{"id":29167,"date":"2025-09-09T15:50:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T15:50:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=29167"},"modified":"2025-09-09T15:51:26","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T15:51:26","slug":"new-study-reveals-gaps-in-corporate-reports-on-ocean-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/new-study-reveals-gaps-in-corporate-reports-on-ocean-health\/","title":{"rendered":"New Study Reveals Gaps in Corporate Reports on Ocean Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">As ocean usage surges with technological advancements, a new study reveals significant gaps in how corporations disclose their impacts on marine ecosystems, urging for better transparency and accountability.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As scrutiny from policymakers and financiers over corporate environmental impacts intensifies, a recent study highlights a significant shortfall in how companies report their effects on ocean health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41893-025-01631-8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in the journal Nature Sustainability, investigates the discrepancies between industrial impacts on the ocean and the disclosures made by leading corporations within the ocean economy sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lead author Jean-Baptiste Jouffray, a Wallenberg postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University\u2019s Center for Ocean Solutions and the Stanford-based Natural Capital Project, remarked on humanity\u2019s historical reliance on the ocean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHumanity has relied on the ocean for millennia, yet today\u2019s scale and diversity of use are unprecedented,\u201d he said in a news release. \u201cWhile this offers opportunities for human wellbeing, it also poses severe risks to ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Surging Ocean Economy and Its Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ocean, which covers nearly three-quarters of the planet, has become a bustling hub of activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Technological advancements have led to tremendous growth in industries such as shipping, offshore wind energy and seabed fiber-optic communications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In just two decades, shipping has increased fivefold, offshore wind energy has expanded over 500 times, and almost 1 million kilometers of seabed cables are now utilized for global communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite this rapid growth, the challenge lies in managing the severe risks posed to marine ecosystems. The introduction of invasive species \u2014 highlighted by the fact that one new species is introduced to a new part of the ocean every three days \u2014 has had profound and far-reaching consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Study\u2019s Findings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jouffray and his research team analyzed annual and sustainability reports from the top 10 companies in eight core sectors of the ocean economy. These sectors include cruise tourism, marine equipment and construction, offshore oil and gas, offshore wind, port activities, seafood, shipbuilding and repair, and container shipping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study spanned the years 2018 to 2020, aiming to identify how companies report their environmental impacts, what measurements they use, and what targets they set, if any.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The research unveiled crucial gaps in corporate disclosures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Companies primarily focused on energy use and greenhouse gas emissions but paid little attention to ocean-specific impacts such as habitat destruction, overfishing, underwater noise or the spread of invasive species. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Less than one-third of the companies reported indicators related to biodiversity impacts, and there was a noticeable lack of standardization in the indicators used across companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Moving Towards Better Regulation and Financial Responses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The implications of improved disclosures could be far-reaching. Once climate and nature-related information is made public, investors and lenders can better assess the risks associated with their investments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn theory, the more information companies disclose about their operations, the better you can influence their behavior. But that requires someone to act on that information,&#8221; Jouffray added. &#8220;Transparency alone is a necessary, but far from sufficient, basis for corporate accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several voluntary climate and nature reporting frameworks are already working to incorporate ocean impacts into their standards. Initiatives like the Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures and the World Benchmarking Alliance are pivotal in driving transparency, potentially making such disclosures as standard as financial reporting is today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The researchers are now focusing on building consensus around which indicators to include and identifying gaps in current data and policy. Their efforts extend to collaborating with monitoring systems similar to Global Fishing Watch to potentially provide third-party data, ensuring more accurate and comprehensive reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Role of Investors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next phase of the research involves analyzing the role of financiers in encouraging better corporate practices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Co-author John Virdin, the director of the Ocean Policy Program at Duke University\u2019s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, expressed significant interest in this area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNow that we have a baseline of the ocean impacts that companies report, we\u2019re curious to know: if this reporting is improved, would financiers act on that information? Would it change investment decisions in the ocean economy? These are questions we are turning to now,\u201d\u00a0he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:13px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/naturalcapitalproject.stanford.edu\/news\/corporate-reports-miss-mark-ocean-health\" title=\"\">Stanford University<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As scrutiny from policymakers and financiers over corporate environmental impacts intensifies, a recent study highlights a significant shortfall in how companies report their effects on ocean health. The study, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, investigates the discrepancies between industrial impacts on the ocean and the disclosures made by leading corporations within the ocean economy [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[53],"class_list":["post-29167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sustainability","tag-stanford-university"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"As scrutiny from policymakers and financiers over corporate environmental impacts intensifies, a recent study highlights a significant shortfall in how companies report their effects on ocean health. The study, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, investigates the discrepancies between industrial impacts on the ocean and the disclosures made by leading corporations within the ocean economy&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29167","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29167"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29167\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29189,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29167\/revisions\/29189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}