OCEANS AND COASTS AT RIO+20
Working for a Strong Ocean Outcome at the
UN Conference on Sustainable Development
Biliana Cicin-Sain, Joseph Appiott,
Marisa Van Hoeven, Ryan Ono
Global Ocean Forum and University of Delaware
OVERVIEW
I. Oceans at Rio+20 Report—Assessing
Progress in the Implementation of
UNCED and WSSD goals
II. Major Recommendations for Oceans,
Coasts, and Small Island Developing States
in the Rio+20 Process
III. Analysis of Submissions to Rio+20 Process
Mentioning Oceans
I. Oceans at Rio+20 Report—
Assessing Progress in the
Implementation of UNCED and
WSSD goals
1992 UN Conference on Environment
and Development
Chapter 17 of Agenda 21, “Protection of the Oceans, All Kinds of Seas,
including Enclosed and Semi-Enclosed Seas, and Coastal Areas and the
Protection, Rational Use and Development of their Living Resources”
emphasized that new approaches that “are integrated in content and
anticipatory in ambit” are needed.
Seven major program areas are included in Chapter 17:
1. Integrated management and sustainable development of coastal areas,
including Exclusive Economic Zones;
2. Marine environmental protection;
3. Sustainable use and conservation of living marine resources of the high seas;
4. Sustainable use and conservation of living marine resources under national
jurisdiction;
5. Addressing of critical uncertainties in management of the marine
environment and climate change;
6. Strengthening of international, including regional, cooperation and
coordination;
7. Sustainable development of small islands
2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development
The major outcome of the WSSD was the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation (JPOI) designed as a framework for action to
implement the commitments originally agreed at UNCED. The JPOI
includes eleven chapters: an introduction; poverty eradication;
consumption and production; the natural resource base; health; small
island developing States (SIDS); Africa; other regional initiatives; means
of implementation; and institutional framework.
Regarding ocean and coastal issues, the JPOI emphasized issues related to:
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the ecosystem approach and integrated management;
protection of the marine environment from land-based activities;
integrated water resource management;
biodiversity and marine protected areas;
small island developing states;
fisheries and aquaculture;
global marine assessment;
coordination of UN activities on oceans;
capacity development.
About the Global Ocean Forum
• First mobilized in 2001 to help governments place issues related to oceans,
coasts, and SIDS on the WSSD agenda; brings together ocean leaders from
all sectors from 110 countries to advance the global oceans agenda
• Promotes the implementation of international agreements related to
oceans, coasts, and SIDS by assessing progress made, and identifying
obstacles and opportunities for achieving sustainable development
• Reports on progress achieved on each of the WSSD ocean-related goals
through expert working groups and multi-stakeholder dialogues:
– track progress in WSSD implementation by issuing report
cards on how well we are doing
– feature progress (or lack thereof) in global ocean conferences,
so far held 5 times, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, and 2010
– anticipate emerging ocean policy issues that need to be
addressed and facilitate the building of consensus on
unresolved ocean issues
Topics Covered in the Global Ocean
Forum Summary for Decision Makers
Ecosystem-Based
and Integrated
Approach to
Management
Protection of the
Marine Environ.
from LandBased Activities
& IWRM
Sustainable
Development of
Fisheries &
Aquaculture
Marine
Biodiversity &
Marine
Protected
Areas
Coordination of
UN Activities
Addressing Critical Uncertainties
for the Management of the Marine
Environment & Climate Change
SIDS &
Oceans
Global
Marine
Assessment
Capacity
Development and
Public Outreach
BOTTOM LINE
• Progress often difficult to measure
– No evaluation frameworks have been developed to assess progress
at the global scale
– Lack of data; no single institution has been charged with collecting
national and global data
– Lack of standardized data over time
– In some areas, efforts are underway to create the enabling
conditions for implementation, but tangible outcomes are not yet
evident
– BOTTOM LINE– NEED TO MEASURE BETTER AND MORE
CONSISTENLY
• MIXED RESULTS– SOME SUCCESSES, MANY
IMPLEMENTATION GAPS
• Oceans at Rio+20 report puts forth detailed
recommendations for each of the 9 major areas
Related Activities
The Global Ocean Forum launched “Rio+20 Friends of the Ocean” to
call on ocean leaders from governments, international agencies, nongovernmental organizations, scientific institutions, and the private
sector to mobilize and seize the opportunity to achieve a significant
ocean outcome at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development
Rio+20) to be held on June 4-6, 2012, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
II. Major Recommendations
for Oceans at Rio+20
Major Recommendations
1. Oceans and Climate Change
2. Integrated Ocean Governance at National,
Regional and Global Levels, including
action at the highest levels of the UN
--including fisheries, marine biodiversity, landbased sources of pollution
3. Capacity Building
4. Special Case of SIDS
5. Green (Blue) Economy
1. Oceans and Climate Change
Recommendations
Mitigation
• Adopt stringent reductions in GHG emissions within a short
timeframe
• Support additional research on quantifying the amounts of carbon
stored and released by marine and coastal ecosystems (Blue Carbon),
take measures to protect and restore marine ecosystems as major
carbon sinks, and move toward incorporating Blue Carbon into
emissions reduction and climate mitigation protocols
• Sustainably develop ocean-based renewable energy (such as offshore
wind power, wave energy, etc.) and accelerate efforts to implement
these approaches through marine spatial planning
• Consider and, if appropriate, develop regulatory frameworks for
possible carbon capture and storage in the oceans
1. Oceans and Climate Change
Adaptation
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Implement ecosystem approaches to adaptation through integrated coastal and
ocean management institutions at national, regional, and local levels to build the
preparedness, resilience, and adaptive capacities of coastal communities;
Provide sufficient funding, supported by improved estimates of adaptation costs,
to support adaptation for coastal communities, including through the possible
creation of a special Coastal Adaptation Fund or directing a significant portion
of the current Adaptation Funds to coastal issues;
Develop and support measures to address the issues associated with the
displacement of coastal populations as a result of climate change.
Capacity development, scientific monitoring, and public education
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Provide technical assistance to small island developing States (SIDS) and
developing countries to build institutional capacity to implement adaptation
measures, early warning systems, and disaster risk reduction;
Establish the scientific capacity in all countries for marine environment
assessment, monitoring, and prediction;
Expand public outreach and education efforts to improve awareness of the risks
posed to coastal communities and to catalyze support for mitigation and
adaptation responses and changes in behavior and lifestyle.
2. Integrated Governance
Recommendations at National Level
• Scale up successful national EBM/ICM efforts to include larger portions
of coastal and ocean areas under national jurisdiction
• Further strengthen integrated institutions and decision-making processes
for oceans and coasts, including through ocean and coastal laws
Recommendations at Regional Level
• Accelerate the development and implementation of EBM/ICM in regional
and transboundary governance approaches, including through the Large
Marine Ecosystem Programs and the Regional Seas Programs,
encouraging the adoption of regional protocols on EBM/ICM to guide
action at the national level
Recommendations in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction
• Apply EBM/ICM principles and approaches to the 64% of the ocean that
lies beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) to address multiple use conflicts,
manage new uses, and protect vulnerable ecosystems and marine
biodiversity. Vest authority for applying EBM/ICM approaches in ABNJ
in existing or new institutions and establish a process for multiple-use
decision making;
2. Integrated Governance (cont.)
Recommendations at Global Level
• Elevate oceans to the highest levels of the
UN system to enable a cross-cutting
approach and appropriate and timely
response to major threats and opportunities
– Establish a UN Secretary-General or other
high-level coordination mechanism on oceans
– Develop a UN Secretary-General Ocean Budget
report
2. Integrated Governance (cont.)
• Link various ocean-related fora (Law of the Sea
processes, Convention on Biological Diversity, UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change, etc.) and
reform existing institutions, including the UN Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC), the UN Commission on
Sustainable Development (UNCSD), and the UN
Environment Programme (UNEP), to provide for
consistent and coordinated policy development and
priority-setting in addressing ocean and coastal issues;
• Consider the need for new international agreements, e.g.:
carbon capture and storage, offshore oil development,
offshore aquaculture, marine debris
2. Integrated Governance (cont.)
Sectoral issues in the context of integrated governance
Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Accelerate multi-pronged efforts to arrest the continuing decline
of global fish stocks, including:
– Increased ratification and implementation of global instruments, including the
UN Fish Stocks Agreement, FAO Code of Conduct for Fisheries, FAO
Compliance Agreement, FAO Port State Measures Agreement; and UN General
Assembly resolutions aimed at ensuring sustainable exploitation of deep-sea fish
stocks
– Strengthening and, where appropriate, creating new Regional Fisheries
Management Organizations
– Development and implementation of national strategies and action plans to
address IUU fishing and reduce fishing overcapacity
• Must also consider the possible need for more far-reaching and
innovative solutions if positive on-the-ground results are not
obtained within a certain time frame
2. Integrated Governance (cont.)
Sectoral issues in the context of integrated
governance
Marine Biodiversity and Marine Protected Areas
• Accelerate the establishment of MPA networks in the context of
EBM/ICM and marine spatial planning, with emphasis on
climate change resilience, and achieve the Convention on
Biological Diversity’s target of protecting at least 10% of
marine and coastal areas
• Create, and improve the capacity of, institutional mechanisms
dedicated to the creation and the management of MPAs
2. Integrated Governance (cont.)
Sectoral Issues in the Context of Integrated Governance
Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based
Activities
• Good progress has been made through the GPA in the control of persistent
organic pollutants, radioactive substances, and hydrocarbons.
• The GPA has not been able, however, to substantially curb four of the most
serious sources of marine degradation—sewage, nutrients, marine litter, and
physical alteration and destruction of habitats.
• Given the “soft law” basis of the GPA and the resulting weak
implementation, nations should consider the forging of a global legallybinding instrument on land-based pollution and encourage, as well, the
creation of Land-Based Sources Protocols at regional levels.
3. Capacity Development
Recommendations
• Develop a strategic approach to funding and capacity building
for oceans and coasts, including through increased coordination
among countries, donors, UN agencies, and providers of
capacity training and education. Periodically assess and track
overall efforts and expenditures in capacity development,
aggregate impact, and the extent to which current and emerging
needs are being met
• Substantially increase the total amount of financing devoted to
capacity development, commensurate with the needs and
challenges facing developing countries and SIDS
• Develop and/or strengthen mechanisms for sharing of training
materials and education curricula, and lessons learned in
capacity development among organizations involved in capacity
development for ocean and coastal governance, including the
development of a clearinghouse of information on capacity
building activities, courses, and training materials.
4. Small Island Developing States
Improve the ability of SIDS to sustainably utilize and effectively govern their
oceans and coastal resources to ensure the continued functioning of marine
resources and ecosystems as a critical aspect of livelihood, well-being, and
survival
Recommendations
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Enhance ocean use agreements in the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of SIDS by
improving their design and implementation to ensure social equity, resource
conservation, and public transparency, and that the benefits from EEZ resources
accrue to SIDS and their peoples;
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Provide financial support to SIDS to improve their ability to adapt to the impacts
of climate change, supported by improved cost estimates, and to protect coastal and
ocean ecosystems, securing their role in providing valuable ecosystem services,
products, and livelihoods critical to achieving the Millennium Development Goals,
especially poverty alleviation;
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Enhance capacity development on the interrelated issues of ocean and coastal
management/climate change/biodiversity, especially:
– 1) among high-level leaders,
– 2) fostering the next generation of leaders through investment in university
programs, especially through the SIDS Consortium of Universities,
– 3) among leaders and stakeholders in local communities.
5. Green (Blue) Economy
• Identify and scale-up successful green economy initiatives
(e.g., responsible coastal tourism practices, certification of
sustainably caught seafood) and strengthen means of
implementation through capacity building, technology
transfer, and mobilization of financial resources from public
and private sectors
• Ensure that the greening of ocean industries contributes
significantly to: 1) income and jobs; 2) low carbon emissions,
efficient use of resources, and reduced waste and pollution; and
3) sustainable development of oceans and coasts, social equity
and inclusiveness, and poverty reduction in coastal communities
5. Green (Blue) Economy (cont.)
• Support the valuation and payments of ecosystem services
and other biodiversity financing mechanisms for more
effective decision making in development planning
involving marine ocean resources
– Information on the estimated value of particular ocean/coastal
ecosystems goods and services provided (food, raw materials, nutrient
cycling, climate regulation, and recreation), is a powerful justification
for conservation measures and financial support for management;
• Support scientific research efforts to quantify the carbon
sequestration capacity of coastal ecosystems (e.g.,
mangroves, salt marshes), and pursue the potential for the
trading of various forms of “Blue carbon” in a similar way
to green carbon (e.g., rainforests)
5. Green (Blue) Economy
• Enhance the capacity and participation of all stakeholders for
effective ocean and coastal management through:
– Provision of incentives for green (blue) production and resources
for promoting research, development, and transfer of clean
technologies
– Investment in capacity development, and development of a
toolbox of best practices and mechanisms for sharing knowledge
and experience, including through communities of practice.
III. Analysis of
Submissions to Rio+20
Process Mentioning
Oceans
Input to November 1 Rio+20 Compilation Document:
Who mentioned oceans?*
SUBMISSION
NUMBER/NUMBER OF
SUBMISSIONS
ANALYZED
PERCENTAGE
POLITICAL GROUPS
4/4
100%
REGIONAL
PREPARATORY MEETING
OUTCOMES
4/4
100%
MEMBER STATES
37/69
54%
UN AGENCIES and IGOs
22/67
33%
MAJOR GROUPS
76/491
15%
* Based on inputs submitted by November 10, 2011
All Political Groups and
Regional Preparatory Meetings
Political Groups
Group of 77 and China
Pacific Small Island Developing States
CARICOM
EU
Regional Prepcoms
Africa Region
Arab Region
Asian and Pacific Region
Latin American and Caribbean Region
Member States submissions that contained at least one
Keyword (ocean, coast, fish...)
Africa --Burkina Faso, Liberia , Niger , Senegal , Togo, Tunisia
Asia -- India , Indonesia , Japan , Philippines , Republic of Korea , Sri
Lanka , Thailand, Turkey
Caribbean – Cuba , Dominican Republic , Grenada , Jamaica
Europe -- Croatia , Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro , Norway ,
Switzerland
North America -- Canada , Mexico , United States of America
Oceania -- Australia , New Zealand
South and Central America
Argentina, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Chile , Costa Rica ,
Guatemala, Peru
Main Priorities Articulated
• Climate Change
– Concern about impacts on coastal communities, including sea
level rise, increased storms and flooding, coastal erosion
– Need for coastal adaptation plans
– Disaster and risk management with a focus on climate change
• Fisheries
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Eliminate IUU (illegal, unregulated, unreported) fishing
Address harmful fishing practices
Remove harmful subsidies
Sustainable management of stocks
Importance of fisheries for food security
Strengthen Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs)
Implement FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
Main Priorities Articulated
• Meeting Commitments/Capacity Development
– Implement Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI), Barbados
Plan of Action (BPoA), and Mauritius Strategy
– Capacity building, including financial and technical assistance,
needed to address threats and implement major commitments
– Improved capacity for water and waste management
– Special focus on building capacity of SIDS
– Capacity building in the sustainable management of fisheries,
including science and technology
– Capacity is needed for improved monitoring and assessment
(environmental, climate change, pollution, fisheries)