NGOs

On Friday morning, a partnership dialogue focused on enhancing the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Participants highlighted the key role of effective implementation of UNCLOS in achieving SDG 14; and challenges regarding universal participation, and uneven and ineffective implementation and enforcement. Plenary continued with the general debate; heard reports from the partnership dialogues; and adopted the conference report and the Call for Action as agreed during the intergovernmental consultations. The US: noted it did not support reference to technology transfer, reaffirming that strong protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights provides the incentives needed to foster innovation; disassociated itself from the call to accelerate work to complete World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations on fisheries subsidies with special and differential treatment for developing countries and LDCs, explaining that WTO independence must be respected; and reiterated the recent announcement of his country's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change. France welcomed the support for the Paris Agreement indicated by its ratification by a majority of the world. The Russian Federation distanced itself from language on WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies, highlighting the complexity and sensitive nature of the topic and the need to address it under the WTO. Egypt registered its reservation on language implying that invasive alien species (IAS) are due solely to human activities, noting it is factually incorrect as there are other causes, including climate change. The EU emphasized the universal and unified character of UNCLOS as the legal framework for all ocean-related activities. General Assembly President Peter Thomson, Fiji, affirmed that the conference: generated broad momentum for implementing all the SDGs; showed that ocean and climate health are “two sides of the same coin”; spurred WTO negotiators to address harmful subsidies; and emphasized the role of small-scale fisheries in sustainable blue economy. Co-President Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama, Fiji, noted that voluntary commitments doubled during the week counting: 44% of commitments from governments, 19% from NGOs, 9% from the UN and 9% from the private sector; with the highest number of commitments in the North Atlantic and South Pacific, relating to marine ecosystems, pollution and science. Co-President Isabella Lövin, Sweden, congratulated delegates, in particular Fiji, for placing the ocean at the center of the political agenda as a matter of human survival, in light of the combined pressures of marine litter, ocean acidification and overfishing. She welcomed Kenya and Portugal’s offers to host the next conference in 2020, and called for a “strong home for the ocean at the UN” and leadership by the UN Secretary-General to drive SDG 14 forward. She officially gaveled the conference to a close at 5:44 pm, following which, delegates participated in a cultural ceremony to close the conference. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has provided daily reports and daily web coverage, and has provided a summary and analysis report in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Plenary Session Luis Gilberto Murillo, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Colombia Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Union View of the dais during the plenary session Agostinho Mondlane, Minister of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries, Mozambique President Tommy Esang Remengesau, Palau Necton Mhura, Permanent Representative to the UN, Malawi Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Sven Jürgenson, Permanent Representative to the UN, Estonia Thorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture, Iceland Oumar Guèye, Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy, Senegal Peter Thomson, President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, Fiji Arthur Andambi, Rapporteur, Kenya Isabella Lövin, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate and Deputy Prime Minister, Sweden, gaveling the meeting to a close. Partnership dialogue 7: Enhancing the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Australia Florence Galletti, Director of Research, Law of the Sea and Environmental Law, French National Research Institute for Development (IRD) Biliana Cicin-Sain, President, Global Ocean Forum Prime Minister Enele Sosene Sopoaga, Tuvalu Anastasia Strati, Greece Pablo Arrocha Olabuenaga, Mexico Pennelope Althea Beckles, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Trinidad and Tobago Miguel de Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel Heraldo Muñoz, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chile Judy Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Regional Development Authorities, Kenya Hernâni Coelho, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Timor Leste Thorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture, Iceland Maxine McClean, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Barbados Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Union Michael Lodge, Secretary-General, International Seabed Authority Nohora Galvis, Director, Observatorio Pro Arrecifes, Colombia Charlotte Salpin, UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS), with Elisa Morgera, IISD Reporting Services Participants networking Around the Venue

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

The following special event was covered by ENBOTS on Wednesday, 7 June 2017: Our Oceans, Our Islands, Our Future: Partnering for implementation of SDG14 High Level Reception The following side events were covered by ENBOTS on Wednesday, 7 June 2017: Launch of the Blue Action Fund Second Annual Global Multi-stakeholder SIDS Partnership Dialogue Joining Hands to Help Achieve SDGs 6 and 14 – a Win-Win for Freshwater and Oceans Co-Designing Game-Changing Ocean Solutions for Sustainable Development Solutions to Combat Marine Litter 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 DejonFor photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Launch of the Blue Action Fund Presented by the Blue Action Fund, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development - BMZ, Government Offices of Sweden, and the KfW Development Bank Opening the event, Harald Braun, Permanent Representative of Germany to the UN, saluted the launch of the Blue Action Fund by the Government of Germany and the German national bank (KfW Development Bank). Anote Tong, former president of Kiribati, announced that Kiribati closed 200,000 km2 to fishing activities in 2015 and said the Blue Action Fund is essential to filling the financing gap in safeguarding marine biodiversity. Tania Rödiger-Vorwerk, BMZ, said the Blue Action Fund will step up action for the implementation of SDG 14, with an initial fund of €24 million. She explained that the Initiative will support national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in their efforts to conserve oceans and coastlines, by promoting: the safeguarding of marine biodiversity, through creating new protected areas and improving the management of existing ones; and the sustainable use of marine biodiversity in fisheries, aquaculture and tourism. Isabella Lövin, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate, and Deputy Prime Minister, Sweden., noted that by 2020, 60% of the world’s population will live in coastal areas. She said that by forming a network of marine protected areas (MPAs), the Blue Action Fund will enable the protection of migratory species. Lövin further stressed the need for working together with local communities, and announced that Sweden will contribute US$ 5.4 million to the Blue Action Fund. Stephan Opitz, KfW Development Bank, explained that the Blue Action Fund selection process for NGOs was designed to be lean and competitive. He said the Initiative will fund projects that: have an integrated approach, not only setting MPAs but also involving communities in the sustainable management of marine biodiversity; have a regional focus; and be scalable and transformative. Opitz added that projects will initially be funded with €1-3 million and NGOs are expected to contribute 25% of the necessary funding for their realization. In a panel discussion moderated by Carl Gustaf Lundin, IUCN, John Tanzer, WWF International, stressed the importance of regional networks. Greg Stone, Conservation International, spoke about the importance of setting long-term principles for MPAs. Gerald Miles, RARE, stressed the need to embed these sustainable use principles in social norms and ensure local communities’ buy in. Providing closing remarks, Cristián Samper, President, Wildlife Conservation Society, stressed the need for sustained investment to ensure that the partnerships created between governments, NGOs and local communities will have the desired results. Isabella Lövin, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate, and Deputy Prime Minister, Sweden., announced that Sweden will contribute US$ 5.4 million to the Blue Action Fund. Cristián Samper, President of Wildlife Conservation Society, stressed the need for sustained long-term investment. Anote Tong, former president of Kiribati, said the Blue Action Fund is essential to filling the financing gap in safeguarding marine biodiversity. Tania Rödiger-Vorwerk, BMZ, said the Blue Action Fund will step up action for the implementation of the SDG 14 with an initial fund of €24 million. Panel (L-R): Gerald Miles, RARE; Greg Stone, Conservation International; John Tanzer, WWF International; Anote Tong, former president of Kiribati; and Tania Rödiger-Vorwerk, BMZ. Contacts: PERSON_NAME (Moderator Coordinator) | EMAIL_ADDRESS PERSON_NAME (Moderator Coordinator) | EMAIL_ADDRESS PERSON_NAME (Moderator Coordinator) | EMAIL_ADDRESS More Information: www.blueactionfund.org Second Annual Global Multi-stakeholder SIDS Partnership Dialogue Presented by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and UN-OHRLLS, in consultation with the Steering Committee on Partnerships for SIDS, co-chaired by the Governments of the Maldives and Italy Sebastiano Cardi, Permanent Representative of Italy to the UN, opened the event, saying this second SIDS Partnership Dialogue aims to galvanize voluntary commitments for the implementation of SDG 14 among the SIDS partnership community. In his keynote address, Peter Thomson, President of the UN General Assembly, stressed the relevance of welcoming the SIDS Dialogue at the Ocean Conference, underscoring that partnerships for SIDS are strongly Ocean-related. He stated that SDG 14 was created by SIDS, overcoming strong opposition. Mohamed Shainee, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Maldives, highlighted that the 2014 Samoa Pathway, the blueprint for achieving sustainable development in SIDS, requires more partnerships. Silvia Velo, Italy, stressed her country’s strong partnership with SIDS and the durable and transparent relationships between equal partners, currently in place in the Samoa Pathway. Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General, DESA, remarked that the SIDS Partnership Framework is open to all member states, UN agencies and stakeholders, and stressed that dialogue five of the Ocean Conference targets SIDS specifically. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, emphasized OHRLLS actions on: developing public-private partnerships for SIDS; and strategizing on how the UN system can best coordinate on SIDS issues. A dialogue followed on the theme “Partnering with SIDS and Oceans,” moderated by Ahmed Sareer, Permanent Representative of Maldives to the UN. Henry Puna, Prime Minister, Cook Islands, announced that his country will establish a two million km2 marine park and a new 300, 000 km2 marine reserve where no commercial activity is allowed. He stressed the need to innovate for financing the costs of such actions and ensure their success. Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Minister for International Development and Pacific, Australia, highlighted the importance of defining clear Ocean jurisdiction and stressed his country’s support to Pacific SIDS in this matter under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). She announced a AUS $2 million to the SIDS Partnership Framework for the next two years. Karen Ellemann, Minister for Equal Opportunities and Nordic Cooperation, Denmark, shared examples of her country’s support to SIDS, including: the “Mangroves for the Future” project; a climate change adaptation project; and support to the Green Climate Fund. Tone Skogen, State Secretary, Norway, highlighted her country’s actions for the implementation of the FAO Port State Measures Agreement. Ngedikes Olai Uludong, Permanent Representative of Palau to the UN, spoke about the creation of a 500, 000 km2 marine sanctuary, accessible only to small fisheries. Rebecca Loustau Lalanne, Seychelles, stressed the relevance of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) and proposed Seychelles as host for its secretariat. Cristelle Pratt, Deputy-Secretary-General, Pacific Islands Forum, spoke on a review of the 300 partnerships for SIDS, saying 74 engage Pacific SIDS but 44 do not have national oversight. She called for the inclusion of partnerships in national plans. Grete Faremo, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), highlighted a water resources management programme involving six SIDS of the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Nik Sekhran, UNDP, said that UNDP committed to 77 SIDS partnerships, of which 12 are Ocean-related. Sebastiano Cardi, Permanent Representative of Italy to the UN, said the SIDS Partnership Dialogue aims to galvanize voluntary commitments for the implementation of SDG 14. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS), highlighted several actions of her Office Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Minister for International Development and Pacific, Australia, announced new financial commitments to SIDS Henry Puna, Prime Minister, Cook Islands, stressed the need to create innovative mechanisms to finance conservation actions in SIDS. Panel (L-R): Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS); Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General, DESA; Sebastiano Cardi, Permanent Representative of Italy to the UN; and Ahmed Sareer, Permanent Representative of Maldives to the UN. Contacts: Ola Göransson (Sustainable Development Officer & Partnerships Coordinator, Division for Sustainable Development, UN DESA) | goranssono@un.org Shifaana Thowfeequ (Programme Management Officer, UN-OHRLLS) | thowfeequ@un.org More Information: www.sids2014.org/partnership Joining Hands to Help Achieve SDGs 6 and 14 – a Win-Win for Freshwater and Oceans Presented by UN-Water, UN-Oceans and the Action Platform on Source-to-Sea Management (S2S Platform) Federica Pietracci, Interim Secretary, UN-Water, chaired the event. Andrew Hudson, UNDP, reviewed close linkages between SDGs 6 and 14, concluding that their ambitious targets will require transformational change. Habib El-Habr, UNEP, provided an overview of how the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) had been addressing land and ocean connections since 1995, highlighting the work of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter, Global Partnership on Nutrient Management and Global Wastewater Initiative. Angela Cordeiro Ortigara, UN World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) and UNESCO, noted that water demand is increasing annually, implying an increase in untreated wastewater production carried to the sea. She highlighted UN-Water work in improving monitoring and the recent UN-Water synthesis report on SDG 6 linkages to other SDGs. A panel discussion was moderated by Torkil Clausen, Chair, S2S Platform. Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, UN Office of Legal Affairs, discussed the work of UN-Oceans. She called for being mindful of, inter alia : the need for vertical integration linking national, regional and global actions; and linkages between SDGs 6 and 14 and climate change. Martha Rojas-Urrego, Secretary-General, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, suggested that wetlands are a good lens for looking at the linkages between SDGs 6 and 14, and noted that the Wetlands Outlook due in 2018 will report on both inland and coastal wetlands. Jack Moss, Executive Director, Aquafed, said if all wastewater was properly treated, a large portion of pollution would never reach the sea. He noted the difficulty of addressing diffuse pollution sources such as agricultural runoff. Christine Valentin, CEO, World Ocean Council (WOC), said WOC is in the process of identifying the SDGs that impact businesses associated with oceans. She urged translating the SDGs into concrete targets the business community can understand and meet. Maria van Berlekom, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), spoke about various challenges, including siloed thinking and linking national and regional actions. Birgitta Liss Lymer, UNDP-Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) Water Governance Facility and S2S Platform, underscored the need to identify incentives to the investments needed to address marine pollution’s root causes. In her capacity as chair of the UN in-house dialogue on water, Katalin Annamária Bogyay, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the UN, invited more member states, researchers and other stakeholders to join the dialogue. Martha Rojas-Urrego, Secretary-General, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, suggested wetlands are a useful lens for dealing with the linkages between SDGs 6 and 14. Andrew Hudson, UNDP, provided an overview of the linkages between SDGs 6 and 14. Ambassador Katalin Annamária Bogyay, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the UN, urged more parties to join the UN in-house dialogue on water. Angela Cordeiro Ortigara, UNESCO, discussed water quality monitoring and the 2017 Water Development Report, “Wastewater, The Untapped Resource.” Panel (L-R): Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, UN Office of Legal Affairs; Birgitta Liss Lymer, UNDP-Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) Water Governance Facility; Maria van Berlekom, SIDA; Martha Rojas-Urrego, Secretary-General, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands; Habib El-Habr, UNEP; Angela Cordeir Ortigarao, UNESCO; Andrew Hudson, UNDP; Federica Pietracci, Interim Secretary, UN-Water; and Torkil Clausen, Chair, S2S Platform. Contacts: Birgitta Liss Lymer (Stockholm International Water Institute) | birgitta.liss.lymer@siwi.org More Information: www.unwater.org www.unoceans.org www.siwi.org/what-we-do/source-to-sea/ Co-Designing Game-Changing Ocean Solutions for Sustainable Development Presented by Conservation International Moderator Aulani Wilhelm, Conservation International (CI), opened the event, welcoming participants to an “interactive session.” Highlighting that approximately 50% of matter taken from the Ocean is said to be wasted, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, former President, Iceland, spoke on technical innovation from Iceland that has shown the enormous economic opportunities to reuse and enhance the commercial value of what comes from the Ocean. He described examples from his country, including Kerecis, a company that has developed a bandage made of fish skin that can heal wounds, which has recently been taken up by the US military. Nishan Degnarain, World Bank, spoke on experiences from Mauritius, which has discovered large-scale economic opportunities around the Ocean since establishing a Ministry of Ocean Economy. He described innovative solutions that had been found to address issues such as illegal fishing, and spoke on a vision to develop an open access system to harness the aspiration of small islanders to create high-tech, sustainable fisheries. Evan Rapoport, X - The Moonshot Factory, explained his company’s innovative approach to finding creative and radical solutions for problems. He explained the “moonshot culture,” which recognizes that real solutions are more likely to come from a group of people that embrace the process of finding innovations. He further explained that bonuses are awarded to employees when they discontinue a project as a recognition that running with a bad idea is an unhelpful approach, noting that 97% of ideas they float do not make it to the second phase of the project development process. For the remainder of the session, participants brainstormed in small groups on radical project ideas for sustainable development issues, such as: solving hunger for 800 million people using a massive open online course; or solving ocean pollution of the food system using desalination. Rapoport stressed that the focus should be on the process of idea generation itself, rather than the actual output. Emerging “radical” ideas included: an autonomous car that would only drive to restaurants that used sustainably sourced food; and underwater internet that would enable young people to share underwater photos on social media to raise awareness on ocean conservation issues. In the ensuing discussion, several participants said they had found the process a useful and “inspirational” eye-opener, and others suggested the need to harness the ideas coming from the Ocean Conference through developing a space where the knowledge is integrated to lead to a “real solutions” database. Evan Rapoport, X - The Moonshot Factory, said his organization looked for people that fell in love with problems rather than their solutions. Aulani Wilhelm, CI, said her organization works to find global and local solutions to Ocean problems. Nishan Degnarain, World Bank, spoke on experiences from Mauritius. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, former President, Iceland, said his country’s recovery from the economic crisis was largely due to the commercial strength of the transformation of its fishing sector. (L-R): Evan Rapoport, X - The Moonshot Factory; Aulani Wilhelm, CI; and Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, former President, Iceland. Contacts: Aulani Wilhelm (Moderator) | awilhelm@conservation.org More Information: www.conservation.org/ocean http://mymoonshot.com/ Solutions to Combat Marine Litter Presented by the Governments of Germany and Norway This event, moderated by Lilian Busse, German Environment Agency, began with opening remarks from Jürgen Schulz, Permanent Mission of Germany to the UN. Explaining that a transition from theory to practice in terms of marine litter reduction may be possible, Schulz said the success of this transition would be “the benchmark on which we will be judged by future generations.” Gunther Adler, State Secretary for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany, underlined the last two years as crucial for sustainable development, highlighting the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and G20 Action Plan to combat marine litter. He also stressed the work done regionally through the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR) and the HELCOM on that matter. Tone Skogen, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway, spoke about the impacts of plastic pollution on the Barents Sea and on the Artic sea ice. She announced the adoption of a white paper on the place of the oceans in Norwegian foreign and development policy and an associated programme on combating marine litter and microplastics Steven Russell, American Chemistry Council, said marine litter poses an important issue for plastic manufacturers and who want to be part of the solution. He said the first thing to do was to invest in waste infrastructure management in countries where plastic use is currently exploding. He also mentioned: 65 commitments by trade associations to undertake action in their country; and a platform of plastic industry’s CEOs, committing to create common principles for recycling and waste management. Afroz Shah, UN Environment’s Champion of the Earth 2016, spoke about an event in Mumbai, which led to the cleaning of a beach with the help of hundreds of volunteers. He presented a short film, “A Date with the Ocean,” and underlined that such actions can lead to a change of mindset and are complementary to and as effective as new regulation. Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UNEP, stressed that every environmental problem has a solution and spoke of examples of success, including waste management in Rwanda and the work of the high-tech company Dell in reducing its packaging. Helge Wendenburg, Ministry for the Environment, Germany, explained his country’s efforts to convince G20 countries to adopt the Action Plan to combat marine litter and finding concrete ways to make it effective. In the ensuing discussion, participants discussed: how to replicate Germany’s and Norway’s efficient waste management policies; ways to channel financial organizations’ funds to key levels that bring broader industrial and compartmental changes; and the necessity to act every day to reduce plastic litter. Jürgen Schulz, Permanent Mission of Germany to the UN, discussed ways to transition from theory to practice in the management of marine litter. Gunther Adler, State Secretary for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany, highlighted the adoption by G20 countries of an Action Plan to combat marine litter. Afroz Shah, UNEP’s Champion of the Earth 2016, presented his work in engaging people to clean Mumbai’s beaches from litter. Lilian Busse, German Environment Agency, moderated the session. Panel (L-R): Afroz Shah, lawyer, UNEP’s Champion of the Earth 2016; Steven Russell, American Chemistry Council; Helge Wendenburg, Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany; Lilian Busse, Germany Environment Agency; and Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UNEP. Contacts: Jens-Michael Bopp (Permanent Mission of Germany to the UN) | jens-michael.bopp@diplo.de More Information: www.new-york-un.diplo.de

The following side events were covered by ENBOTS on Monday, 5 June 2017: High-level Dialogue on Oceans and Small Island States Interconnections Among the SDGs as a Force Multiplier for Implementation of SDG 14 Healers of Our Ocean: Asia-Pacific Women Leading Ocean Action to Achieve SDG 14 – How Can We Learn from Them? Ocean Health, Climate Change and Migration: Understanding the Nexus and Implications for People on the Move How Scientific Knowledge on Oceans Can Contribute to the Implementation of National Action Plans on Climate and Human-induced Changes Transitioning to the Blue Economy: Partnerships, Innovation and Approaches for Small Island States IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) Meeting Coverage, will provide daily web coverage of selected side events at the Ocean Conference. Kindly return to this site on Monday, 5 Jun 2017, for more information. Photos by IISD/ENBOTS | Francis DejonFor photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page High-level Dialogue on Oceans and Small Island States Presented by: the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), SIDS-DOCK and the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) Mohamed Shainee, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Maldives, and Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), noted that Maldives will expand the Parley partnership and, through it, make a one million km2 area in the Indian Ocean plastic-free. Sylvia Earle, Oceanographer and Explorer, Mission Blue, Sylvia Earle Alliance, stressed that “we are at a critical crossroads as actions taken now will affect the health of the planet for thousands of years.” She highlighted the unique chance in history of the current generation to take action, stating that her generation was not aware of the problem due to the lack of spatial imaginary technology. Cyrill Gutsch, Founder, Parley for the Oceans, stressed that “we have all the technology that we need to save the Ocean,” but what is needed is someone to come with the necessary strategy to leverage it for current challenges. Highlighting that almost all environmental issues are failed economic schemes, he said that the creative industries are the ones who can come with the needed innovative solutions. Jonathan Taylor, European Investment Bank (EIB), said the EIB will invest USD 100 million in loans until 2020 to fund mitigation and adaptation projects in the Caribbean. Noting that the EIB is already supporting USD 2.5 billion worth of blue economy initiatives yearly, he stressed the need to make progress on blending private and public resources to meet the financing needs for saving the Ocean. Douglas Frantz, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), said the blue economy is the “blue bullet” needed to save the Ocean, requiring innovative investments and expertise from many different fields. He noted that the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee is giving “high priority” to reviewing the graduating conditions of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Middle Income Countries (MICs) and that the OECD will expand its work on biodiversity and ecosystems. Nishan Degnarain, World Economic Forum (WEF), introduced the “Tuna Traceability Declaration,” launched today, in which leaders of the world’s biggest retailers, tuna processors, marketers, traders and harvesters, with the support of civil society organizations and governments, pledge that, by 2020, all tuna products in their supply chains will be fully traceable to the vessel and trip dates, and that this information will be disclosed upon request at the point of sale either on the packaging or via an online system. In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia, the problem of reduced access to concessional funding caused by SIDS graduation and the need for a comprehensive assessment of the UN development system’s support to SIDS. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN OHRLLS) welcomed the participants. Mohamed Shainee, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Maldives, and Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), higlighted the positive impacts of the Maldives expansion of the Parley partnership. Douglas Frantz, OECD, said the OECD will expand its work on biodiversity and ecosystems. Contacts: Louise Stoddard (Public Information Officer UN-OHRLLS) | stoddard@un.org More Information: http://unohrlls.org/event/high-level-dialogue-oceans-small-island-states/ Interconnections Among the SDGs as a Force Multiplier for Implementation of SDG 14 Presented by: International Council for Science (ICSU), in partnership with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS), Future Earth Ocean Knowledge Action Network, and the Cluster of Excellence “The Future Ocean” Douglas McCauley, University of California, noted that the first point of connectivity of SDG 14 is SDG 8 (economic growth), and explained that if the Ocean was an economy it would be the 7th economy in the world, at USD 24 trillion. He also presented examples of strong connections with SDGs 2 (on hunger), 1 (on poverty), 13 (on climate change), 7 (on energy), and 15 (on biodiversity). Stefanie Schmidt, IASS, spoke about challenges that appear in SDG implementation because the interlinkages between the goals are not mentioned in their targets and there is no guidance on how to effectively tackle them. She said her research shows strong connections between SDG 14 and SDGs 1, 2, 8, 13, 11 (on cities) and 12 (on sustainable consumption and production). David Obura, Coastal Oceans Research and Development – Indian Ocean (CORDIO) East Africa, identified several key action areas with regards to the interconnections between SDG 14 and the other SDGs, including: ensuring the sustainability of small-scale and artisanal fisheries and agriculture (related to SDGs 2 and 12); transitioning to a carbon-neutral environment (related to SDG 13); implementing integrated Ocean planning and management (related to SDG 8); and investing in social capital as pathway to future prosperity (related to SDG 5 on gender equality, SDG 3 on health, and SDG 4 on education). Leopoldo Cavaleri Gerhardinger, University of the Region of Joinville, Brazil, spoke about the importance of mobilizing non-state networks related to fisheries, marine protected areas and integrated coastal management to support an integrative approach to SDG 14’s implementation. He called for connecting transformative actions into coherent narratives and testing strategic advice derived from theories of transformative agency to promote regime shifts in Ocean governance systems. In the ensuing discussion, participants raised issues related to, inter alia: the importance of spreading the word on the interlinkages between SDG 14 and the other SDGs to advance the Ocean agenda; the need to set a governance review framework and a follow-up strategy on SDG 14; the importance of regional partnerships to address transboundary issues; and using the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) as a follow-up fora on SDG interconnectivity. Stefanie Schmidt, IASS, highlighted the need for a refined assessment of the interlinkages and tradeoffs between the SDGs. Douglas McCauley, University of California, stressed that “our faith is intrinsically linked with the faith of oceans.” Participants underscored the need to set a governance review framework and a follow-up strategy on SDG 14. Contacts: Denise Young (Head of Communications, International Council for Science) | denise.young@icsu.org More Information: https://www.icsu.org/events/interconnections-among-the-sdgs-as-a-force-multiplier-for-implementation-of-sdg14 Healers of Our Ocean: Asia-Pacific Women Leading Ocean Action to Achieve SDG 14 – How Can We Learn from Them? Presented by: World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), UN Environment, and partners This event was moderated by Tiffany Straza, UN Environment, who stressed that Ocean management without women will not work, and invited participants to share lessons and strategies on how women’s inclusion can create more effective ocean management for all. She urged everyone to visit the profiles of women leaders on the “Ocean Healers” page of the SPREP website. Karolina Skog, Minister for the Environment, Sweden, emphasized Sweden’s commitment to gender equality in all SDGs implementation. She highlighted: the need to consider how land actions affect Ocean health; the importance of women having an equal part in decision-making on sustainable development, whether on land or in oceans; and the importance of "Ocean Literacy" to SDG 14 implementation. Cristelle Pratt, Deputy Secretary-General, Pacific Islands Forum, said the involvement of women is essential to implementing SDG 14, and this principle is enshrined in the Ocean management instruments of the Pacific region. She noted the Pacific Ocean Alliance facilitated by the Pacific Ocean Commissioner and urged everyone interested in oceans to join it. Tarusila Veibi, Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area (FLMMA) Network, discussed her role as the sole female representative for her province on a resource committee. She highlighted local success stories in protecting mangrove habitats and in promoting sustainable fishing practices and alternative sustainable livelihoods. Rindah Melsen, President, Nusatuva Women’s Savings Club, Solomon Islands, spoke on the importance of fisheries to island livelihoods and food security, the role women play, and how her community savings club encourages women and girls to explore alternative sources of income and livelihood. Wendy Watson-Wright, CEO, Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI), Canada, discussed the importance of creating female heros, or “she-ros,” and OFI's efforts to promote greater female participation in ocean research and management. Carol Phua, WWF-Netherlands, introduced the “Ocean Witness” initiative seeking to amplify and empower the voices of people experiencing first-hand the changes to the Ocean. In the ensuing discussion, participants discussed, inter alia: the importance of incorporating gender dimensions in all Ocean Conference discussions and partnership dialogues; the need for strengthening “Southern” civil society organizations so they can take up the promotion of gender equity; the importance of addressing the special challenges facing indigenous women leaders; and the launch of a “Women for Oceans” global platform to support women involved in ocean management. Panel (L-R): Tiffany Straza, UN Environment; Cristelle Pratt, Pacific Islands Forum; Karolina Skog, Minister for the Environment, Sweden; Rindah Melsen, President, Nusatuva Women’s Saving Club, Solomon Islands; Wendy Watson-Wright, CEO, Ocean Frontier Institute, Canada; Tarusila Veibi, FLMMA Network; and Carol Phua, WWF-Netherlands. Karolina Skog, Minister for the Environment, Sweden, said women should have an equal part in decision-making on sustainable development, whether regarding land actions or the oceans. Cristelle Pratt, Deputy Secretary General, Pacific Islands Forum, said oceans management represents significant economic and leadership opportunities for women. Tarusila Veibi, FLMMA Network, discussed being the only woman presenting her province on a resources committee, and her role in helping organizing protection of mangroves habitats and promoting sustainable fishing practices. Carol Phua, WWF-Netherlands, introduced the launch of the “Ocean Witness” initiative seeking to amplify and empower the voices of people experiencing first hand the changes to the ocean. Contacts: Tiffany Straza (UN Environment) | tstraza@gmail.com Alfred Ralifo (WWF) | aralifo@wwfpacific.org More Information: www.sprep.org/pacific-voyage-un-ocean-conference-2017/ocean-healers http://oceanwitness.org/ Ocean Health, Climate Change and Migration: Understanding the Nexus and Implications for People on the Move Presented by: International Organization for Migration (IOM) and World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) This session, moderated by Rosiland Jordan, Al Jazeera, discussed the interlinkages between Ocean, migration and climate change. Opening the session, Ashraf El Nour, Director, IOM Office to the UN, said that meeting on World Environment Day was an important opportunity to voice concern about threats facing the Ocean. Naipote Katonitabua, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, Fiji, spoke on the threats to oceans and coastal communities, including loss of livelihood linked to sea level rises, coastal erosion and others. He spoke on various phenomena that impact the migration of communities, giving the example of fishermen migrating inland, and natural disasters that displace many each year. Luis Oña Garcés, Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the UN, stressed the fundamental role of the Ocean in many key societal issues, including development, poverty eradication and food security. He stated the critical need to bring the human dimension to the debates, noting the risks to the survival of many societies as well as to the biological support system of the planet. Jean Edmond Randrianantenaina, Director General, Regional Maritime Information Fusion Center (RMIFC), Madagascar, stressed Madagascar’s strong dependence on maritime issues, since 41% of the land is coastal and 65% of the population lives in coastal areas. He spoke on Madagascar’s Ocean, climate change and mitigation initiatives, noting that more work needed to be done to improve data collection for interaction between these interlinked themes. Françoise Gaill, Ocean and Climate Platform, underscored the importance of interdisciplinary methods. She called for a two-step approach to first understand the Ocean system, to then develop tools to predict and identify impacts on ecosystems and their resulting economic and human consequences, among others. Stating the estimated USD 24 trillion value of Ocean assets, John Tanzer, WWF, said that while you cannot reduce the Ocean’s value to a monetary figure, it does have economic importance. He cautioned that this economic value of Ocean assets is declining, explaining the resulting negative impacts on those dependent on it. Mariam Traore Chazalnoel, IOM, spoke on her organization’s work on the Ocean dimensions of migration, underscoring that 220 million people currently live in coastal areas of the world and may be threatened by displacement due to future coastal erosion. She explained work on responses to this threat, including to help populations stay where they are, through disaster risk reduction management and climate change adaptation. John Tanzer, WWF, said the destruction of coral reefs is real and rapid, underscoring that those depending on that ecosystem are very exposed. Françoise Gaill, Ocean and Climate Platform, discussed the role of the research community in environmental sustainability and migration issues. Jean Edmond Randrianantenaina, RMIFC, Madagascar, said that Madagascar is already experiencing internal displacement of its population due to climate change impacts on the Ocean. Ashraf El Nour, Director, IOM Office to the UN, drew attention to the importance of the climate change, migration and ocean nexus, and called for innovative and integrated approaches to these issues, both at the national level and at the UN level. Panel (L-R): Luis Oña Garcés, Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the UN; Ashraf El Nour, Director, IOM Office to the UN; Jean Edmond Randrianantenaina, Director General, RMIFC, Madagascar; John Tanzer, WWF; Rosiland Jordan, Al Jazeera; and Françoise Gaill, Ocean and Climate Platform. Contacts: Lanna Walsh (IOM) | lwalsh@iom.int More Information: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents /15218Ocean_Conference___Side_Event_on_Oceans_and_Migration_Concept_Note_05_June_2017_FINAL.pdf How Scientific Knowledge on Oceans Can Contribute to the Implementation of National Action Plans on Climate and Human-induced Changes Presented by: Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Governments of the Dominican Republic and Argentina, and the Cousteau Society This event, moderated by Jessica Faieta, Assistant Secretary-General and Director, Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, UNDP, focused on current scientific knowledge on oceans to identify knowledge gaps and contribute towards national action plans on climate and human induced changes in the oceans. Francisco Domínguez Brito, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Dominican Republic, stressed the specific challenge of understanding what is happening in the ocean compared to terrestrial ecosystems. Noting that his country is among the 10 countries most affected by climate change, he outlined areas of particular importance for his country, including overfishing by local and foreign actors and plastic pollution. Diego Moreno, Vice Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Argentina, presented three policy tools: the Pampa Azul Initiative, which aims to produce more knowledge regarding the Argentine Sea; a marine spatial planning tool designed to share information from all activity sectors; and the national system of protected areas. Alberto Piola, Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), stressed the exceptional productivity of the Southern Ocean. He highlighted the project’s goals to: understand exchange processes between marine costal ecosystems and the deep ocean; characterize the temporal scales of variability of these processes; and build interdisciplinary bridges for that understanding. Jose Muelbert, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande and IAI, highlighted the need to better understand ecosystem functioning, especially regarding ocean acidification and processes leading to dead zones. He stressed that “we cannot manage what we do not observe” and outlined three needs: enhance science on the way climate change impacts oceans; improve technological development regarding ecosystem management; and enhance planning and strategic cooperation between countries. Rebecca Klaus, Cousteau Society, presented tools to support ecosystem-based management. She stressed the need to improve the way we communicate the data we have and the particular importance of realistic indicators for policy makers. Nik Sekhran, UNDP, highlighted that three main challenges facing oceans are unsustainable fisheries, climate change, and plastic accumulation. He pointed to two actions by UNDP in that domain: to demystify Ocean science for better incorporation into policy and to build capacity, notably in working on transboundary assessments and on finding solutions collectively. In the ensuing discussion, participants considered means of improving international cooperation and the role of business for enhancing capacity, notably through industry clusters. Jessica Faieta, UNDP, said the deadline for SDG 14 is 2020 and 2025, not 2030, and that is why it is one of the first conferences on the SDGs. Francisco Domínguez Brito, Environment Minister, Dominican Republic, said that, due to climate change, there is desertification in the oceans too but the difference is that we cannot see it. Alberto Piola, IAI, stressed that the Southern Ocean is among the most productive of the global oceans. Rebecca Klaus, the Cousteau Society, stressed the need for better communicating the knowledge we have and for developing tools for poor countries in order to influence the policy-making process and inform society. Diego Moreno, Argentina, stressed the huge potential of the Argentine Sea and the need to protect its resources. Jose Muelbert, IAI, presented on how science can be useful for policy makers and the societies that rely on the ocean. Panel (L-R): Ione Anderson, IAI; Diego Moreno, Vice Minister, National Secretary of Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Argentina; Jessica Faieta, Director, Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, UNDP; Nik Sekhran, UN Development Programme (UNDP); Francisco Domínguez Brito, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Dominican Republic; Alberto Piola, IAI; Rebecca Klaus, Cousteau Society; and Jose Muelbert, IAI. Contacts: Ione Anderson (UN Liaison Officer, Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research) | ianderson@dir.iai.int Renata Rubian (United Nations Development Programme) | renata.rubian@undp.org More Information: www.iai.int Transitioning to the Blue Economy: Partnerships, Innovation and Approaches for Small Island States Presented by: the Governments of Grenada and Cabo Verde, The Nature Conservancy, and the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Partners: The Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, The Nordic Council, OECD, UNDP, FAO, and the World Bank Small States Forum. Árni Mathiesen, Assistant Director General, FAO, opened the event that was moderated by Angus Friday, Ambassador to the US and Mexico and Permanent Representative of the Organization of American States. José da Silva Goncalves, Minister of Economy and Employment, Cabo Verde, stressed the importance of the blue economy for SIDS, highlighting the potential for his country in tourism, renewable energy, water provision and fisheries. Keisha McGuire, Permanent Representative of Grenada to the UN, highlighted various collaborations in place for building a blue economy in Grenada, including with the Netherlands, and the World Bank. Douglas Frantz, Deputy Secretary-General, OECD, spoke on the opportunities for a blue economy, stressing the role of the OECD in bringing a multistakeholder and evidence-based approach to this economy. Hans Hogeveen, the Netherlands. stressed the need for innovation and partnerships with the private sector and NGOs, leading to a blue economy that brings sustainable growth, inclusion and social equity. Speaking on innovation in finance, Kathy McLeod, The Nature Conservancy, gave an example of wave attenuation by mangroves and coral reefs, explaining how economic value can be created from these natural services. David Robin, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, presented the OECS’ framework for fisheries governance, based on an inclusive and multistakeholder approach, stressing that Ocean resources are the last frontier for a self-reliant development for Eastern Caribbean States. Geir Oddsson, Nordic Council of Ministers, underscored the importance of telling success stories on how to create revenues from oceans resources. He also stressed that the Nordic Council was particularly dedicated to addressing plastic pollution and criminality in fisheries. Carlos Rocha, Cabo Verde, cited several axes of progress towards a blue economy, including integrated management of resources and resilient ecosystem management. Patrick Gomes, Secretary General, African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, stressed the importance of bringing the problem of harmful subsidies to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to ensure that overfishing is no longer perpetuated at the expense of SIDS countries. John Virdin, Duke University, highlighted the importance of small-scale fisheries as the largest employer in the blue economy, and the need to reinforce them. Doreen Kibuka-Musoke, World Bank Group, presented the priority areas of the Small States Secretariat, based on the necessities of job creation and attracting investment. Spencer Thomas, Grenada, underlined that the transition to a blue economy is a transformation from a fossil-fuel economy, and that issues of communication and capacity building are critical for SIDS. Tumi Tómasson, UN University, announced commitment assistance to SIDS through a transdisciplinary fisheries training programme that formed 350 fellows, among them 65 from SIDS. In closing remarks, Dessima Williams, Special Adviser on SDGs to the President of the UN General Assembly, stressed the importance of discussions around SDG 14 as a push for all other SDGs and the central role for the register of voluntary commitments. Kathy McLeod, The Nature Conservancy, said that coral reefs and mangrove are critical for wave attenuation and must be monetizised. Hans Hogeveen, the Netherlands, said that we need a paradigm shift for the blue economy, with the private sector and NGOs at the forefront of its implementation. Doreen Kibuka-Musoke, the World Bank Group, said that they consolidated seven priority action areas for a blue economy in Grenada. Panel (L-R): Douglas Frantz, OECD; Árni Mathiesen, FAO; Keisha McGuire, Grenada; José da Silva Goncalves, Cabo Verde; Hans Hogeveen, the Netherlands; and Angus Friday, Grenada. Contacts: Safiya Sawney (Coordinator) | safiya@bluegrowth.org Jorge Barbosa (Coordinator) | jgbarbos@gmail.com More Information: www.bluegrowth.org

The Bonn Climate Change Conference met for its final day on Thursday, 18 May. In the morning, the closing plenary for the forty-sixth session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 46) convened and suspended. The SBSTA gaveled to a close at 7:54pm. In the afternoon, the forty-sixth session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 46) convened. Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, incoming COP 23 President, Fiji, addressed the plenary, underscoring that “those who are most vulnerable must be heard” and stated that COP 23 will forge a coalition to uphold and advance the Paris Agreement. The SBI took several decisions and then suspended. The SBI gaveled to a close at 7:37pm. In the late afternoon, the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA 1-3) contact group met and continued to work into the evening. Saying "the clock is ticking," APA Co-Chair Sarah Baashan (Saudi Arabia) suspended APA 1-3 at 9:29pm. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided digital coverage, daily reports and a summary and analysis report from the Bonn Climate Change Conference - May 2017. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page High-Level Meetings with the Prime Minister of Fiji A roundtable discussion between the incoming COP 23 / CMP 13 Presidency and the COP 22 / CMP 12 Presidency Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, Fiji, and incoming COP 23 / CMP 13 President UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa  A roundtable discussion is held with the Prime Minister of Fiji and the COP 22 / CMP 12 Presidency Inia Seruiratu, Minister of Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, and High-Level Climate Champion, Fiji; and Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, Fiji, and incoming COP 23 / CMP 13 President Nazhat Shameem Khan, Fiji, incoming COP 23 / CMP 13 Presidency; Aziz Mekouar, Morocco, COP 22 / CMP 12 Presidency; and Hamza Tber, Morocco COP 22 / CMP 12 Presidency Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) Plenary View of the dais during the SBSTA closing plenary SBSTA Chair Carlos Fuller, Belize Victor Kabengele Wa Kadilu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo Jesus Guerra Bell, Cuba, speaking on behalf of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) Juan Carlos Arredondo Brun, Mexico, speaking on behalf of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) Abdullah K. Tawlah, Saudi Arabia Catherine Stewart, Canada Kay Harrison, New Zealand Marilyn Averill, Research and Independent NGOs (RINGOs) Côme Girschig, Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs) Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Indigenous Peoples Deborah Mugerwa Nalwanga, Women and Gender Eddy Pérez, Climate Action Network (CAN), speaking on behalf of Environmental NGOs (ENGOs) Rachel Kennerley, Friends of the Earth International, speaking on behalf of ENGOs Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) Closing Plenary Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, Fiji, arrives at the plenary Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, Fiji SBI Chair Tomasz Chruszczow, Poland View of the dais during the SBI plenary Bernarditas Muller, Philippines, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Trigg Talley, US Oleg Shamanov, Russian Federation Mamadou Honadia, Burkino Faso Ghalia Benziouche, Algeria Mohamed Nasr, Egypt Delegates huddle to discuss a way forward with SBI conclusions Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) Closing Plenary The draft APA negotiating text is distributed to delegates Delegates from the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) SBSTA Chair Carlos Fuller, Belize, and Kishan Kumarsingh, Trinidad and Tobago APA Co-Chair Jo Tyndall, New Zealand Ian Fry, Ethiopia, speaking on behalf of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Xolisa Ngwadla, South Africa, speaking on behalf of the African Group Henrik Eriksen, Norway Nicole Wilke, EU Amjad Abdulla, Maldives Reinaldo Salgado, Brazil Franz Perrez, Switzerland, speaking on behalf of the EIG Around the Venue Delegates from Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay Nazhat Shameem Khan, Fiji, incoming COP 23 / CMP 13 Presidency Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, Fiji, and incoming COP 23 / CMP 13 President Horacio Peluffo, UNFCCC Secretariat; Aziz Mekouar, Morocco, COP 22 / CMP 12 Presidency; and Hamza Tber, Morocco, COP 22 / CMP 12 Presidency Delegates from South Sudan Delegates from Botswana Delegates from Sudan Delegates from The Gambia Chebet Maikut, Uganda Collin Beck, Solomon Islands Delegates speak informally The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) team covering the negotiations: Claudia Friedrich, Germany; Aaron Cosbey, Canada; Rishikesh Ram Bhandary, Nepal/US; Annelies Van Gaalen, South Africa; Jen Allan, Canada; Alice Bisiaux, France/Spain; Mari Luomi, Finland/UAE; Beate Antonich, Germany/US; and Kiara Worth, South Africa