How can a healthy ocean improve human health and enhance wellbeing on a rapidly changing planet?

Prior Ocean Panel Blue Papers have explored such topics as environmental threats to the ocean, ocean-based advances in renewable energy, coastal restoration, sustainable practices within fisheries and marine transportation. This Blue Paper examines the links between the ocean and human health. Its purpose is to provide heads of government and global leaders with robust evidence on the connections between ocean health, human health, societal wellbeing and the global economy as these leaders look to chart the next urgent actions to attain all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and realise the least funded of them, SDG 14, on ‘life below water’ (WEF 2022). This Blue Paper identifies opportunities for sustaining and protecting the ocean in ways that improve human health and support just, equitable economic development.

The specific goals of this Blue Paper are two. First, it seeks to systematically catalogue ocean-based opportunities for enhancing human health and wellbeing. Second, it endeavours to present regional, national and international policymakers with an evidence-based menu of achievable actions for improving human health and wellbeing by equitably realising the ocean’s great benefits, while effectively conserving and managing its beauty and bounty for future generations (Figure ES-1, Table ES-1).

Throughout this Blue Paper we emphasise the importance of cross-sectoral, cross-national partnerships and of a global structure of laws, treaties, guidelines and organisational entities that harness our collective creativity and intelligence, curb humanity’s appetite for short-term gain, move the world towards greater sustainability and create a sustainable, more equitable economy that prioritises human health and wellbeing (Pope Francis 2015; Abbasi et al. 2023; Fleming et al. 2023). We argue that preservation of ocean and human health will require metrics and governance structures that look beyond measures of short-term productivity such as gross domestic product (GDP) and explicitly value human and natural capital; address the underlying political, economic and ethical causes of the current planetary crisis; and centre justice and equity, particularly with respect to previously marginalised communities such as Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

A recent article published in over 200 health journals simultaneously underscores the current urgency for action on ocean and human health now:

Over 200 health journals call on the United Nations, political leaders, and health professionals to recognise that climate change and biodiversity loss are one indivisible crisis and must be tackled together to preserve health and avoid catastrophe. This overall environmental crisis is now so severe as to be a global health emergency.

(Abbasi et al. 2023)[1]

Critically, because healthcare professionals are tasked with maintaining and restoring health, are expert communicators and are trusted members of societies in their role as advocates for their patients, the health sector is uniquely well positioned to lead in safeguarding human health by protecting the health of the ocean (Depledge et al. 2019; Romanello et al. 2023)[2]. Yet at present they are not sufficiently educated about the need for this work or engaged in it. Involving health professionals and the health sector in protecting ocean health will require innovative efforts across multiple areas, including reducing the health sector’s carbon footprint, reducing medical waste and pollution, supporting greater ocean literacy to promote science-based advocacy on behalf of patients and emphasising population health and prevention[3]. These efforts will extend into many areas, including energy, transport, supply chains, food and education. The entire health sector must be involved, including hospitals, healthcare systems, public health, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, social care and Indigenous health.

This Blue Paper actively presents a series of actions and opportunities that can and must begin immediately to sustain, protect and expand both ocean and human health (Figure ES-1; Table ES-1)[4].

It identifies three key actions of overarching importance to both ocean and human health:

• Protect, restore and manage ocean biodiversity. The great potential for marine medicines and biotechnology and marine food sources depends on collaboratively and effectively protecting and sustainably managing marine biodiversity. To that end, it is essential that the world’s nations ratify and implement — with genuine commitment to effective management for biodiversity protection, equity and human wellbeing — the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Global Biodiversity Framework, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Fisheries Subsidies Agreement and the Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).
• Combat climate change and eliminate pollution. The health of coastal populations depends on slowing climate change to prevent extreme weather events and limit sea level rise, and preventing to the greatest degree possible all forms of pollution from reaching the ocean to conserve healthy marine food sources, with particular focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels to net zero by 2050 and eliminating plastic pollution. To that end, the world’s nations must uphold their commitments to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Paris Agreement, the COP28 outcomes and the UN Global Plastics Treaty.
• Improve measurement and support equity. Indicators of both ocean and human health must be integrated into ongoing monitoring, prevention and evaluation programmes, and these data must be made publicly and freely accessible. To that end, evidence and linked indicators of ocean health and human health and wellbeing must be incorporated into all policies and decision-making around ocean-human interactions, and this information must be made publicly available.

We must act now to inspire and work collaboratively with individuals, communities, businesses, policymakers, the healthcare sector and governments around the world to engage in a new vision of ocean citizenship and planetary stewardship

Notes:

GBF = Global Biodiversity Framework. Circles are plotted by feasibility (y-axis—ability to carry proposed action to completion considering resources, government and culture) and time to realise benefits (x-axis—the duration required to realise benefits of proposed action). The relative size of the circle reflects the magnitude of impact of the action (in terms of overall benefit to ocean and human health globally). All actions need to be initiated immediately. This figure is included primarily as a visual aid for readers. It is based on the authors’ interpretation of best available evidence, not a quantitative analysis of all available information. Source: Authors.

Notes:

Actions are categorised by the themes of this Blue Paper, and also by the themes of the Transformations Agenda (Ocean Panel 2020). All actions need to be initiated immediately. The broad delivering party for each action is also indicated.