The ocean is Earth’s largest ecosystem and faces critical challenges. Human activities and climate change impacts are undermining global fisheries, changing the chemistry of the ocean, threatening coastal ecosystems and putting at risk hard-won economic progress in developing countries and small island developing states. Global action to address these challenges is underway, but much more is needed if we are to restore the ocean to health and build a sustainable ocean economy.

The Nippon Foundation has played a key role in transforming our scientific knowledge of the ocean, in addressing sustainability and plastics pollution, and in engaging young people and educational institutes in building awareness of the ocean and the need for better management and protection. Economist Impact through the World Ocean Summit & Initiative has succeeded in bringing the ocean to a wider global audience and stakeholders, encouraging the public and private sectors and civil society to collaborate, and helping catalyse the transition to sustainable practices and governance among businesses and governments.

Since its establishment in 2021, Back to Blue has emphasised its activities around ocean pollution and promoting ocean health- specifically around the issues of plastic pollution, chemical pollution, and ocean acidification. The initiative’s direction was shaped by a Back to Blue survey conducted in January 2021, which revealed that 83% of the general public expressed either “concern” or “very concerned” about issues affecting the ocean. Respondents identified the top three priorities for restoring ocean health over the next five years as tackling plastic pollution (59.6%), chemical pollution (39.1%), and climate change (31.1%).

Much good work has already been accomplished in these areas, but there remain significant gaps where knowledge or opportunity for action would benefit from the unique attributes and voice of a partnership between a global media organisation and a foundation recognized for its global leadership on the ocean. The partnership will set objectives that are measurable and actionable, thereby accelerating global action.