Blue carbon included in a new UN initiative to protect world’s
oceans - under Objective 2 of The Oceans Compact; protecting, recovering and sustaining the oceans’ environment and natural resources and restoring their full food production and livelihoods services through:
- Conserving and restoring marine habitats important for carbon sequestration and storage.
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Secretary-General launches
new initiative to protect world’s oceans
“The seas and oceans host
some of the most vulnerable and important ecosystems on Earth, but the
diversity of life they host is under ever-increasing strain,” Mr. Ban said at
an event in the city of Yeosu in the Republic of Korea (ROK), to commemorate
the 30th anniversary of the opening for signature of the UN Convention on the
Law of the Sea.
The Convention, also known
as the “constitution of the oceans,” governs all aspects of ocean space, from delimitation
of maritime boundaries, environmental regulations, scientific research,
commerce and the settlement of international disputes involving marine issues.
It was first opened for signature in 1982 and entered into force in 1994; there
are 162 parties to it – 161 States and the European Union.
Mr. Ban praised the
achievements of the Convention in helping countries establish a legal framework
to guide the management of the oceans, the settlement of disputes, and the
administration of the international seabed.
“Among its principles, the
Law of the Sea recognizes that all ocean issues are related and that they need
to be addressed as a whole,” Mr. Ban said, adding that this is in line with the
development framework put forward at the UN Conference on Sustainable
Development (Rio+20) in June in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
However, Mr. Ban also
emphasized the need to address multiple issues that threaten the marine
environment. To do this, he announced the launch of the Oceans Compact, which
will seek to support and strengthen the implementation of the Law of the Sea.
“What we need is to create
new momentum for ocean sustainability,” Mr. Ban said. “The Oceans Compact sets
out a strategic vision for the UN System to deliver more coherently and
effectively on its oceans-related mandates, consistent with the Rio +20
outcome.”
The Compact, Mr. Ban added,
will provide a platform to help countries protect the ocean's natural
resources, restore their full food production to help people's whose
livelihoods depend on the sea, and increase awareness and knowledge about the
management of the oceans.
To achieve the objectives of
the Compact, Mr. Ban proposed a results-oriented Action Plan along with the
creation of an Ocean Advisory Group made up of high-level policymakers,
scientists and experts, as well as representatives of the private sector and
civil society.
During his visit, Mr. Ban
also spoke to young people at the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) youth forum, where he asked participants to practice
solidarity among generations and lead the way in implementing sustainable
measures in all aspects of society.
“From public squares to
cyberspace, youth are a transformative force; you are creative, resourceful and
enthusiastic agents of change,” Mr. Ban said. “A sustainable future can be
ours. The work starts now, and it starts with you. This is a generational
imperative… a generational opportunity… that your generation must seize.”
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Story available here:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=42668&Cr=ocean&Cr1=#
- Posted by Steven Lutz, Grid-Arendal
