Small Island Developing States

On Tuesday, 11 July, PrepCom 4's informal working group on marine genetic resources (MGRs), addressed: the nature of benefits; benefit-sharing modalities; intellectual property rights; monitoring of utilization of MGRs; a clearinghouse mechanism; and capacity building and technology transfer. The informal working group on measures such as area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas (MPAs), facilitated by Alice Revell (New Zealand), discussed: objectives, guiding principles and approaches, criteria for identifying areas in need of protection; and the process for establishing ABMTs, including decision-making. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from the 4th Session of the Preparatory Committee Established by the UN General Assembly Resolution 69/292: Development of an International Legally Binding Instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Franz Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page L-R: Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS); Janine Coye-Felson, Belize, Facilitator of the informal working group on marine genetic resources; Charlotte Salpin, UNDOALOS; and Michele Ameri, UNDOALOS Dominic Misiolo Sofe, Samoa Riena Dwi Astuty, Indonesia Zha Hyoung Rhee, Republic of Korea Hina Saeed Baig, Pakistan Zentaro Naganuma, Japan Juliette Babb-Riley, Barbados, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Leonito Bacalando Jr., Federated States of Micronesia Rogelio Villanueva Jr., the Philippines José Luis Fernández Valoni, Argentina Essam Yassin Mohammed, Eritrea Margo Deiye, Nauru, on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States Zakieh Taghizadeh, Iran Shara Duncan, Costa Rica Sergey Leonidchenko, Russian Federation, making an intervention Konrad Marciniak, EU Hiroko Muraki Gottlieb, IUCN Jessica Battle, WWF Alain Tellier, Canada Sabita Nakarmi, Nepal Sibylle Vermont, Switzerland, making an intervention L-R: Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS; Chair Carlos Sobral Duarte, Brazil; Alice Hicuburundi, UNDOALOS; and Charlotte Salpin, UNDOALOS L-R: Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS; Alice Revell, New Zealand, Facilitator of the informal working group on ABMTs, including MPAs; and Alice Hicuburundi, UNDOALOS Sophie Mirgaux, EU Ma Xinmin, China Kate Neilson, New Zealand Aboubacar Oulare, Guinea Fred Sarufa, Papua New Guinea Drusila Esther Bayate, the Philippines Luis Oña Garcés, Ecuador, on behalf of the G-77/China Tevita Suka Mangisi, Tonga Evan Bloom, US Mirriam Lidimani, Solomon Islands L-R: Luis Oña Garcés, Ecuador, in a conversation with Zakieh Taghizadeh, Iran Alexander Shestakov (center), WWF, in a discussion with delegates from the Russian Federation L-R: Florian Botto, Monaco; Sergio Carvalho, Portugal; Tidiani Couma, Monaco; and Stella Bartolini Cavicchi, World Ocean Council

On Monday, 10 July, the fourth session of the Preparatory Committee on the elements of a draft text of an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) opened with the plenary addressing administrative matters and hearing general statements. In the afternoon, the informal working group on marine genetic resources (MGRs), facilitated by Janine Coye-Felson (Belize), convened to discuss scope, guiding principles and approaches, access and benefit-sharing. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from the 4th Session of the Preparatory Committee Established by the UN General Assembly Resolution 69/292: Development of an International Legally Binding Instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Franz Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Chair Carlos Sobral Duarte, Brazil Miguel de Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel, on behalf of UN Secretary-General António Guterres Miguel de Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel, giving his opening address to PrepCom4 L-R: Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS); Miguel de Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel; Chair Carlos Sobral Duarte, Brazil; Alice Hicuburundi, UNDOALOS; and Charlotte Salpin, UNDOALOS Alice Revell, New Zealand Jane Chigiyal, Federated States of Micronesia Horacio Sevilla-Borja, Ecuador, on behalf of the G-77/China Sergey Leonidchenko, Russian Federation Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, on behalf of the African Group John Brincat, EU Marlene Moses, Nauru, on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States Teodoro Locsin Jr., the Philippines Ma Xinmin, China Ismail Raushan, Maldives, on behalf of Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Pablo Arrocha Olabuenaga, Mexico Evan Bloom, US, making an intervention Faiyaz Murshid Kazi, Bangladesh Matthías Pálsson, Iceland Michael Googan, Australia Cristóbal Hernández Castillo, Chile Juliette Babb-Riley, Barbados, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Rishy Bukoree, Mauritius Alain Tellier, Canada Florian Botto, Monaco Carlos García Reyes, Guatemala Kathryn Garforth, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Louise Kantrow, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Ariel Hernán Troisi, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) -UNESCO Kristina Gjerde, IUCN Stefan Micallef, International Maritime Organization Takehiro Nakamura, UN Environment Peggy Kalas, High Seas Alliance Gustavo Arévalo Castro, Comisión Permanente del Pacifico Sur (CPPS) L-R: Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS); Janine Coye-Felson, Belize, Facilitator of the informal working group on marine genetic resources; and Charlotte Salpin, UNDOALOS James Ndirangu Waweru, Kenya Konrad Marciniak, EU Rogelio Villanueva Jr., the Philippines Delegates from the Federated States of Micronesia and Nauru consulting L-R: Ma Xinmin, China, in a conversation with Evan Bloom, US Delegates from the African Group

The following side events were covered by ENBOTS on Friday, 9 June 2017: Solutions to Land-based and Sea-based Marine Litter Combined with Marine Plastic Litter in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Arctic Ocean Resilience: Can Tipping Points Still Be Avoided? Engaging the Private Sector in SDG14 – The Seafood Business for Ocean (SeaBOS) Stewardship Initiative Polycentric Ocean and Coastal Governance to Accelerate the Implementation of SDGs IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage of selected side events at the Ocean Conference. Photos by IISD/ENBOTS | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Solutions to Land-based and Sea-based Marine Litter Combined with Marine Plastic Litter in SIDS Presented by Centre for Sea and Society at the University of Gothenburg, IUCN, European Parliament Green Group, and the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) This event, moderated by Carl-Gustaf Lundin, IUCN, considered approaches to addressing marine litter in SIDS. Lena Gipperth, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, urged participants to focus discussion on solutions to the marine litter problems facing SIDS, noting appropriate solutions will depend on the context of each SIDS' situation. Marcus Eriksen, Co-Founder, the 5 Gyres Institute, explained his Institute started researching the marine litter problem through expeditions and in the process found that microplastics are a bigger problem than the trash gyres seen on the Ocean surface, creating a type of “plastic smog” circulating with currents often carrying microplastic clouds from one continent to another. Bethanie Carney Almroth, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, discussed the findings and recommendations of a report recently produced for the Swedish Institute for the Marine Environment, “Marine Plastic Litter on SIDS: Impacts and Measures.” Anthony Talouli, SPREP, discussed a SPREP-led regional strategy underway called Cleaner Pacific 2025, which features integrated waste management. Marco Affronte, Member, European Parliament, discussed recent EU initiatives addressing marine litter, including an European Commission (EC) communication on Ocean governance that includes an action point on marine litter, a package of four proposed EU directives on the circular economy, and the upcoming proposal from the EC for an EU plastics strategy. Alain de Comarmond, Seychelles, suggested that going forward, what is needed are: more studies of the issue; targeting source countries where the marine litter originates; appropriate laws; engaging the private sector; and educating the public on how microplastics affect health, the economy and biodiversity. Jakob Granit, Director-General, Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM), said while part of the solution is to invest in waste management and wastewater treatment, the Swedish experience suggests this takes time and steady heavy investment. He said Sweden is: promoting a circular economy; cooperating in regional contexts such as HELCOM and OSPAR; and supporting global campaigns on marine litter and ghost fishing gear. Monica Verbeek, Executive Director,  Seas at Risk, suggested upstream solutions to marine litter need to focus on keeping plastic from entering oceans in the first place, through regulation restricting single-use packaging and getting producers to take responsibility for their end-of-life products. João Sousa, IUCN, discussed IUCN efforts to promote dialogue between producers and waste managers. He stressed the importance of research, noting that an IUCN global assessment of plastics in ocean found that clothing and tires are bigger culprits than the commonly targeted cosmetics industry. Panel (L-R): Alain de Comarmond, Seychelles; Carl-Gustaf Lundin, IUCN; Anthony Talouli, SPREP; Marco Affronte, Member, European Parliament; Marcus Eriksen, Co-Founder, The 5 Gyres Institute; and Lena Gipperth, University of Gothenburg, Sweden Bethanie Carney Almroth, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, discussed the findings and recommendations of the report “Marine Plastic Litter on SIDS: Impacts and Measures.” Marcus Eriksen, Co-Founder, The 5 Gyres Institute, said his research shows microplastics have created a “plastic smog” circulating with currents, often carrying microplastic clouds from one continent to another. Anthony Talouli, SPREP, discussed a SPREP-led regional strategy underway called Cleaner Pacific 2025 which features integrated waste management. Marco Affronte, European Parliament, discussed recent EU initiatives addressing marine litter. View of the side-event on Solutions to Land-based and Sea-based Marine Litter Combined with Marine Plastic Litter in SIDS Contacts: Lena Gipperth (Centre for Sea and Society) | lena.gipperth@gu.se More Information: http://www.havochsamhalle.gu.se http://www.havsmiljoinstitutet.se Arctic Ocean Resilience: Can Tipping Points Still Be Avoided? Presented by Government of Sweden, Stockholm Environment Institute and Stockholm Resilience Center Isabella Lövin, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate, Sweden, spoke on the immense impacts climate change is having in the Arctic, including record low sea ice levels, warmer Ocean temperature and Ocean acidification. Responding to a question from moderator Johan Kuylenstierna, Executive Director, SEI, Lövin said the most important outcome from the Ocean Conference was that it has started a process in which the central importance of oceans is recognized. Marcus Carson, SEI, said that while people often see the Arctic as a frozen, desolate place, it is in fact a dynamic place that houses a variety of wildlife and communities. Noting that “what happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic,” he explained that ice loss in the Greenland ice sheet would likely have the greatest impact in the Southern Hemisphere. Stating that we are seeing distinct changes in the Arctic, since the Arctic Ocean is no longer the stable place it once was, Thomas Armstrong, Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program, presented findings showing that current levels of Ocean acidification are unmatched in the last 25 million years. He highlighted impacts that are already occurring such as the migration of fish stocks and degradation of shells. Joel Clement, US, highlighted that the four priority areas of the Arctic Resilience Action Framework cover science, capacity, governance and finance, and pointed to the first Arctic Resilience Forum to take place in Finland in September 2018 as an important moment. Matilda Ernkrans, Sweden, underscored the importance of scientifically-based knowledge as the basis for undertaking action and of “passion and patience” to achieve real change. She gave an example of this, describing the process to develop a policy framework for climate change to achieve net zero emissions by 2045 in Sweden. Stating that “we understand the oceans, now is the time to react,” Liisa Rohweder, Secretary-General, WWF Finland, suggested a scorecard for progress on implementing commitments as a good way to measure progress within the Arctic Council. Pinsak Suraswadi, Director, Marine and Coastal Resources Research Institute, Thailand, said that climate change is already having effects, quipping that his country now only knows two seasons: “hot and very hot.” Tom Arnbom, WWF Sweden, underscored the importance of connections between MPAs since the Arctic region is changing dramatically, and called for greater attention on where MPAs are chosen. On behalf of Stephanie Meakin, Inuit Circumpolar Council, Carson underscored the importance of the need to spend time and energy on integrating scientific and indigenous knowledge. Jouni Laaksonen, Permanent Mission of Finland to the UN, highlighted, inter alia, the essential role of education opportunities in remote areas in enabling sustainable development. He announced three important events taking place in Finland, emphasizing the Arctic Biodiversity Congress in October 2018. Panel (L-R): Jouni Laaksonen, Permanent Mission of Finland to the UN; Joel Clement, US; Matilda Ernkrans, Sweden; Thomas Armstrong, Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program; Isabella Lövin, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate, Sweden; Marcus Carson, SEI; Tom Arnbom, WWF Sweden; Pinsak Suraswadi, Marine and Coastal Resources Research Institute, Thailand; and Liisa Rohweder, Secretary-General, WWF Finland Liisa Rohweder, Secretary-General, WWF Finland, spoke on the importance of implementation, explaining that WWF is starting to monitor progress. Isabella Lövin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate, Sweden, underscored the importance of strengthening resilience, noting that this was a priority for the Arctic Council. Pinsak Suraswadi, Director, Marine and Coastal Resources Research Institute, Thailand, said noted that climate change is already having effects, quipping that his country now only knows two seasons: “hot and very hot.” Marcus Carson, SEI, highlighted important findings from the Arctic Resilience Report, including the risk of passing thresholds for non-linear change. View of the audience attending the event Contacts: Marcus Carson | marcus.carson@sei-international.org More Information: www.sei-international.org www.stockholmresilience.org Engaging the Private Sector in SDG14 – The Seafood Business for Ocean (SeaBOS) Stewardship Initiative Presented by Stockholm Resilience Centre This event, moderated by Meg Caldwell, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, discussed efforts by companies in “SeaBOS,” a science-based sustainability initiative involving nine of the world’s largest seafood companies. In her opening remarks, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, drew an analogy between forest fires and damage to the Ocean, urging all stakeholders to act for the Ocean as if they were fighting a forest fire. Henrik Österblom, Stockholm Resilience Centre, spoke about the methodology behind the SeaBOS initiative. He highlighted work to identify keys actors in the seafood industry, stressing that the 13 main companies account for up to 16% of global catches and harvest up to 40% of the most valuable stocks. He said the priorities of the dialogue with industry were to connect: science with business; fisheries with aquaculture; and seafood industries around the world. Knut Nesse, CEO, Nutreco and Chairman, SeaBOS, stressed that seafood plays an important role in food production and in rural development but faces challenges such as depleted stocks or antibiotics overuse in aquaculture. He mentioned four taskforces in SeaBOS on: eliminating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fisheries; traceability; regulation; and strategy and governance. He also urged for more collaboration with governments on these issues. Darian McBain, Thai Union, via video message, underscored how SeaBOS could stimulate global seafood industry collaboration for achieving SDG 14 and said that the most pressing issues were traceability, the status of some stocks, and human rights in fisheries. Johán H. Williams, Norway, stessed the need for national governments to develop strong partnerships with the seafood industry in order to achieve sustainability. He gave the example of Norway, explaining that the seafood industry relies on sound management, science, technology, regulation, finance and marketing. Isabella Lövin, Minister for International Development and Climate and Deputy Prime Minister, Sweden, said the SeaBOS initiative is a concrete way to link science with real action. Recognizing the strong link between SDGs 14 and 12 (on sustainable consumption and production), she stressed the importance of the consumer’s perspective, which brings change by allowing credit to responsible industries. In the ensuing discussion, participants discussed, inter alia: effective ways to communicate with the industry; the importance of transparency; antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture; the importance of NGOs on alerting consumers; IUU regulation under the International Maritime Organization; and the absence of some major players in the FAO Port State Measures Agreement. Panel (L-R): Henrik Österblom, Stockholm Resilience Centre; Knut Nesse, CEO of Nutreco and Chairman of SeaBOS; and Johán Williams, Norway Knut Nesse, CEO of Nutreco and Chairman of SeaBOS, highlighted the opportunities for the seafood industry to become more sustainable through the SeaBOS initiative Meg Caldwell, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, asked the participants about the importance of transparency in the seafood sector. Darian McBain, Thai Union, via video message, said SeaBOS is influencing the whole industry, regulators, and the way seafood is consumed. View of the side event ‘Engaging the Private Sector in SDG 14 – The Seafood Business for Ocean (SeaBOS) Stewardship Initiative.’ Contacts: Henrik Österblom (Stockholm Resilience Centre) | henrik.osterblom@su.se More Information: www.stockholmresilience.su.se Polycentric Ocean and Coastal Governance to Accelerate the Implementation of SDGs Presented by the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), Equator Initiative and UNEP This event, moderated by Tehmina Akhtar, SGP, discussed incorporating local ocean management actions into national and regional management frameworks, and developing and implementing local actions in alignment with regional and national priorities. Adriana Dinu, UNDP, highlighted a new SGP/Equator Initiative publication that provides ocean-related case studies on how local initiatives can help deliver global environmental benefits. Sulan Chen, SGP, explained the concept of polycentric governance of complex economic systems and its relevance to Ocean governance. She explained how SGP has helped local communities to effectively participate in environmental governance over 20 years, and is now working on building connectivity between local efforts in Ocean governance. Isabelle Vanderbeck, UNEP, discussed the GEF's five-year Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystem Management in Caribbean SIDS (IWECO) multi-focal area project that tries to tie together work on international waters, land degradation, biodiversity and sustainable forest management. She explained that part of what IWECO is trying to achieve is linking government- and community-led actions. Christopher Paterson, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), explained SEAFDEC's role, assisted by the GEF, in supporting the implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the marine and coastal environment of the South China Sea. He explained that partnerships with SGP help governments with local implementation. Stephen Adrian Ross, Executive Director, PEMSEA, explained PEMSEA's work over 20 years to link national and local governments in implementing the integrated coastal management concept in East Asian coastlines. He explained that 17% of East Asian coastlines are currently covered by integrated coastal management, with the goals of achieving 20% by 2025. Laverne Walker, UNDP/GEF CLME+ Project, explained that the project covers large marine ecosystems in the Caribbean and North Brazil shelf involving 4.4 million km2 and over 35 states and territories. She discussed current CLME+ efforts, with SGP help, to engage civil society organizations in the area in “interactive governance,” in support of implementing the Strategic Action Plan underpinning the project. Budi Setiawan, Founder, Kelompok Peduli Lingkungan Belitung, Indonesia, explained how his organization, with SGP help, worked to promote community management of local coral reefs, mangroves, fishing zones and tropical forests. Yoko Watanabe, Global Manager, SGP, said these examples show how SGP can play a catalytic role in engaging communities to help achieve larger goals in protecting oceans, and suggested the experience can be replicated and used in other areas, such as landscape management. She closed the session by quoting Mark Zuckerberg, “change starts local, and even global change starts small.” L-R: Yoko Watanabe, Global Manager, SGP; Adriana Dinu, UNDP; and Tehmina Akhtar, Deputy Global Manager, SGP Adriana Dinu, UNDP, highlighted a new SGP/Equator Initiative publication that provides ocean-related case studies on how local initiatives can help deliver global environmental benefits. Yoko Watanabe, Global Manager, SGP, said SGP can play a catalytic role in engaging communities to help achieve larger goals in protecting oceans. Stephen Adrian Ross, Executive Director, PEMSEA, explained PEMSEA's work to link national and local governments in implementing the integrated coastal management (ICM) concept in East Asian coastlines. Budi Setiawan, Founder, Kelompok Peduli Lingkungan Belitung, Indonesia, explained how his organization, with SGP help, worked to promote community management of local coral reefs, mangroves, fishing zones and tropical forests. L-R: Budi Setiawan, Founder, Kelompok Peduli Lingkungan Belitung, Indonesia; Stephen Adrian Ross, Executive Director, PEMSEA; and Christopher Paterson, SEAFDEC L-R: Sulan Chen, SGP; Laverne Walker, UNDP/GEF CLME+ Project; and Isabelle Vanderbeck, UNEP View of the side event on Polycentric Ocean and Coastal Governance to Accelerate the Implementation of SDGs. Contacts: Sulan Chen (GEF Small Grants Programme) | sulan.chen@undp.org More Information: https://sgp.undp.org

The following side events were covered by ENBOTS on Thursday, 8 June 2017: Building Ocean Knowledge for Sustainable Development Can We Achieve SDG 14 Without Looking Upstream? Starting at the Source to Save the Sea Addressing Oceans and Climate and Building the Blue Economy: Essential to SDG 14 Implementation Blue Biotrade: Harnessing Trade and Investment for Sustainable Use Advancing SDG 14 and the Quest for a Blue Economy through the Promotion of Socio-economic Benefits for Developing Countries, Including SIDS, and Increasing Scientific Knowledge and Research Capacity: Perspectives on Deep Seabed Mining Financing Ocean Sustainable Development: The Investment Community and SDG 14 IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage of selected side events at the Ocean Conference. Photos by IISD/ENBOTS | Francis Dejon and Brad VinceletteFor photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Building Ocean Knowledge for Sustainable Development Presented by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) and the Permanent Missions to the UN of Samoa, Norway, and Maldives Delivering opening remarks, Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Neioti Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa, underscored the role of science, technology and innovation (STI) in: addressing loss and damage, mitigation and adaptation in the context of climate change; improving livelihoods; and ensuring Ocean health. He stressed that STI is an integral part of the means of implementation for the SDGs, and thus a priority for member states. Tone Skogen, State Secretary, Norway, said her country was one of few to have established research policies for sustainable development, underscoring the Ocean as a priority. She stressed the need for developing human resources in Ocean science, explaining its key role in ensuring a healthy Ocean to achieve “the Future We Want.” Mohamed Shainee, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Maldives, said only through research and knowledge sharing will we be able to cope with, and adapt to, changing manmade and natural environments. He underscored the need to improve our capacity to collect relevant data. Irina Bokova, Director-General, UNESCO, underlined that 3,000 people had climbed Everest and 12 people walked on the moon, but only very few have explored the deep Ocean, which represents 90% of Earth’s habitat space. On the Global Ocean Science Report, she said it provides, inter alia, a call to action for governments to start funding the operationalization of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology. Luis Valdes, UNESCO, presented several key findings of the Report, including: global Ocean science is “big science” and is multidisciplinary; there is more gender balance in Ocean science than in science overall; and Ocean science expenditure is highly variable worldwide and benefits from alternative funding. Zakri Abdul Hamid, Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, stressed the need to align educational systems with the SDGs and highlighted the role of multi-stakeholder collaborations that engage national science councils in the operationalization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He said investments in Ocean science are assets because of the vital findings they bring. Ariel Troisi, Servício de Hídrografia Naval, Argentina, underscored the need for member states to include the transfer of marine technology in their national strategic plans. He expressed support for designating 2021-2030 as the International Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, arguing that it would encourage, inter alia, transdisciplinary and integrated research. Peter Haugan, IOC Chairperson, Proposal for an International Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, said the preliminary objectives of the Decade include: stimulating a global partnership on the marine science requirements needed to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda; and understanding the impacts of cumulative stressors and seeking sustainable solutions for maintaining benefits from the Ocean. Ariel Troisi, Servício de Hídrografia Naval, Argentina, underscored the need for member states to include the transfer of marine technology in their national strategic plans. Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General, said the Ocean needs better public policies and stronger international collaboration. Luis Valdes, GOSR Coordinating Editor, presented several key findings of the Report. Peter Haugan, IOC Chairperson, Proposal for an International Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, presented the preliminary objectives of the proposed Decade. Zakri Abdul Hamid, Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, said key investments in Ocean science are assets because of the vital findings they bring. Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Neioti Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa, called for building our Ocean knowledge for sustainable development through STI. Mohamed Shainee, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture of Maldives, said only through research and knowledge sharing we will be able to cope with and adapt to the changing manmade and natural environments. Tone Skogen, State Secretary of Norway, said we need a healthy Ocean to achieve the Future We Want and this will not be possible without Ocean science. Panel (L-R): Irina Bokova, Director-General, UNESCO; Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary, UNESCO-IOC; Mohamed Shainee, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Maldives; Tone Skogen, State Secretary, Norway; and Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Neioti Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister, Samoa. Panel (L-R): Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary, UNESCO-IOC; Peter Haugan, Chairperson, UNESCO-IOC; Luis Valdes, UNESCO; Ariel Troisi, Servício de Hídrografia Naval, Argentina; and Zakri Abdul Hamid, Science Advisor to the Prime Minister, Malaysia. Contacts: Hellin Brink (UNESCO New York Office) | h.brink@unesco.org More Information: https://www.norway.no/en/missions/un/events/building-ocean-knowledge-for-sustainable-development/ Can We Achieve SDG 14 Without Looking Upstream? Starting at the Source to Save the Sea Presented by Government of Sweden and the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM), Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI)/Action Platform on Source to Sea Management (S2S Platform), the Government of Germany, Swedish Chemicals Agency (KEMI), Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute Jakob Granit, Director General, SwAM, moderated this event. Raj Mohabeer, IOC, said concrete steps to address upstream sources of marine pollution need to go “further and faster.” Karolina Skog, Minister for the Environment, Sweden, cited HELCOM as an example of a successful regional effort to address source-to-sea (S2S), saying the EU can build on and enhance existing measures. Barbara Hendricks, Federal Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany, highlighted the G20 Action Plan on marine litter. She urged work on helping countries worldwide to adopt functional waste management and wastewater treatment systems. Didier Dogley, Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Seychelles, noted that the size and nature of SIDS make the case for S2S clear. He described examples from his country, including innovative financing such as debt-for-nature swaps and blue bonds, as well as regional collaboration in the context of the Nairobi Convention and IOC. Daryl Vaz, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for Land, Environment, Climate Change and Investments, Jamaica, said SIDS like Jamaica , which depend heavily on marine resources must take a systemic approach to protect their ecosystem capital, adding that his country is looking at upstream aspects affecting achievement of SDG 14. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, Global Environment Facility (GEF), said the GEF has become convinced of the need to break silos and look at problems holistically, and would be featuring an S2S approach in its next replenishment. Carl Gustaf Lundin, IUCN, focused on the issue of microplastics in oceans, noting that people are waking up to the danger. He cautioned, however, that banning microplastics in cosmetics will not solve the problem alone, since a much larger proportion come from tires, roads, paints, "city dust" and washing clothes. Torkil Jonch Clausen, Chair, S2S Platform, said the Ocean community needs to get more involved in the freshwater agenda; cross-thinking should be encouraged for indicators for SDG 6 (on water) and SDG 14; and integrated water resource management should be linked to integrated coastal zone management. Emma Nohrén, Swedish Green Party, stressed that a lot marine pollution comes from things we do not see, such as runoff, eutrophication and even pharmaceuticals flushed into sewers. She suggested the sea is a mirror of our lifestyles, so many of the problems will require lifestyle changes. Barbara Hendricks, Federal Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany, called for helping all countries set up functional waste management and wastewater treatment systems. Karolina Skog, Environment Minister, Sweden, announced €1.5 million contribution to S2S Platform and UNEP’s work on land-based sources of marine pollution. Raj Mohabeer, IOC, suggested that the S2S Platform develop a global monitoring tool so that countries can assess whether progress on S2S is actually being made. Carl Gustaf Lundin, IUCN, pointed out that cosmetics are the source of only 2% of microplastics entering oceans. Torkil Jonch Clausen, Chair, S2S Platform, said countries need to link integrated water resource management with integrated coastal zone management. Jakob Granit, Director General, SwAM, moderated the event. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson for the GEF, said S2S will feature in the GEF’s next replenishment. Daryl Vaz, Minister without Portfolio, Jamaica, described his country’s efforts to address land-sea environment linkages. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden Didier Dogley, Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Seychelles, said size and nature of SIDS made the need for a S2S approach clear. Noting “The sea is a mirror of our lifestyle,” Emma Nohrén, Swedish Green Party, pointed out that solving the marine pollution problem will require addressing many lifestyle factors. Panel (L-R): Karolina Skog, Environment Minister, Sweden; Jakob Granit, Director General, SwAM; Barbara Hendricks, Federal Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany; Daryl Vaz, Minister without Portfolio, Jamaica; Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, the GEF; Torkil Jonch Clausen, Chair, S2S Platform; and Emma Nohrén, Swedish Green Party. Panel (L-R): Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden; Carl Gustaf Lundin, IUCN; Raj Mohabeer, IOC; and Didier Dogley, Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Seychelles. Contacts: Ulrika Siira (SwAM) | ulrika.siira@havochvatten.se More Information: www.havochvatten.se Addressing Oceans and Climate and Building the Blue Economy: Essential to SDG 14 Implementation   Presented by the Global Ocean Forum (GOF), together with IOC-UNESCO, Oceano Azul Foundation, Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI), and the Governments of Grenada, Japan and Seychelles Biliana Cicin-Sain, President, GOF, moderated this event. She provided a brief overview of the Roadmap to Oceans and Climate Action, unveiled at COP 22. Event Co-Chairs Angus Friday, Ambassador of Grenada to the US, and Ronald Jumeau, Permanent Representative of Seychelles to the UN, stressed the importance of climate change, oceans and the Blue Economy to SIDS. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, GEF, expressed the GEF's interest in forming a multi-stakeholder platform to create a coherent framework for addressing the nexus of climate, Oceans and the Blue Economy that would include private sector partners. Álvaro Mendonça e Moura, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the UN and Co-Facilitator, Preparatory Meeting for the Ocean Conference, praised having the reference to Blue Economy in the Call to Action. Inia Seruiratu, Minister for Agriculture, Rural Development and Natural Disaster Management, Fiji, underscored the importance of “alignment and integration” in addressing Ocean health and climate change. Kees Rade, Ambassador for Sustainable Development, Netherlands, discussed Dutch efforts to share experiences and build capacity in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Tiago Pitta e Cunha, CEO, Oceano Azul Foundation, Portugal, stressed the importance of developing a vision for a Blue Economy that convinces industry of the need for decoupling economic growth from ocean degradation. Charles Goddard, Economist Intelligence Unit, suggested that the key to financing the transition to a more sustainable Ocean economy is to increase awareness of the economic exposure and financial risk posed by what climate change is doing to the oceans. Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary, IOC-UNESCO, characterized the inclusion of Oceans reference in the Paris Agreement as “a modest success” that must be built upon by finding financing, funding research, developing new tools and forging new partnerships. Wenjian Zhang, Assistant Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), urged investment in Ocean research and subsurface Ocean observations systems. Stuart Chape, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), warned that the Paris Agreement is not going to reverse all the Ocean’s damage set in motion in recent decades. Yoshihisa Shirayama, Executive Director, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), discussed the impact of Ocean acidification on Japanese reefs. Adrian Ross, Executive Director, Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), Philippines, stressed the need to include local governments in building the Oceans-climate agenda. Hashali Hamaukuaya, Executive Secretary, Benguela Current Commission, and Chairman, African Large Ecosystems Caucus, described climate change impacts on African coastal zones. Angus Friday, Ambassador of Grenada to the US, discussed his country's work on a Blue Economy Master Plan and plans to create a Blue Economy Institute. Álvaro Mendoça e Moura, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the UN, announced Portugal's plan to establish in the Azores an Atlantic International Research Center to provide an interdisciplinary platform bringing together space, climate, oceans and data sciences. Álvaro Mendoça e Moura, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the UN, announced Portugal's plan to establish in the Azores an Atlantic International Research Center to provide an interdisciplinary platform bringing together space, climate, oceans and data sciences. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, GEF, expressed the GEF's interest in creating a multi-stakeholder platform to create a coherent framework for addressing the nexus of climate, oceans and the Blue Economy. Angus Friday, Ambassador of Grenada to the US, discussed his country's work on a Blue Economy Master Plan and plans to create a Blue Economy Institute. Panel (L-R): Ronald Jumeau, Permanent Representative of Seychelles to the UN; Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, GEF; Angus Friday, Ambassador of Grenada to the US; Biliana Cicin-Sain, President, WOF; Álvaro Mendoça e Moura, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the UN; Tiago Pitta e Cunha, CEO, Oceano Azul Foundation, Portugal; Kees Rade, Ambassador for Sustainable Development, Netherlands; and Inia Seruiratu, Minister for Agriculture, Rural Development and Natural Disaster Management, Fiji. Contacts: Biliana Cicin-Sain (Global Ocean Forum) | bilianacicin-sain@globaloceans.org More Information: www.globaloceanforum.org Blue Biotrade: Harnessing Trade and Investment for Sustainable Use Presented by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); Development Bank of Latin America (CAF); The UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), and International Ocean Institute (IOI) This event, moderated by Lucas Assunҫão, UNCTAD and Antonella Vassallo, Managing Director, IOI, discussed ways of adapting BioTrade (BT) principles for use in the marine realm. Assunҫão introduced the session saying that the UNCTAD BT Initiative is a platform that has developed methodologies and standards for trade for the sustainable use of a wide range of biodiversity-based products. Vassallo stressed the importance of showcasing ways to adapt BT to the Ocean, through “Blue BioTrade,” and called for the creation of a community of practice. Tundi Agardy, MARES Program, Forest Trends, said BT is distinct from other tools promoting sustainable use because it is the only one taking the whole value chain into account. She then stressed some difficulties in applying BT to the Ocean: lack of private property; resources beyond jurisdiction; and externalities not yet addressed in marine policies. David Vivas Eugui, UNCTAD, spoke about approaches guiding BT and then presented the six principles on which BT is based and the challenges for developing new criteria for their adaptation to the marine environment: biodiversity conservation; sustainable use; equitable benefit sharing; socio-economic sustainability; legal compliance; and respect for actors’ rights. Federico Vignati, CAF, explained his work in adapting BT to Latin America and presented examples of projects from the CAF’s new Blue BT portfolio, including restoration of ecosystem services from wetlands in Peru, and making pencils from seaweed as an alternate activity for the families of fishermen. Daniel Kachelriess, CITES, gave an example of the recent successful management of the Queen Conch under these rules. He highlighted synergies between CITES and BT principles, and differences between the terrestrial and marine contexts, including national versus regional management, and diverse sources of data versus fisheries as the main data source. Awni Behnam, Honorary President, IOI, highlighted, inter alia: Ocean governance must be an integral part of global governance; weaknesses and strengths of UNCLOS must be assessed; and blue economy and blue growth are different concepts since the core of the blue economy is sustainability, not growth. In the ensuing discussion, participants discussed the place of science in CITES recommendations and the links between CITES and the negotiations on marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), among others. Awni Behnam, IOI, stressed the importance of integrating BioTrade to the discussions on a legally binding instrument on marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. David Vivas Eugui, UNCTAD, spoke on how BioTrade principles could be extended to the marine environment. Federico Vignati, CAF, shows a blue BioTrade product: a pencil made from seaweed. Tundi Agardy, Forest Trends, gave several examples of Blue BioTrade projects. Panel (L-R): Daniel Kachelriess, CITES; David Vivas Eugui, UNCTAD; Antonella Vassallo, IOI; Lucas Assunҫão, UNCTAD; Tundi Agardy, Forest Trends; and Federico Vignati, CAF. Contacts: David Vivas Eugui (UNCTAD) | david.vivaseugui@unctad.org Federico Vignati (CAF) | fvignati@caf.com Daniel Kachelriess (CITES) | daniel.kachelriess@cites.org Antonella Vassallo (IOI) | antonella.vassallo@ioihq.org.mt More Information: http://unctad.org/en/conferences/Ocean-Conference/ Advancing SDG 14 and the Quest for a Blue Economy Through the Promotion of Socio-Economic Benefits for Developing Countries, Including SIDS, and Increasing Scientific Knowledge and Research Capacity: Perspectives on Deep Seabed Mining Presented by the Governments of Tonga and Mexico, International Seabed Authority (ISA), UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), and Tonga Offshore Mining Limited and Nautilus Minerals Ltd Michael Lodge, Secretary-General, International Seabed Authority (ISA), moderated the meeting. Mahe’uli’uli Sandhurst Tupouniua, Permanent Representative of Tonga to the UN, said blue economy entails sustainable economy where activities such as seabed mining are in balance with the health of the ecosystem. He added Tonga is the first country in the world to have adopted a Mineral Seabed Act, which highlights Tonga’s initiatives to protect and preserve its marine environment and the deep seabed. Sainivalati Navoti, DESA, speaking on behalf of Wu Hongbo UN Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs, noted that deep seabed represents 45% of the world’s area and UNCLOS will contribute to its just economic and social use. Siosiua 'Utoikamanu, Tonga, said activities on deep seabed mining can contribute to: increasing government revenues from taxes and royalties from minerals; generating employment; and capacity building across multiple stakeholders on the potential and risks of seabed mining. Mike Johnston, CEO, Nautilus Minerals, said the company is focusing its corporate social responsibility efforts on health, education, capacity building, infrastructure, collaborations and community partnerships. Patrick Ho, Secretary-General, China Energy Fund Committee, spoke about the potential of blue economy for energy development, noting that the Ocean is a valuable source of renewable energy through the force of its tides. Alejandro Alday, Mexico, said Mexico is progressing towards involvement in deep seabed minding activities. He stated that close collaboration with ISA is beneficial as it provides both capacity building and awareness raising opportunities. Natalia Amezcua, Servicio Geológico Mexicano, presented the ISA Contractors Training Programmes, which provides operational skills development, improvement of scientific research, and capacity building. Among others, she stressed the need for long-term national plans and policies on sustainable marine mining. In the ensuing discussion, participants raised issues related to, inter alia: the need to have national presentations on the benefits of seabed mining to ensure local buy-in; the risks brought by deep seabed mining; and the strong opposition to seabed mining by NGOs and many local communities. Sainivalati Navoti, DESA, said DESA will facilitate and organize a meeting on blue economy in the Pacific. Natalia Amezcua, Servicio Geológico Mexicano, presented the ISA Contractors Training Programmes. Michael Lodge, Secretary-General of the ISA, welcomed participants to the meeting. Mahe’uli’uli Sandhurst Tupouniua, Permanent Representative of Tonga to the UN, said Tonga is the first country in the world to have adopted a Mineral Seabed Act. Panel (L-R): Sainivalati Navoti, UN DESA; Alejandro Alday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mexico; Michael Lodge, Secretary-General, International Seabed Authority (ISA); Mahe ‘Uli’uli Sandhurst Tupouniua, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Tonga to the UN; and Patrick Ho, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China Energy Fund Committee. Contacts: Alfonso Ascencio-Herrera (Moderator Coordinator) | alfonsoa@isa.org.jm More Information: https://oceanconference.un.org/index.php?page=view&type=20000&nr=2108&menu=3327 Financing Ocean Sustainable Development: The Investment Community and SDG 14 Presented by World Ocean Council (WOC), Sustainable Investment Forum, Ocean Assets Initiative, Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, and Climate Bonds Initiative Opening the session, moderator Paul Holthus, Founding President and CEO, WOC, highlighted the development of an Ocean investment platform that would bring together the Ocean community with industry and entrepreneurs to create solutions to Ocean-related challenges. Explaining that US$52 billion is currently spent on conservation globally, John Tobin-de la Puente, Cornell University, said there is a need for US$200-300 billion per year to sufficiently address the problem, an amount he described as sounding “insurmountable” for governments. He underscored, however, the potential of the private investment market to fill this gap, which would amount to only 1% of all new and invested capital globally, noting that how to scale up conservation projects would be the most difficult question. Speaking on reasons for investing in sustainable solutions for the Ocean, Simon Dent, Althelia Ecosphere, highlighted the potential for economic returns and associated environmental gains, underscoring that seafood is ten times more efficient than beef in terms of CO2 emissions. Courtney Lowrance, Citi, spoke about the changing approach of sustainable finance, which no longer focuses only on “doing no harm,” and avoiding risk, but increasingly is now also a field of opportunities, particularly through green bonds. Jacques Demers, Founder, Agawa Partners, said his organization’s private investment programme is focusing on two main areas: agri-food and the Ocean, underscoring the interlinkages between these two areas. He mentioned the need to revamp the coastal infrastructure, noting this could translate into “huge” opportunities for the investment industry. Jayme Kurtyka, EagleRail Container Logistics, said leveraging finance required an approach that could quantify the long-term benefits in a way that makes good sense to investors. Specifically, he called for a focus on economic sustainability as well as environmental sustainability, to make sure the companies pursuing these initiatives can sustain their businesses. Bill Staby, Co-Founder and CEO, Resolute Marine Energy, highlighted that there is a new generation of high net worth individuals “wanting to do good with their money.” He said it was important to consider scaling in terms of ensuring each individual product generates enough cash flow to finance the company, and underscored the need for agreed standards. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, GEF, spoke on opportunities, including from public-private partnerships, but cautioned on a process focused uniquely on scaling up existing products, noting that it was important to find new ways to address the problems we face. She underscored the importance of policies to create the enabling conditions for businesses. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, GEF, said one way to ensure economic sustainability for businesses would be to get a critical mass moving in the same direction. John Tobin-de la Puente, Cornell University, spoke on the Coalition of Private Investment in Conservation, launched in 2016, that aims to bring key actors together to develop ideas that would enable the necessary scaling up of private investment in conservation. Paul Holthus, founding President and CEO, WOC, underscored the need to consider how businesses can interact and develop economies of scale on key issues and challenges. Panel (L-R): Jayme Kurtyka, Eagle Rail Container Logistics; John Tobin-de la Puente, Cornell University; and Simon Dent, Althelia Ecosphere. Panel (L-R): Jacques Demers, Founder, Agawa Partners; Courtney Lowrance, Citi; and Bill Staby, Co-Founder and CEO, Resolute Marine Energy; Contacts: Paul Holthus (founding President and CEO, WOC) | paul.holthus@oceancouncil.org More Information: www.oceancouncil.org