Summary
The first ever Oceans Action Day convened on Saturday, 12 November 2016, on the margins of the twenty-second Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP22). The day began with Her Royal Highness (HRH) Princess Lalla Hasna of Morocco, and His Serene Highness (HSH) Prince Albert II of Monaco providing opening remarks. Princess Hasna outlined Morocco’s Blue Belt initiative to develop socio-economic activities from marine resources in coastal communities. Prince Albert highlighted UN initiatives that seek to protect marine areas beyond national jurisdiction. He urged that the hour has come for humanity to protest and act.
The morning also featured a Plenary High-Level Showcase Segment with sessions on ‘Oceans and Climate: Solutions to the core issues (food security, mitigation, adaptation, building resilience)’; and ‘Oceans and Climate: Science Solutions.’
The showcase featured ministers, scientists, private sector representatives, and policy makers who elaborated on policies, action plans, initiatives and commitments to implement the Paris Agreement, achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 (life below water) and work towards fulfilling their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
The afternoon featured three dialogues: ‘Adaptation Challenges and Opportunities’; ‘Mitigation Actions and NDCs’; and ‘Access to Finance Building Capacity for the Blue Economy under Climate Change.’
The dialogues expanded on the initiatives, action plans, policies and commitments discussed in the morning. They also highlighted efforts with regard to providing financial support, capacity development and further steps towards including oceans.
Regional dialogues took place in parallel sessions in the evening, followed by a reception.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has provided a digial coverage, video coverage and a summary report from Oceans Action Day at COP 22, which is available in HTML and PDF format.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis
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View of the room during the high level panel
HRH Princess Lalla Hasna, Morocco.
Ségolène Royal, Minister of the Environment, Energy and the Sea, France
Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)
From L-R: Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General, FAO; Aziz Akhannouch, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Morocco; HRH Princess Lalla Hasna, Morocco; HSH Prince Albert II, Monaco; Ségolène Royal, Minister of the Environment, Energy and the Sea, France; and Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
HRH Princess Lalla Hasna, Morocco
HSH Prince Albert II, Monaco
HSH Prince Albert II, Monaco
Ségolène Royal, Minister of the Environment, Energy and the Sea, France
Manuel Barange, FAO
Aziz Akhannouch, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Morocco
HRH Princess Lalla Hasna, Morocco, with HSH Prince Albert II, Monaco
From L-R: Greg Stone, Conservation International; Catherine Novelli, Under Secretary of State, US; Laura Tuck, World Bank; and Premdut Koonjoo, Minister of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries, Shipping and Outer Islands, Mauritius
Catherine Novelli, Under Secretary of State, US
Laura Tuck, World Bank
Premdut Koonjoo, Minister of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries, Shipping and Outer Islands, Mauritius
Biliana Cicin-Sain, Global Ocean Forum
Greg Stone, Conservation International, speaking on behalf of Anote Tong, former President of Kiribati
Amb. Ronald Jumeau, Seychelles
Oumar Guèye, Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy, Senegal
Abdelmalek Faraj, Institut National de Recherche Halieutique, Morocco
From L-R: Hans-Otto Pörtner, Co-Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II, Alfred Wegener Institute, University of Bremen, Germany; Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission-UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (IOC-UNESCO); Christopher N. Fox, Ceres; Françoise Gail, Ocean and Climate Platform; Achmad Poernomo, Indonesia
Achmad Poernomo, Indonesia
Françoise Gail, Ocean and Climate Platform
Hans-Otto Pörtner, Co-Chair, IPCC Working Group II, Alfred Wegener Institute, University of Bremen, Germany
Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary, IOC-UNESCO
Christopher N. Fox, Ceres
Sylvie Goyet, Pacific Community
Kathy Baughman McLeod, The Nature Conservancy
Amb. Ngedikes Olai Uludong, Palau
Jacqueline McGlade, UNEP
Dina Ionesco, International Organization for Migration
Amb. Waldermar Coutts, Chile
Raffael Jovine, Founder and Chief Scientist of Algae Ltd.
Dorothee Herr, IUCN
Najlaa Diouri, Tanger Med Port
Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, WWF
Edmund Hughes, International Maritime Organization (IMO)
Eric Banel, French Shipowners' Association
Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Sustainable Energy for All
From L-R: Tiago Pitta e Cunha, Oceano Azul Foundation, Portugal; Hiroshi Terashima, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan; and Hrund Hafsteinsdóttir, Iceland
Dessima Williams, speaking on behalf of Peter Thomson, President of the UN General Assembly
Manuel Barange, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)
Naoko Ishii, Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Raphaël Cuvelier, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation