The Maldives has unveiled a national roadmap for the development of ocean accounts on the sidelines of the ongoing Third United Nations Oceans Conference in Nice, France.
The roadmap was officially launched by Minister of Tourism and Environment Thoriq Ibrahim at a side event organised by the Maldives in collaboration with the Global Oceans Accounts Partnership.
Ocean accounts are a structured framework used to track and assess the condition, use, and value of the ocean and marine ecosystems in a way that aligns with national economic accounting systems. The framework measures their status as natural resources and calculate their economic and social benefits to shape sustainable development.
The three main goals of the roadmap are:
- Laying the foundation work of ocean accounting by the end of 2026
- Launching the pilot projects in different parts of the Maldives and developing a national-level ocean accounting system by end of 2028
- Using the information obtained from ocean accounts to shape development policies across all relevant sectors by the end of 2030
Speaking at the launching event, Minister Thoriq said the development and social well-being of the Maldives is critically linked to marine biodiversity. He stressed the importance of protecting the Maldives’ natural resources, species and environments.
The Third UN Oceans Conference, held from 9 to 13 June in Nice, France, gathers world leaders, policymakers, scientists and environmentalists to discuss ocean sustainability. The main objective of the conference is to highlight the importance of protecting and sustainably utilising the world's oceans and taking urgent action.
According to the Ministry of Environment, the conference will focus on exploring strategies for securing the resources needed to achieve the 14th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 14) and accelerating global action.
SDG 14 aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. This goal focuses on protecting marine life, reducing pollution, managing fisheries, and combating ocean acidification.
In addition to the Environment Minister, the conference is also being attended by the Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Ahmed Shiyam.