Counting women? gendered sustainability and inclusivity for an ocean accounting framework

Abstract

The oceans are increasingly pivotal in scholarly and policy dialogues focused on achieving inclusive economic and social prosperity. The Ocean Account Global Framework (2020) underscores oceans' role as essential for social and economic development, crucially contributing to human well-being and gender equality. With oceans holding significant economic potential, governments face mounting pressure to systematically account for ocean resources and their utilisation (Ocean Account Global Framework, 2020). This need is particularly acute given the evolving relationships between economic prosperity, inclusive development, social well-being, and oceans. However, a knowledge gap persists, impairing governments' ability to make informed and gender inclusive decisions about oceans and undermining long-term commitments outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Ocean Global Account Framework, 2020). This article examines ocean governance, focusing on gender-related aspects and integrating gender perspectives into the ocean accounting framework using a political economy lens, supported by environmental and gender political economy analyses.