31 Oct 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has unveiled Ocean Central, a first-of-its-kind digital platform offering a view of marine health to aid global regeneration efforts.
The platform, revealed at the Future Investment Initiative by the Kingdom’s Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar, was developed in partnership with Wave to integrate data, design, storytelling, and strategy into accessible insights.
Ocean Central allows users worldwide to understand health trends of the sea, identify data gaps, and work toward comprehensive restoration.
Princess Reema highlighted the need for shared understanding and collaboration to achieve ambitious ocean regeneration goals.
“Countries are setting ambitious targets to regenerate a thriving ocean, but what’s been missing is a clear view of the journey,” she said.
The ambassador continued: “By working together and leveraging data, Ocean Central will act as a catalyst for ocean regeneration by highlighting successful initiatives, identifying gaps in ocean data, and building a shared understanding of the ocean.”
The platform aligns with global objectives, integrating targets from the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the 2015 Paris Agreement, to track both 2030 and 2050 milestones toward a regenerated ocean.
It facilitates the collection and analysis of data on marine biodiversity, coastal preservation, and other key areas to drive informed action.
Princess Reema called for global collaboration, urging individuals, scientific communities, and industries to unite in the endeavor.
“Together, we can build a collective understanding of ocean health and ensure a thriving ocean by 2050.” she said.
In a panel discussion alongside Red Sea Global CEO John Pagano, Princess Reema said: “We all know that the health of our planet and our oceans and our ecosystems are all connected to our well-being.”
She said the ocean-related industries generate over $2.5 trillion economic value per year globally, supporting the livelihoods of 3 billion people in industries that include seafood, port construction, and coastal tourism.
The Saudi envoy reiterated that economies can grow “but not at the expense of the ocean,” adding that “the investment in the blue economy has a trifecta of positive impact.”
She added: “This collaboration of well-being and economic investment in coastal communities really can be considered as part of the toolkit that can restore the damage that has been done to oceans. You don't have to have it separated. It's all one and the same.”
Pagano emphasized: “I think we've taken our oceans far too for far too long, for granted.”