Yesterdays reflection from Jill Finnane 1 September Threats to the oceans are being discussed many times at this conference. There is agreement that the biggest threat is climate change and agreement too that it is the big polluting nations that bear most responsibility for addressing the need to cut green house gas emissions and to fund adaptation. At the same time there have been many presentations about other challenges and how they are being addressed by SIDS nations themselves. There are some very hopeful initiatives being supported by large organisations like the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) headed now by Helen Clark and the Global Environment Fund (GEF) headed by Nyoko Ishi. Here are some notes taken from a Side Event: Our sea of islands, our livelihoods, our Oceania: The Pacific Ocean Alliance The UN Convention on the Sea is an important instrument in giving legal expression to the rights and duties in protecting the oceans BUT it is not enough. The Parties to Nauru Agreement is going well with the Vessel Day Scheme but there needs more capacity to control the unregulated and unseen poachers and to protect the global commons. There is great uncertainty about how acidification and climate change will affect oceans and fisheries hence a great need for the proper management and preservation of these God-given renewable resources. Marine Protected Areas (MPI)s - big and small - need to become core business for oean and for in-shore management. Kiribati is an example of a country that has set up and MPI in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) recognising that we need to sustain the ocean ecosystem if we are to sustain the world. An integrated approach is essential and a ridge to reef approach, from villager to cabinet minister. The Pacific Ocean Alliance is the next important step in international agreements on ocean preservation. The World Banks Oceanscape program came from a conversation with President Tong of Kiribati about beginning to see the Pacific Islands as not just needing help in preserving the oceans but preserving the oceans as being an investment in the future. This led to the World Bank set up its Pacific Reef Oceanscape Program and the WB says Thank you for helping us change the way we work. This is a positive step forward in linking oceans management to islands management. MPIs need to become core business for management and a core part of adaptation to climate change and sustainable development. We dont have 25 years to protect the oceans We need to keep our eye on the broad scope of ocean threats while continuing to keep the effects of climate change and ocean acidification at the forefront.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 03:23:23 +0000
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