Since its creation in 2002, the Global Ocean Forum has become an important player in the global ocean policy landscape, having achieved the following:
- Filled an important gap in tracking progress achieved (or lack thereof) on major ocean-related goals, bringing together national and international data on the range of issues related to oceans, especially regarding the cross-cutting goals (integrated, ecosystem-based management).
- Stimulated the achievement of strong ocean outcomes at major global level political fora, including the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), 2012 Rio+20 Conference and multiple UNFCCC COPs.
- Kept the global ocean targets (the WSSD and other global goals) high on the agenda of world leaders, spurring analyses, policy dialogue and debate, and renewed political commitments.
- Built an inclusive and mutually-supportive global network of ocean policy leaders from 110 countries, facilitating cross-sectoral linkages, informal diplomacy, and goodwill among the ocean community.
- Fostered some of the first cross-sectoral dialogue on the emerging issue of areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), and continues to foster discussion and analysis on emerging policy issues including through the preparation of cross-cutting policy briefs, with many colleagues from international institutions and civil society around the world and through capacity development, especially related to ABNJ.
- Mobilized high-level political attention on critical ocean and climate issues in the context of the UN climate negotiations, serving to heighten political attention on previously-ignored ocean issues in this important global forum through the conduct of Oceans Days at the COPs, the production of the multi-authored Assessing Progress on Oceana and Climate Action reports, and the organization of the Virtual Ocean Pavilion at the COPs.
- Has become an important global platform for cross-sectoral multi-stakeholder dialogue on ocean and coastal issues among governments, international organizations, NGOs, the science community and the private sector, and provides for substantive linkages among various global fora addressing ocean issues (e.g., UNGA fora, UNFCCC climate negotiations, CBD negotiations), to provide a more integrated perspective on global oceans issues.
