CNRS: creation of the Ocean Equity Index to assess and promote equity in ocean-related policies

Measuring, comparing and promoting equity in ocean-related initiatives, projects and policies is the aim of the Ocean Equity Index developed by an international research team including scientists from the CNRS, the French public research institute announced on 28/01/2026.

Despite "strong commitments made by governments and international organisations in recent years, progress on social and environmental equity in ocean-related projects and decisions has been "severely hampered by a lack of clarity on how to define, measure and monitor equity", said the CNRS.

The aim of this index, developed with the support of the Foundation for Biodiversity Research, is to "transform an often abstract notion into a measurable and actionable standard".

Each ocean-related project, initiative or policy is assessed against 12 evaluation criteria, for which a score from 0 to 3 is awarded. "The scores are then added up to a maximum of 36 points and converted into percentages to facilitate comparison", said the researchers in a dedicated publication in the journal Nature on the same day.

The scientists are…