Coastal Governance Index

Economist Intelligence Unit reveals leaders and laggards on coastal governance

The 2019 Coastal Governance Index shows which countries are living up to their promises to protect the ocean environment and deliver a genuinely sustainable blue economy.

Countries need to take urgent and effective action to protect fisheries and other living resources, according to a report on the 2019 Coastal Governance Index published by The Economist Intelligence Unit. Managing the increasing impacts of tourism and the blight of plastic pollution are also highlighted as priorities if countries are to achieve their “blue economy” aspirations. The index assesses performance by 20 developed and developing economies with significant coastal environments. Countries are scored and ranked on their performance across six categories. There are two overarching categories: policy and institutional capacity, and business environment. The other four cover assets: land; living resources; water quality; and minerals, energy and shipping.

The full report on the 2019 Coastal Governance Index and complete Excel database are available to download. The research was supported by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and commissioned by CEA Consulting.

Growing awareness

In the years since The Economist Intelligence Unit launched the first index in 2015, a “greater sense of awareness around ocean health and coastal resilience has taken hold”, the index report says. The impacts of climate change, plastic pollution and resource loss have forced governments in many countries to recognise the economic importance of coastal ecosystems and the risks if nothing is done.

Governments have been quick to latch onto the concept of the “blue economy”, which offers both economic development and environmental sustainability. But the results of the index show that countries have a long way to go to ensure policies deliver results and undo the damage caused by decades of unmitigated exploitation of natural resources.

Key findings

Most countries have made progress on coastal sustainability. Norway remains on top as a result of a strong policy framework, while Nigeria and Russia rank last, having made little progress in the last four years (see figure).

Countries in Latin America and South-east Asia, such as Peru, Mexico, the Philippines, Chile and Indonesia, have made notable progress in many areas of coastal governance. For instance, Peru implemented a coastal management strategy shortly after publication of the 2015 index, while Mexico and the Philippines stand out as the only two countries in the index that mention “blue carbon” in their carbon reduction plans under the Paris climate agreement.

Most countries have national agencies responsible for setting pollution control standards. However, Russia, Nigeria and South-East Asian countries have much work to do to clean up river and coastal pollution resulting from lax policy and enforcement in the past. More effort is needed by all countries to improve fisheries management. About half of the countries have made slight improvements, while half have seen performance decline. Countries are struggling to balance economic growth and environmental protection, especially in areas such as tourism and aquaculture.