Concept:
Sustainable Development Goal 14 has a specific target to increase the
economic benefits to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least
Developed Countries (LDCs) from the sustainable use of marine resources by
2030. This includes increasing scientific knowledge, developing research
capacity and transfer of marine technology taking into account the IOC criteria
and guidelines, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the
contribution of marine biodiversity to development of developing countries, in
particular SIDS and LDCs.
However, very limited progress has been made on this front in SIDS, due to the
persisting problems in developing, sustaining and locally retaining capacity.
This indicates that business-as-usual approaches to capacity building are not
sufficient to meet the needs of SIDS to secure a thriving future in changing
oceans, especially considering the combined threats of warming sea
temperatures, ocean acidification, de-oxygenation and pollution, amongst
others.
Key factors contributing to this problem include: a lack of common
understanding about the meaning of capacity building, the problems that
hinder effective and equitable outcomes; ineffective or absent mechanisms for
cooperation including matching self-identified needs with resources to meet
needs in the long-term or retain capacity; and a lack of monitoring frameworks
to track progress and promote best practice. Moving forward, there is a clear
need to address these factors in order to enhance and accelerate
implementation of SDG 14.7.
The Event:
In this context, the Chair of AOSIS is proposing to organize an event to launch
a “Declaration for the enhancement of scientific knowledge, research
capacity and transfer marine technology to SIDS” at the Second UN Ocean
Conference taking place in Lisbon from 27 June to 1 July 2022, under the theme
“Scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation of Goal 14:
stocktaking, partnerships and solutions”.
The Declaration, to be endorsed by all AOSIS Member States, highlights the key
challenges currently faced by SIDS in capacity building and transfer of marine
technology, and calls for enhanced partnerships that will overcome these
specific challenges through:
(i) Promoting better understanding of the specific issues faced by SIDS in
current initiatives for capacity building and related transfer of marine
technology;
(ii) Ensuring that the needs of SIDS are met in terms of knowledge, science
and technology for the development and implementation of ocean
policy;
(iii) Shifting predominant narratives concerning one-way initiatives and
approaches that perpetuate inequities and deliver ineffective outcomes;
(iv) Establishing best practice approaches to developing, implementing and
sustaining capacity development partnerships;
(v) Promoting information and knowledge exchange, including on
modalities for capacity building and related cooperation in science,
technology and innovation, and measurements of effectiveness.
In addition to the launch, the event will also feature new announcements and
commitments in alignment with the Declaration, including a knowledge
sharing hub for SIDS.