Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) – Research

Paul Selvaggio/TNC

The Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) Research activities are a set of synthesis and research engagements that focus on generating relevant knowledge to aid small island developing states (SIDS) and coastal least developed countries (LDCs) in managing future ocean risks and enhancing resilience in an equitable manner.

In October 2021, the Stockholm Resilience Centre and the Global Resilience Partnership released a trio of reports highlighting the real risk landscape facing the ocean economy. The reports were commissioned by the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA). The reports can found on the OceanRisk.Earth site as well.

Ocean Risk Reports

May 4, 2023

Ocean Sand: Putting sand on the ocean sustainability agenda

Sand is a fundamental feature of modern society. It is the second most used natural resource in the world, second only to water, and the single most mined material. In the ocean, sand forms the literals and figurative foundations upon which the future of coastal communities, biodiversity, and multi-billion-dollar industries rest.

December 19, 2022

Indicator-based tools for assessing ocean risks and vulnerabilities

The future of the ocean economy depends on our ability to navigate, mitigate and adapt to climate change and other environmental and socioeconomic shocks and their interlinked impacts. This brief provides an overview of existing indicator-based tools to assess ocean risks and vulnerabilities based on a systematic review of peer-reviewed articles and grey literature.

October 20, 2021

Ocean risk reports – Key messages

Our ocean is changing faster than at any time in human history. Risks associated with sea level rise, storm surges and coastal flooding are multiplying, affecting billions of lives and livelihoods and threatening critical coastal ecosystems. Coastal communities in LDCs and SIDS are likely to be most severely impacted, with women and girls especially hard-hit. Key messages from the trio of Ocean Risk Reports by the the Stockholm Resilience Centre and the Global Resilience Partnership, and commissioned by the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA).

October 20, 2021

Blue acceleration – an ocean of risk and opportunities

Through a synthesis of peer-reviewed and grey literature, empirical data, and case studies from SIDS and LDCs, this report describes ut this show issues of equity and benefit sharing are playing out in the Blue Acceleration, highlights how SIDS and LDCs are at particular risk to stranded assets, and explores the role that finance, public or private, can play in assisting transformation towards an equitable and sustainable Blue economy.

October 20, 2021

Ocean Risks – SIDS and LDCs

Through a synthesis of peer-reviewed and grey literature, empirical data, and case studies from SIDS and LDCs, this report describes the prominent biophysical and anthropogenic stressors and their impacts on SIDS and LDCs, highlights the key social-ecological features of SIDS and LDCs that shape their vulnerabilities to these stressors, and suggests potential ways that can support SIDS and LDCs to mitigate ocean risks and build resilience.

ORRAA News

News May 3, 2023

Time to put ocean sand on the global sustainability agenda

Sand is a key foundation of society, yet on the ocean sustainability front, it remains a blind spot, says new report

News December 19, 2022

Lack of understanding of ocean risks can worsen inequities

Ocean-related risks are not well understood in the region which might be hardest hit by them, Sub-Saharan Africa, concludes new review

News November 25, 2021

Resilience in Focus at COP26

At the Global Resilience Partnership, we are taking forward the momentum and collaborations from COP26 into action to build a resilient future.

Windows on Resilience November 1, 2021

Ocean action is climate action – accelerating resilience to secure a sustainable future for coastal communities

Karen Sack from the Ocean Resilience Action Alliance shares examples from around the world where locally-led action is protecting the ocean and nature, and helping communities to adapt and thrive.

News October 20, 2021

Collaboration is key to accelerating a sustainable and equitable ocean economy – Report

A trio of reports from the Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University and the Global Resilience Partnership, which have been commissioned by the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) highlight the real risk landscape facing the ocean economy.