Adopting a global ocean goal: Learnings for goal setting

Despite the importance of goals in global environmental politics, how and why global goals are adopted requires further investigation. The case of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a noteworthy example of global goal setting. How specific goals were adopted, however, remains largely understudied. This article analyses the negotiation processes that led to the adoption of the SDG 14, also known as the ocean and “Life Below Water” goal. Process tracing, semi-directed interviews with decision-makers and experts, and historical analysis are combined to offer a detailed account of the past of ocean governance, with a focus on the 1945–2015 period, and an in-depth analysis of the negotiations that led to the adoption of SDG 14. The study provides a novel account of the drivers of goal setting by highlighting the interplay of cognitive, relational, and contextual factors. Contributing to existing knowledge and research on goal setting, international diplomacy, and global environmental politics, the research identifies learnings for ocean governance and future global goal setting efforts.