The World Ocean Assessment (officially: Regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects) is a global mechanism established by states following the 2002 United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. It aims to regularly review the environmental, economic and social aspects of the current and foreseeable state of the world's oceans.
So far, two reports have been published in 2016 and 2021. The third cycle of the assessment was initiated in 2021.
Current process
The third cycle of the assessment was adopted by the General Assembly in December 2019, with a duration of five years from 2021 to 2025. Beyond the mandate described above, the regular process will support other ocean-related intergovernmental processes, such as the UN negotiations for a stronger agreement to protect biodiversity and shape the sustainable use of areas of the oceans beyond national jurisdiction (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction/BBNJ). The third cycle also includes a capacity-building programme aimed at strengthening the interface between marine science and policy at national, regional and global levels.
THE REPORTS - WOA 1 and WOA 2
KDM participation
Since 2021, KDM has been supporting the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) in representing German interests in the regular process.
Contact person: Dr Jan-Stefan Fritz