UN agencies to present plan for sustainable future of oceans
UN agencies to present plan for sustainable future of oceans
27 October 2011
The plan, Blueprint for Ocean and Coastal Sustainability, seeks to highlight the opportunity that countries have to set up more effective institutional mechanisms to protect both the ocean and coastal areas ahead of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20 in June next year, where world leaders will meet to asses their progress on sustainable development and address new challenges.
According to a news release issued by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the plan will be presented by its Director-General Irina Bokova at the headquarters of the agency in Paris on Tuesday. The event will be one of the highlights of the 36th session of UNESCO’s general conference.
The plan was produced jointly by UNESCO, UN Development Programme (UNDP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), who will present the ten recommendations featured in the plan at the event.
According to UNESCO, oceans account for 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface, but only one per cent of their area is protected. In addition, 60 per cent of major marine ecosystems are damaged or over-exploited, having negative effects on mangroves and coral reefs.
The ocean also absorbs close to 26 per cent of carbon dioxide emission in the atmosphere, increasing acidification, which affects plankton, and these in turn affect the entire food chain, significantly increasing the impact oceans have on all ecosystems.
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> United Nations (UN).
The United Nations was established on 24 October 1945 by 51 countries committed to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security. Today, nearly every nation in the world belongs to the UN: membership totals 192 countries.
When States become Members of the United Nations, they agree to accept the obligations of the UN Charter, an international treaty that sets out basic principles of international relations. According to the Charter, the UN has four purposes:
- to maintain international peace and security;
- to develop friendly relations among nations;
- to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights;
- and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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* The above story is adapted from materials provided by United Nations (UN)
** More information at United Nations (UN)
