A Blueprint for Oceans and Coasts at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20, June 2012)
Issues, Challenges and Solutions
Rio+20: What is at stake for the Ocean?
Wendy WATSON‐WRIGHT, Ph.D.Assistant Director‐General UNESCO, Executive
Secretary IOC
Symposium at the European Parliament,Brussels
The anthropocene:A new age of human impact
The anthropoceneOne planet, one ocean
The Ocean covers 71% of the surface of the planet
High Sea or Area Beyond National Jurisdiction account for 64% of the ocean total area
The anthropocenePopulation and CO2
The anthropoceneOcean acidification
The ocean could be 150% more acidic by 2100
The anthropocenePopulation and nutrients
Coastal Nitrogen Loading in 1990 and 2050 (Business‐as‐Usual Scenario)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Tg N
yr -1
NorthAmerica
SouthAmerica
Africa Europe NortheastAsia
EastAsia
SouthAsia
Land-based sources account globally for ~80% of marine pollution
The anthropocene
Fall of the wild
The anthropoceneEcosystem health
Number of dead zones has risen from 49 in the 1960s to over 400 in 2008 - some ecosystems have collapsed
Human vulnerability and the oceanCoastal livelihoods and ocean economy
Country led‐process, with multi‐stakeholder participation
Focus on poverty reduction, green economy, international governance
Ocean, one of the 7 thematic focus (together with water, energy, etc.)
Zero‐Draft document (9 paras on ocean)
Rio+20: An opportunity for improving ocean stewardship?
Inter‐agency effort to raise awareness on the ocean and contribute to sustainable development within Rio+20 framework
Responds to call by UNGA for UN bodies to provide ideas and proposals reflecting experiences and lessons learned as contribution to preparatory process
Action‐oriented proposals for consideration by UN Member States
The Blueprint report:a UN contribution to the Rio debate
Four objectives to build oceansustainability
Obj 1. Reduce stressors and restore structure and function of marine ecosystems
Obj 2. Support Blue‐Green Economy
Obj 3. Undertake policy, legal and institutional reforms for effective ocean governance
Obj 4. Support marine research, monitoring and education, and technology and capacity transfer
10 Blueprint Proposals Obj 1 Obj 2 Obj 3 Obj 4
Ocean Acidification X X
Habitat Restauration/Blue carbon X X X
Aquatic Invasive Species X X X X
SIDS Vulnerability X X
Responsible Fisheries/Aquaculture
X X X X
Land‐based Nutrients Reduction X X X X
Marine Biodiversity in ABNJ X X X
Regional Ocean Management X X
UN Coordination/Effectiveness X
Capacity, Observation and Research
X X
1. Ocean acidification2. Loss of biodiversity and habitats3. Science, technology and observation
for ocean management4. Capacity building
4 key issues to consider at Rio
Ocean Acidification
Loss of marine biodiversity and habitats
Science, technology and observations for ocean management
Capacity building for ocean management
Wemust act NOW for the future we want
Thank you for your attention!
One planet, one ocean
http://ioc.unesco.org
