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Clean Waters
MINIMIZING POLLUTION
Global Goal Score

What is This?

Likely Future State

Goal By Country

%
How Does Your Country Compare?

*The estimate of a goals likely near-term future status is a function of four dimensions: Status, Trend, Pressure, and Resilience.

What Does This Score Mean?

Clean Waters measures the degree to which waters are polluted by eutrophication (excess nutrients), chemicals, pathogens, and trash. The reference point is zero pollution. This goal score is higher when the pollution of estuarine, coastal, and open ocean waters is minimized. The goal score is lower when there are high levels of pollutants.

Current Score
The current score of 78 indicates that the ocean may have lower levels of pollutants than anticipated, but there are still large opportunities for improvement. Reducing the inflow of excessive nutrients and levels of chemicals, pathogens and trash requires remedial actions at every level of government as well as adjustments to behavior on an individual basis.

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Why Are Clean Waters Important?

People value marine waters that are free from pollution. Waters contaminated by oil spills, chemicals, eutrophication (excess nutrients primarily from fertilizers or sewage), harmful algal blooms, diseasecausing pathogens, or trash can negatively impact human health, livelihoods, and recreational opportunities, as well as the health of marine wildlife and ecosystems.

Dr. Sylvia Earle

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How Is It Measured?
Present Status
Present Status is a goal's current value (based on the most recent available data) compared to a reference point.

EACH GOAL IS EVALUATED ON THE BASIS OF FOUR DIMENSIONS.

Trend
Trend is the average percent change in the present status for the most recent 5 years of data.

Pressures
Pressures are the sum of the ecological and social pressures that negatively affect scores for a goal.

Resilience
Resilience is the sum of the ecological factors and social initiatives (policies, laws, etc) that can positively affect scores for a goal by reducing or eliminating pressures.

Pressures
Nutrient Pollution

Pressures are human-caused stressors that influence both ecological and social systems, negatively affecting the ability of a goal to deliver its benefits to people.

Pathogen Pollution

Chemical Pollution

Trash Pollution

Social Pressure

Status

Status
Nutrient Pollution

Status refers to the current value of a goal relative to its goal-specific reference point. The reference point is the best condition for a goal that can reasonably be achieved; it is a target to aim for when taking actions to improve ocean health.

Pathogen Pollution

Chemical Pollution

Trash Pollution

Resilience
CBD Water

Resilience refers to the social, institutional, and ecological factors that positively affect the ability of a goal to deliver its benefits to people.

Quality Of Governance

References
Creel, 2003. FAO. 2009. IGBP International Geospheric-Biospheric Programme, Land Cover Map. R.J. Diaz, R. Rosenberg, Spreading Dead Zones and Consequences for Marine Ecosystems, Science 15, 321 (2008)] World Bank World Resources Institute

Featured Stories
Faces Of OHI News

Unlikely Neighbors
August 12, 2012

Clean Waters: Oceans In Focus

August 09, 2012

PHOTO(S): Keith A. Ellenbogen

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August 16, 2012 The Ocean Health Index August 15, 2012 Ocean Health Index: Scientists August 14, 2012 What is 100?

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