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Our global team of experts produce quality research in natural and social sciences, law and governance, including reports, academic papers, policy briefs and technical guidance. Our publications are subject to peer review and held to the academic standards of the University in which we are based. This research is used to inform project implementation and provide technical or policy guidance to countries.

The Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP)

The Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) is a global, multi-institutional partnership established to enable countries and other stakeholders to go Beyond GDP to measure and manage progress toward ocean sustainable development. CSDR currently hosts the GOAP Secretariat.

Global Technical Guidance on Ocean Accounting for Sustainable Development

The Technical Guidance for Ocean Accounts describes a statistical framework for measuring the ocean and its relationship with society and the economy.

Enabling Decision-Makers to Measure Progress

Ocean Accounts for Sustainable Ocean Plans

The ocean economy is a complex and multifaceted system involving numerous and diverse users whose activities often conflict.

Progress Report: Latin America and Caribbean Community of Practice

This report is based on a comprehensive literature review and semi-structured interviews with country-informed individuals.

Policy briefs

The GOAP Secretariat has prepared a series of policy briefs outlining how ocean accounts can be integrated into different frameworks and concepts to accelerate and support the transition to a sustainable ocean economy.

Linking Ocean Accounting to Marine Spatial Planning

This report outlines what ocean accounts are and how they can link to, and support, marine spatial planning (MSP).

Compiling preliminary SEEA Ecosystem Accounts for the OSPAR regional sea

The OSPAR Convention, which concerns the protection of the marine environment for the North-East Atlantic, has committed to accounting for natural capital and ecosystem services, where the UN System of Environmental Economic Accounting – Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) provides an international accounting standard for guidance in compiling accounts.

The Systems Flows Model for Ocean accounts

Accounting systems that go beyond economic metrics alone and integrate societal, economic and environmental information to measure and manage progress towards ocean sustainable development are essential.

Emerging intersection between Marine Spatial Planning and Ocean Accounting

This paper presents the first analysis of the intersection between marine spatial planning (MSP) and ocean accounting (OA) to identify operational opportunities and barriers for co-development.

Roadmap to Australia's Sustainable Ocean Plan: Ocean Summit White Paper

This White Paper, co-authored by Ocean Decade Australia, UNSW and EY Australia, is a synthesis of the discussions held at the 2023 Ocean Summit.

The Time is Now: Ocean Accounts at UNOC 2025

Ocean accounts represent a transformative approach to how we understand, govern, and protect marine ecosystems. We see the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) in Nice as an opportunity to maintain momentum, by embedding ocean accounts into national & international outcomes.

Container ships in the ocean from aerial view

The ocean as a solution to climate change: updated opportunities for action

Ocean Panel report finds seven actionable ocean-based climate solutions that could cut the emissions gap by 35% in a 1.5°C pathway in 2050.

Neeltje Jans is an artificial island built on the Western side of the Netherlands which serves to protect the mainland with the storm surge bridge and also contains a small port and amusement park.

Interim Analysis of Ocean Based Climate Actions

This paper analyses ocean-based climate actions included in the most recent round of new and updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs) & national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) communicated under the GBF.

Launching the Blue Carbon Handbook

The handbook draws from science and on-ground experience to share perspectives on blue carbon projects as a nature-based solution for climate action and sustainable development.

Ocean accounts provide data-driven approach to coastal disaster resilience

As we mark International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, it's crucial to recognise the escalating threats facing our coastal regions and the innovative solutions emerging to address them.

Strengthening national biodiversity and climate action links

As countries update their NDCs, NAPs and NBSAPs, they must pioneer new approaches to capitalize on synergies between climate and biodiversity action.

BBNJ Expert Advisory Group

The Advisory Group consists of global experts serving in their personal capacity to provide thought leadership on innovative financial mechanisms for the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement.

Arrangements of Multilateral Environmental Funds in prep for Special Fund

August 20, 2025

Provide insights into the key institutional and operational decision points that Parties must address to operationalise the Special Fund. It provides examples based on an assessment of eight multilateral environmental funds.

Ensuring Involvement of Indigenous Peoples in BBNJ Implementation

August 19, 2025

Explores the options for how the financial mechanism of the BBNJ Agreement, established under Article 52, can best “support conservation and sustainable use programmes by Indigenous Peoples and local communities as holders of traditional knowledge;”....

Small fish swimming in a circle in the ocean

Supporting the Coherence of the BBNJ Agreement’s Financial Mechanism

July 08, 2025

Exploring key opportunities and possible institutional arrangements for the Financial Mechanism under the BBNJ Agreement and the Global Environment Facility to promote coherence, complementarity and duplication.

for High Seas Conservation

Opportunities for Funding from Private Entities for High Seas Conservation

This note aims to provide an understanding of the opportunities for private sector finance to support high seas biodiversity conservation under the BBNJ Agreement.

Figures: Financial architecture of the BBNJ

July 08, 2025

Two figures outlining the process, timeline and sources for operationalisation of BBNJ finances

A Baby Humpback Whale Plays Near the Surface in Blue Water

BBNJ Agreement: Progress Towards Implementation as 21 Nations Ratify

As South Korea becomes the 21st nation to ratify, we examine the current status and potential of the BBNJ treaty, and the necessary steps to bring it into force in 2025.

Capture Earth from space, adorned with intricate data overlays tracking global technology reach Utilize a photorealistic digital technique to emphasize the vast impact

Introducing the Global Plastics Data Tracker

A data platform to identify public sources of information on global plastics data.

Interconnected glowing dots forming a world map representing global business alliances and strategic partnerships

Tackling Plastic Pollution Through Better Data

With exactly two months until the resumed negotiations for the global plastic treaty, the world stands at a critical juncture. Monitoring the success of actions to mitigate plastic pollution will depend on a coherent evidence base of data on plastics across the lifecycle.

multiple rows of plastic bottles of water

Data-driven solutions: the Plastics Data Checklist

The UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform has developed the Plastics Data Checklist and associated Guide to support countries to systematically assess the availability of national data on plastics throughout the lifecycle.

Fresh produce in plastic containers on supermarket shelves.

Beyond Waste: Plastic Packaging Challenge in Sth Asian Circular Food System

July 04, 2025

Plastic food packaging serves an essential function. But the very material that prevents food waste has become one of South Asia’s most severe environmental threats. Sustainable food systems cannot be achieved without addressing the plastic waste crisis.

Counting our way to Zero Waste: How waste metrics will drive global change

As nations increasingly aspire to achieve a "Zero Waste future", we unpack what this means and why data is essential to transform these aspirations into meaningful action.

Volunteers scouring the beach at a monitoring event at Yandaran Creek in Bundaberg on Taribelang Bunda, Gooreng Gooreng, Gurang, and Bailai Country

Reaching sustainability targets through citizen science

Researchers partner with Australian NGO to demonstrate the potential for Australia to use citizen science data to report on SDG goals.

How citizen science projects support UN Sustainable Development Goals

This scientific paper unpacks the opportunities and challenges of augmenting SDG reporting with information gathered from citizen science communities and recommends ways for citizen science communities and governments to synergize efforts to manage plastics.

Citizen scientists categorising debris at the Jack Johnson beach clean-up in 2022.

UNSW Research Maps Marine Plastic Pollution Sources Along NSW Coast

A collaboration between Tangaroa Blue Foundation and researchers at UNSW's School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Centre for Sustainable Development Reform has revealed that most plastic pollution on NSW beaches comes from nearby sources.

Concept of green solar energy. Green planet earth with trees and solar panels in the ocean.

RACEfor2030

Race for 2030 is an industry-led cooperative research centre established in 2020 to accelerate the transition to reliable, affordable, clean energy for 2030. UNSW is supporting the RACE for Homes work package.

The Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership

An open coalition of Pacific Island Countries who have announced an ambitious commitment to accelerate decarbonisation of the maritime transport sector in line with regional and international commitments concerning climate change and sustainable development.

Green technology and regulatory settings in Australia

New analysis from UNSW explores regulatory challenges and opportunities in Australia associated with four 'green' energy technologies.

Designing Regenerative Economies

This project aims to explore the legal, policy and governance reform pathways that can support regenerative and distributive economies.

Albanese and Dutton at Australian Federal election debate, April 2025..

How the Australian Election could reshape your home energy options

With the Australian federal election coming up, the outcome will likely reshape residential energy incentives, rebate structures, and renewable energy targets that directly impact household decisions.

Nature's leading women

This global movement fosters a safe environment for women leaders in conservation to speak up and lead.

Vital Role of Data in Inclusion, Equity, and Justice in Coastal Communities

Coastal communities, with their unique blend of ecological and societal dynamics, are often at the forefront of challenges related to social justice and environmental sustainability. Data can be a powerful enabler to inclusive and just decision making.

An aerial view of people on the beach with blue water on hot summer's day

Ocean Literacy for Ocean Sustainability: Reflections from Australia

New research from UNSW and other Australian universities reveals that despite most Australians (87%) living within an hour's drive of the beach, we are surprisingly disconnected from the ocean.

Photo of person typing from above, laptop and phone in view

Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck

A New Framework for Cost-Efficient Knowledge Co-production. Knowledge co-production is gaining traction as a powerful approach to tackle complex environmental challenges. Researchers from Australia and Canada unpack the pros and cons of this research approach.

BBNJ Expert Advisory Group

The Advisory Group consists of global experts serving in their personal capacity to provide thought leadership on innovative financial mechanisms for the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement.

Riding the blue wave: unlocking finance for the sustainable blue economy

This article examines the current state of sustainable blue economy investment, its potential benefits, and the roles various stakeholders can play in its development.

Financing a sustainable ocean economy: lessons from Seychelles

Small island states are most at risk to the effects of climate change but their vast ocean territories also make them central to the solutions.

Harnessing ocean accounts: data-driven solutions for ocean finance

To achieve the ambitious goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, finance must be mobilised not only to address critical gaps in biodiversity protection, ecosystem restoration, and nature repair, but also to harness the value that nature generates.

Financing to secure a sustainable future for Marine Protected Areas

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are at the forefront of ocean conservation, safeguarding critical marine ecosystems, supporting coastal communities worldwide and enabling countries to deliver on their 30x30 commitments. Despite their importance, many MPAs struggle to secure sustainable financing for their management.

Tropical rain forest, mangrove river and green trees

Scaling biodiversity finance: why market infrastructure matters at COP16

As the Convention on Biological Diversity's (CBD) COP16 prepares to reconvene in Rome, the discussions around financial mechanisms are at the forefront of everyone’s minds. The resumed COP16 session presents a crucial opportunity to strengthen the financial architecture supporting the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

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