The ocean is essential to all life and the ocean economy is booming. But climate change, overfishing and pollution threaten marine ecosystems and the livelihood of 600 million people worldwide.
The 5th UN Ocean Forum has called for smarter, more concerted action to protect the world's vast marine spaces for future generations. It stressed the need to align trade and economic policies with ocean sustainability and the sustainable use of marine resources.
The ocean covers 71% of our planet's surface. We rely on it to support human wellbeing. The ocean economy is far more than shipping. It is the life blood of our modern society and a major source of food, jobs, and energy.
The amount of exports of ocean goods and services reached $2.2 trillion in 2023. The world's ocean economies have grown 250 per cent since 1995, far outpacing the global economy, which grew by 190 per cent over the same period.
By 2030, the value of the ocean economy is expected to reach USD 3 trillion, providing employment for 40 million people. It is essential that this growth be guided by a commitment to sustainability and decarbonization, the forum heard .
"Reliable meteorological services are indispensable to this vision, enabling safe navigation and reducing operational costs and environmental impact," WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo told the high-level segment.
The meeting from 3 to 5 March was organized by the UN Conference on Trade and Development .
"As we navigate the future of the ocean economy, collaboration between meteorological institutions, maritime industries, and policymakers is essential. Strengthening ocean observations, advancing meteorological services, and prioritizing decarbonization will ensure a safer, more sustainable, and prosperous future for all," she said.
Celeste Saulo outlined the importance of ocean observations, marine safety and climate insights.
Ocean observations
The Global Ocean Observing System is an important driver of the ocean economy. It observes our ocean through the "eyes" of thousands of observing platforms that feed weather forecasts, early warnings and climate prediction.
A major contributor to observations is the Argo program , with its nearly 4,000 robotic floats. This is a showcase for international collaboration in monitoring ocean heat, sea-level rise, and circulation patterns.
More than 1,000 Voluntary Observing Ships provide real-time meteorological data, improving weather forecasts and advancing our understanding of climate dynamics.
"However, participation is in decline. We need to reverse this decline and close the gaps in the global ocean observing system," she said.
Marine Forecasting and Services
Approximately 30% of maritime incidents are linked to adverse weather, reinforcing the need for forecasts and early warnings to enable ships to optimize routes, avoid extreme weather, and reduce fuel consumption, said Celeste Saulo.
The International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) underscores the need for reliable maritime safety information. WMO therefore works closely with the International Maritime Organization in the provision of Worldwide Met-Ocean Information and Warning Services.
The WMO Integrated Prediction and Processing System (WIPPS) further strengthens maritime resilience by improving forecasts for tropical cyclones, global wave and storm surge predictions, and marine emergency responses.
In addition, the United Nations Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative has an important marine services component.
Climate Insights
The ocean absorbs more than 90 % of the excess heat from human activities. From 2023 to 2024, the global upper 2000 m ocean heat content increased by 16 zettajoules, about 140 times the world's total electricity generation, said Celeste Saulo.
Climate change is exacerbating extreme weather events, leading to more rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones, and increased coastal flooding.
The ocean is being hit by increasing numbers of marine heatwaves and coral bleaching episodes - resulting in billions of dollars of damage to the blue economy.
The severe drought which impacted key shipping routes like the Panama Canal in 2023-2024 highlighted the vulnerability of global supply chains and trade routes.
The decline of Arctic sea ice opens up potential new shipping routes in the future. But less ice does not mean less danger in hazardous polar waters.
Decarbonization of the Ocean Economy
According to UNCTAD, an estimated 11 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide are caused by ocean-based activities.
Weather and climate science and services must inform and guide decarbonization, said Celeste Saulo.
Ship routing services, traditionally aimed at reducing passage time and operational costs, must now prioritize climate impact reduction. The WMO's Global Greenhouse Gas Watch (G3W) and the Ocean Carbon Plan, developed in collaboration with the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), play a crucial role in operationalizing ocean carbon data collection, she said.
The UN Ocean Forum launched initiatives that include a renewed Ocean Trade Database to help analyse the fast-evolving sector, a proposal for a UN task force on seaweed development and a project on evidence-based ocean climate action.
The forum was held ahead of the UN Ocean Conference 2025 in the French city of Nice from 9 to 13 June.
