developing at the ocean surface. However, very little is known about the ocean processes that govern larval fish survivorship and hence adult fish populations that supply essential nutrients and protein to human societies.

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Motivating actions to mitigate plastic pollution

Lili Jia, Steve Evans & Sander van der Linden, Nature Communcations Plastics & Pollution

Designing effective policy interventions to motivate mitigation actions requires more realistic assumptions about human decision-making based on empirical evidence from the behavioural sciences. We therefore need to consider behavioural rather than only economic costs and benefits in policy intervention designs.

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Fourth National Climate Assessment

Reidmiller, D.R. et al., U.S. Global Change Research Program Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

Volume II: Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States.

The National Climate Assessment (NCA) assesses the science of climate change and variability and its impacts across the United States, now and throughout this century.

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Rethinking Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean Economy

OECD Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports

This new OECD report on the ocean economy emphasises the growing importance of science and technologies in improving the sustainable economic development of our seas and ocean.

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The Plastics Landscape: The Challenges and Possible Solutions

Gemma James, Principles for Responsible Investment Plastics & Pollution

The impacts of plastic production, use and disposal on the environment and people create risks and opportunities for investors through different sectors and companies which are part of the plastic value chain. This report highlights the global challenge for plastics, as well as some potential solutions.

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Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made

Geyer, R. et al., Science Advances Plastics & Pollution

Plastics have outgrown most man-made materials and have long been under environmental scrutiny. However, robust global information, particularly about their end-of-life fate, is lacking. 

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River plastic emissions to the world’s oceans

Lebreton, L.C.M. et al., Nature Communications Plastics & Pollution

Plastics in the marine environment have become a major concern because of their persistence at sea, and adverse consequences to marine life and potentially human health. Implementing mitigation strategies requires an understanding and quantification of marine plastic sources, taking spatial and temporal variability into account.

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The New Plastics Economy: Catalysing action

Ellen MacArthur Foundation Plastics & Pollution

Launched at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos in January 2017, this new research presents three strategies to increase reuse and recycling of plastic packaging to 70%, from today's recycling rate of just 14%.

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