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Oceans and Coasts at Rio+20: Informal Dialogue and Information-Sharing

Biliana Cicin-Sain

Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands and University of Delaware

March 8, 2011, UNESCO Conference Room

Purpose of this Consultation

• To provide a venue for sharing of information, perspectives, and initiatives on Rio+20

• To foster a process of collaboration to ensure that oceans and coasts are adequately addressed in the Rio+20 process

• Provide input on how the Global Forum could help contribute to these goals through critical assessments and regional consultations

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UNCED Process• UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) or Rio+20 aims to

secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assess progress made in sustainable development, and address new and emerging challenges

• Chapter 17 of Agenda 21, adopted at first Rio Summit, provided for the protection and sustainable development of marine and coastal resources with the application of new approaches to marine and coastal area management at all levels, calling for an integrated and precautionary approach, and emphasized the issues related to SIDS.

• At the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10), world leaders committed to specific targets on:– Ecosystem-based approach and integrated management;

– Protection of the marine environment from land-based activities;

– Reduction of biodiversity loss and establishment of marine protected areas;

– Sustainable development of small island developing States (SIDS);

– Fisheries management;

– Integrated water resources management;

– Global marine assessment; and

– Coordination of UN ocean-related activities.3

Global Oceans Forum• 1992 Earth Summit

The now Secretariat of the Global Oceans Forum, the International Coastal and Ocean Organization, participated, since 1991, in the UNCED process, especially focused on the development of Chapter 17 of Agenda 21

• 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development

Global Forum itself was mobilized in 2001, with the strong support of AOSIS, to help governments place issues related to oceans, coasts, and SIDS on the WSSD agenda

• Since 2002, has brought together ocean leaders from all sectors from over 110 countries to advance the global oceans agenda 4

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Global Oceans Forum

• 5 Global conferences: --2001, 2003, 2006 at UNESCO, Paris (hosted by IOC/UNESCO)--2008 in Hanoi, Vietnam (hosted by Government of Vietnam)--2010, at UNESCO, Paris (hosted by UNESCO and Government of France)

• Multistakeholder cross-sectoral policy dialogues; promotion of oceans at the highest political level;, capacity building; public engagement with the museums and aquaria

Global Oceans Forum

• Has promoted the implementation of international agreements related to oceans, coasts, and SIDS by assessing progress made, and identifying obstacles and opportunities for achieving sustainable development

• Has been reporting on progress achieved on each of the WSSD ocean-related goals through policy briefs, expert working groups and multi-stakeholder dialogues

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Global Oceans Forum Reports

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Financial or In-Kind Contributors to the Global Forum

Intergovernmental Organizations– Asian Development Bank– Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat– Food and Agriculture Organization– Global Environment Facility– GEF International Waters Learning Exchange and

Resource Network– United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural

Organization (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; Division of Ecological Sciences; Division of Water Sciences; Environment and Development in Coastal Regions and in Small Islands)

– United Nations Development Programme– United Nations Environment Programme (Global

Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities; CBD Secretariat)

– World Bank– World Bank Institute

Funding—Governments (20 govts, developed and developing)

– Government of Australia

– Government of Barbados

– Flemish Government, Belgium

– Government of Canada (DFO; CIDA; DFAIT)

– Government of France (Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development. and the Sea, Secretariat General de la Mer, French Marine Protected Areas Agency)

– Government of Indonesia (Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries)

– Government of Italy (Ministry of Environment and Territory)

– Government of Grenada

– Government of the Republic of Korea (Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, KORDI, Yeosu Expo)

– Government of Mexico (Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources, Comision Consultiva del Agua)

– Government of Monaco

Funding—Governments – Government of Mozambique

– Government of the Netherlands, Department of Nature

– Government of Portugal (Intersectoral Oceanographic Commission, Ministry of Science, Technology and High Education; Strategic Commission on the Oceans; Secretary of State for Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

– Government of Seychelles

– Government of Singapore (Ministry of Foreign Affairs; National Parks Board)

– Government of the United States of America (NOAA: National Ocean Service (Coastal Services Center, International Program Office), National Marine Fisheries Service; Department of State; USAID)

– Government of United Kingdom, Defra

– Government of Vietnam (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, VASI)

– European Commission– DG-MARE, DG-Environment

International Organizations, NGOs, Foundations• International Organizations– Commission Peripherique des Regions Maritimes, EuropeCommission Peripherique des Regions Maritimes, Europe– Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone– New Partnership for Africa’s Development– Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission– Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia – South Pacific Regional Environment Programme– Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA)– European Environment Agency– Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP)• Nongovernmental Organizations– International Ocean Institute– International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)– Oceana – The Nature Conservancy– World Wildlife Fund• Foundations− Gulbenkian Foundation, Portugal– Lighthouse Foundation, Germany– Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD), Portugal– Nippon Foundation, Japan– Ocean Policy Research Foundation, Japan• Partnership for Climate, Fisheries, and Aquaculture (comprising twenty intergovernmental

organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and civil society organizations)

Research Centers, Museums and Aquaria• Research Centers

– Center for Ocean Solutions, Monterey– Centro de Ecologia, Pesquerias y Oceanografia del Golfo de Mexico

(EPOMEX), Universidad Autonoma de Campeche, Mexico– Dalhousie University, Marine and Environmental Law Institute– InterAcademy Panel on International Issues (IAP)– Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations

(IDDRI), France– Plymouth Marine Laboratory/Partnership for the Observation of the

Global Oceans– Pusan National University, Republic of Korea– University of Delaware, Gerard J. Mangone Center for Marine Policy– University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center– Global Change Institute - University of Queensland

• Aquaria and Museums– Centre de Decouverte du Monde Marin, Nice, France– NAUSICAA (Centre National de la Mer), France– Oceanario de Lisboa– World Ocean Observatory– World Ocean Network

Global Forum Involvement in Rio Conventions

• Oceans Days at UNFCCC COP 15 and COP 16

• Oceans Day at Nagoya at CBD COP 10

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Oceans Day at UNFCCC COP 17 and at CBD COP 11

• Working with South Africa in UNFCCC COP 17 (November 28-December 9, 2011, Durban)

• Planning with India for CBD COP 11 (October 8-19, 2012, New Delhi)

Rio+20 ProcessThemes• Assessing Progress (or lack thereof) since UNCED/WSSD• Green Economy in the Context of Poverty Eradication and Sustainable

Development (GESDPE)– Investing in natural capital; supported by valuation of ecosystem services– Creating green jobs– Moving toward a low-carbon economy

• Must understand and avoid potential negative aspects; “green protectionism”

• Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development– Covers a spectrum of formal and less formal bodies, organizations, networks and arrangements

that are involved in sustainable development

– Conference will further strengthen the institutional framework and enhance the integration of the three pillars of sustainable development- Focus on addressing weaknesses in coordination and compliance

- Options for strengthening international environmental governance (IEG)

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Rio+20 Process

• Oceans have been emphasized by a number of delegations

• Aim to be of support to country efforts to define an oceans and coasts agenda

• Aim to work with developing countries with significant ocean interests in their national preparations for Rio+20 (UNDESA/UNDP effort to build capacity)

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Global Oceans Forum Planned Rio+20 Activities

1) Conduct of assessments– through Working Groups (250 experts in 70 countries). Your collaboration kindly invited

--Assessing progress towards global ocean commitments

--The role of the oceans in the new low-carbon

green economy

--Oceans and improved international environmental governance

2) Securing political commitment for sustainable development

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Planned Assessments on Oceans and Rio+20

1. Assessments of specific UNCED/WSSD targets—Short papers– Status of ocean ecosystems and coastal communities, in the

context of climate change and continuing biodiversity loss

– Addressing critical uncertainties for the management of the marine environment and climate change

– Extent of achievement of ecosystem-based, integrated ocean and coastal management in areas of national jurisdiction (coastal zones, EEZ), in areas beyond national jurisdiction, and through regional efforts, such as the Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) approach and Regional Seas Programmes

Planned Assessments on Oceans and Rio+20

1. Assessments of specific UNCED/WSSD targets— cont.– Status and prospects for fisheries and

aquaculture within and outside of national jurisdiction

– Special issues associated with SIDS and oceans, especially in the context of climate change

– Biodiversity loss, climate change, and networks of marine protected areas

– Financing, capacity development, and public outreach/ The needs and the challenges

Planned Assessments on Oceans and Rio+20

2. Assessment of the role of the oceans in the low-carbon green economy– Ocean-based renewable sources of energy, offshore wind,

wave, tidal power– Blue carbon, valuing carbon storage in marine and coastal

ecosystems– Possible carbon capture and storage in deep-sea areas

(environmentally friendly methods)– Subsidies and eco-tax reform– Addressing the concerns of developing countries regarding

the green economy

Planned Assessments on Oceans and Rio+203. Assessment of the role of improved international

environmental governance in relation to oceansOceans represent the quintessential case for the need for improvement

in global environmental governance.

– E.g. Joint implementation of international environmental agreements

– UN coherence, need for greater attention to oceans in the UN system

– Enhanced climate adaptation and mitigation funding for SIDS and coastal countries

– Incorporating oceans-related issues into the work/programme of the UNFCCC

– Gaps in the Law of the Sea Convention, especially in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction

– Institutionalize the operation of the Regular Process of global reporting and assessment of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects

Securing political commitment for sustainable development

• Preparation of a summary ocean brief containing a coherent list of policy actions for presentation at national multi-stakeholder assessment workshops planned under the UNDESA/UNDP effort to support national preparations for Rio+20, other capacity building for Rio+20 activities

• Consultations with government and other leaders—Fall 2011

 

• Holding of 6th Global Oceans Conference (draft date January-February 2012)

• Input into the UNCSD process22

Purpose of Discussion

• Share perspectives on building the oceans agenda for Rio+20 and beyond

• Share initiatives, planned work

• Suggestions on continuing modes of collaboration/information sharing