UNCED

1
UNCED

• MS201 Introduction to Ocean Resources Management

2
Learning Outcomes

• Understand
• - why UNCED came into being,
• - the outcomes of UNCED and their implications,
• - issues associated with implementation of
  UNCED outcomes,
• - what the PICs wanted gained from UNCED
  process.

3
Lecture series

• Lect 1 Background on UNCED (history, purpose
  relationship with LOSC)
• UNCED Outcomes implications
• - Agenda 21 etc etc
• Lect 2 Implementation of UNCED outcomes
• SIDS, Barbados Plan of Action
  
• Strategies
• Lect 3 WSSD outcomes implications

4
Lect 1 UNCED (history, purpose, relationship
with LOSC outcomes)

• 1. Introduction
• LOSC provided a framework for management of
  almost every aspect of ocean use.
• But lacks to detail management arrangements on
  certain important issues (e.g. environmental
  management highly migratory species management).

5
Contd

• LOSC also do not anticipate issues such as
  climate change from green house gas emissions.
• The above together with irresponsible use of
  resources, degradation of environment,
  over-exploitation of resources poor governance
  calls for international action.
• The response by international community was the
  1992 UNCED

6
Contd

• 2. Comparison of UNCED LOSC
• UNCED and its outcomes for the oceans are based
  on LOSC.
• LOSC
• - concerned with delineating national
  sovereign rights
• - zoning of the oceans that balances access
  rights and enforcement rights

7
Contd

• UNCED
• - less about sovereign rights
• - more about ecosystem environmental
  management responsibilities of states stake
  holders
• - holistic in approach (focus on the whole
  not on parts)
• - requires integrated management,
  precautionary, and SD.

8
UNCED (Contd)

• 3. UNCED and its main areas of focus
• Took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992
  to consider issues arising from
• - 1972 Stockholm Convention, and
• - 1987 Brudtland Commission report Our Common
  Future
• The main issues are
• Population rise in coastal areas, high
  demands, and
• pressure on marine resources

9
Contd

• Poverty Threat to environment marine
  resources.
• Climate change Increase in level of atmospheric
  carbon dioxide result in global warming.
• Loss of biodiversity increase in rate of
  species extinction loss habitat, loss of
  genetic, species ecosystem diversity

10
Contd

• Industrial pollution waste management
• - Depletion of ozone layer in Antartic Artic
  due to CFCs (from aerosol refrigerants).
• Poor water quality Discharges, nuclear waste.
• UNCED sets a global agenda of concrete actions
  that could be subsequently implemented by
  nations.
• UNCED outcomes requires a principled approach to
  environmental issues by states.

11
Contd

• 4. Issues that PICs wanted addressed in UNCED
• Based on country reports of SPREP member
  countries (Environment and Development PIs
  Perspective).
• Contribute towards making sustainable
  development in the region a reality.

12
Contd

• Report promote profile of PICs at international
  level and ensure that PICs concerns are not
  overlooked in UNCED decision making.
• Fourteen (14) main issues
• Climate change and sea level rise
• Population

13
Contd

• Economic potential, unemployment poverty
• Environmental health,
• Education and public awareness,
• Increased dependent on global economy,
• Energy,
• Wastes, toxic and hazardous substance,
• Sustainable coastal and living marine resource
  development,
• Biological diversity,
• Sustainable management of fresh water resources,
• Deterioration of traditional systems.

14
Contd

• Although, only two issues contain the words sea
  and marine, the others all have a marine
  dimension in the context of PICs marine
  environment is prominent.
• Population is seen as the driving force behind
  the concerns about the other issues.
• These issues are consistent with those issues
  raised in Stockholm Convention Brundtland
  report thus well addressed in UNCED decision
  making.

15
Part 2 OUTCOMES OF UNCED THEIR IMPLICATIONS

• Generally, nations agreed that the following
  issues are threats to global environment
• Poverty,
• High population growth, and
• Unsustainable patterns of production
• consumption.
• The goal set by nations to achieve at local level
  is sustainable development defined as
• development that meets needs of present
  without compromising ability of future
  generations to meet their own needs

16
Contd

• Principal outcomes of UNCED are summarized below
• A) Agenda 21
• - Endorsed by UN General Assembly as plan of
  action for development in 21st Century,
• - It is binding to the extent that it is a UN
  resolution,
• - Represent commitment of the international
  community to address environmental issues
  through a common approach,
• - Provides blueprint for securing sustainable
  future of all nations

17
Areas of emphasis in Agenda 21

• A) Social and economic dimensions
• Combating poverty
• Changing production and consumption patterns
• Protecting and promoting human health
• Promoting sustainable human settlement
• Integrating environment and development decision
  making

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• B) Conservation and management of resources for
  development
• Protecting the atmosphere
• Integrated planning and management of natural
  resources
• Combating deforestation
• Managing fragile ecosystems
• Promoting sustainable resource development
• Conservation of biological diversity

19
Contd

• Protection of oceans
• Protect water quality
• Management of toxic chemicals hazardous waste
• Management of solid wastes
• Management of radioactive wastes

20
Contd

• C) Strengthen the role of major groups
• Involve women in development
• Engage indigenous communities
• Engage NGOs
• Emphasise local initiatives
• Involve workers and trade unions
• Engage private sector
• Involve scientific and technological community
• Strengthen the role of resource owners users

21
Contd

• Means of implementation
• Financial resources and mechanisms
• Transfer of environmentally sound technology
• Cooperation and capacity building
• Science for sustainable development
• Promote education, public awareness and training
• Cooperation in developing countries
• International institutional arrangements
• Information for decision making

22
Contd

• Comprises of 40 Chapters and Chapter 17 is
  relevant to the course and comprises of 7 major
  programs
• Integrated management and sustainable
  development of coastal areas EEZ,
• Marine environmental protection,
• Sustainable use and conservation of LMR in
  high seas
• areas of national jurisdictions,

23
Contd

• Addressing critical uncertainties for
  management of marine environment resources,
• Strengthen international and regional
  cooperation,
• Sustainable development of SIDS.
• Chapter 17 is the link-pin between UNCLOS and
  UNCED it depends on legal framework of LOSC.
• Chpt 17 is the basis for UNIA FAO Code of
  Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

24
Contd

• B) Rio Declaration on Environment Development
• Series of principles (27) defining the rights
  responsibilities of States
• - Human beings are the centre of concerns for
  development
• - Precautionary approach
• - Poverty eradication
• - Sustainable use of resources
• - Participation of women in SD
• - Special needs of developing countries given
  priority
• - Strengthen cooperation and partnership in
  conservation and protection of ecosystems.
• - Integrated management approach

25
Contd

• C. Framework Convention on climate change
  (UNFCCC)
• Main features
• Study of ocean/atmosphere interactions poorly
  understood
• Understand the capacity of oceans to absorb
  carbon dioxide and their contributions of carbon
  dioxide fundamental to understanding climate
  change.
• Encourages the need to understand the impact of
  evaporation on greenhouse effect.
• Strengthen international cooperation, human
  resources development and infrastructure in
  developing countries.
• Developed countries to provide financial
  assistance and technology transfer,
• Arbitration for settling disputes.

26
Contd

• D) Conference on straddling and highly migratory
  stocks
• Features
• Build upon Article 63 64 of the LOSC
  (unfinished business),
• To ensure long-term conservation and
  sustainable use of straddling highly migratory
  species,
• Promote conservation management of
  resources through cooperation,
• Adopt apply precautionary approach
• Protection of biodiversity,
• Focus on compliance enforcement of high
  seas fisheries,

27
Contd

• Compatibility of management measures within
  national jurisdiction and the high seas,
• Involvement of Port and Flag States in compliance
  enforcement,
• System of dispute settlement,
• Special requirements of SIDS,
• Sustainable use of resources by using selective
  environmentally safe cost effective gears and
  techniques (prevent pollution, waste discards
  etc),
• Collect, share and exchange information.

28
Contd

• E) Global Convention on Biological Diversity
• Features
• - Ensure conservation of biological diversity by
  minimizing threats from water pollution,
  over-fishing, coastal development, habitat
  destruction,
• - Establish a system of protected areas
  and to effectively manage such areas,
• - Promote sustainable and fair and equitable
  sharing of resources,
• - Technical financial assistance to SIDS to
  fulfill obligations under convention.

29
Contd

• F) UN Commission on Sustainable Development
  (UNCSD)
• Features
• - Ensure effective monitoring follow-up of
  UNCED outcomes,
• - Monitor and report on implementation UNCED
  Agreements,
• - First 5 year review of UNCED was carried out
  in 1997, 10 year review (WSSD) was undertaken
  in 2002 in Johannesburg.
• UNCED process contribute quite significantly in
  restructuring the UN administrative system.

30
Contd

• What did PICs obtained from UNCED
• Despite competing interest represented at the
  Earth Summit the following are the general
  consensus which are beneficial to PICs
• Industrialized nations to change their
  economies lifestyle to those that consumes
  fewer resources and produce less pollution
• Less developed nations to industrialize
  with more care, reduce destructive practices of
  resources utilization, and reduce birth rates

31
Contd

• Developed countries to provide funding, share
  information and transfer appropriate technologies
  to developing countries
• Barbados plan of action strategies for SIDS,
• Through a number of international, regional
  sub-regional conventions instruments (UNIA,
  WPFC, CBD, FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible
  Fisheries etc, climate change issues)

32
Part 3 Implementation of UNCED outcomes their
implications

• Although the road from Rio will be much harder
  than the road to Rio, a number of achievements
  have been made since UNCED in 1992
• a) International Level
• - Signing of two Conventions (CBD UNFCCC), and
  a number of non-binding agreements (FAO Code of
  Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, Agenda 21
  (Chpt 17),

33
Contd

• - UN Commission for Sustainable Development,
• - UNIA on conservation of straddling highly
  migratory stocks in high seas,
• - Conference to address problems of SIDS held
  in 1994 in Barbados Barbados Declaration
  Action Prog.

34
Contd

• b) Pacific Island or national level
• Implementation of international norms through
  exercise of sovereignty (e.g. power to make laws
  to control resources),
• Establishment of institutional arrangements,
• Through Barbados Declaration Program of Action
  (specific guidance for implementation by SIDS),
• Lack of capacity, finance and political will is
  a problem for implementation of outcomes in PICs.

35
Sustainable Development of SIDS

• Sustainable development of SIDS is one of the
  programs under Chpt 17 of Agenda 21 and is based
  on following considerations
• Ecologically fragile and vulnerable (small
  size, limited resources, isolated),
• Large number of unique species of flora
  fauna thus high biological diversity,

36
Contd

• Vulnerable to global warming and sea level
  rise,
• Frequency and vulnerable to natural
  disasters (cyclone, tsunamis, storm surges),
• Limited development options.

37
Barbados Declaration Program of Action (BPoA)

• The above are the outcomes of UN Conference on
  Sustainable Development for SIDS, Barbados, 1994,
• Declaration
• People and culture are important asset,
• SD must enhance livelihood of people,
• Gender equity and greater involvement of
• women
• SIDS highly vulnerable to natural
• disasters,

38
Contd

• SIDS biodiversity is threatened,
• SIDS contribute least to climate change sea
  level rise but suffer most,
• Control waste management, pollution
• hazardous waste,
• Strengthen HRD, and administrative capacity to
  implement PBoA

39
Contd

• B) BPoA
• Program of Action deals with SIDS in a holistic
  way, and not on a specific way,
• Specifies measures to be taken at national,
  regional international level to address issues
  of concern,

40
Contd

• Specifies strategies to enhance regional, and
  sub-regional cooperation on the 14 subject areas
  covered by the Program,
• 41 small island states are involved in
  implementation of BPoA they work together
  through AOSIS.

41
Contd

• Priority areas covered by BPoA
• Climate change sea level rise,
• Natural environment disasters,
• Waste management,
• Coastal marine resources,

42
Contd

• Fresh water land resources,
• Energy tourism resources,
• Biodiversity resources,
• Institutional administrative capacity,
• Transport communications,
• Human resource development,
• Science technology, regional institutions

43
Contd

• SIDS problems are not too different with those of
  developed countries, but their impact level of
  priority are different.
• Vulnerability is another issue where there are
  differences in terms of impact priority
  (special treatment).

44
Contd

• SIDS Secretariat
• Provides support on monitoring, review
  coordination of implementation of BPoA,
• Act as liaison focal point for SIDS
  agencies of UN system.

45
Contd

• Strategies taken by SIDS to support BPoA
• Formulate and implement policies aimed at
  improving their quality of life,
• Promote concept/principles of sustainable
  development,
• Institution strengthening and capacity building,

46
Contd

• Encourage partnership sharing of information
  and technology,
• Encourage support by developed countries in
  implementation of Program of Action,
• Reduce eliminate unsustainable patterns of
  production consumption,

47
Contd

• Lack of funds and commitment hinder the
  implementation of BPoA Strategies.
• The burden of making progress in implementing
  UNCED outcomes and BPoA in region falls into
  following areas
• SIDS to improve their governance
  arrangements, by focusing on areas of BPoA

48
Contd

• International Community provide assistance to
  help SIDS in areas where there is lack of
  capacity,
• Encourage strengthen political will
  commitment,
• Involvement of NGOs private sector.

49
Conclusion

• UNCED is not a universal solution to
  environmental problems, it is only the beginning
  of States attempt to cooperate and follow a
  harmonized principled approach to environmental
  issues.
• THE ROAD FROM RIO WILL BE MUCH HARDER THAN THE
  ROAD TO RIO

50
Part 4 WSSD Regional Ocean Policy

• World Summit on Sustainable Development
• Held in Johannesburg, SA, 2002 with a theme
  People
• Planet Prosperity and focused on
• - natural resources environmental
  conservation,
• - social development,
• - poverty eradication.
• Purpose
• - Review the implementation of UNCED outcomes,
  10 years after inception. It is an implementation
  focused summit,
• - To re-focus and re-commit the international
  community to UNCED outcomes in order to achieve
  SD (focus of WSSD),
• - Implementation Plan concrete
  practical actions, targets time table to
  achieve SD (plan guides development, financial
  investment decisions).

51
Contd

• Outcomes of WSSD
• 3 primary outcomes
• - Johannesburg Declaration on SD,
• - Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,
• - Type 2 Partnership Initiative
• Commitments by Govt stakeholders to
  develop partnership initiatives that will
  contribute to achieving SD at international,
  regional
• national level

52
Contd

• b) Key operational outcomes
• Reaffirm SD as a central focus for development
  and gave new impetus to global action to achieve
  SD
• Broaden understanding of SD, in particular
  linkages between poverty, environment use of
  natural resources
• Establish targets for action to achieve SD
• Energy and sanitation issues were given more
  recognition
• Establish fund for poverty eradication,
• Recognition of need for more involvement of civil
  society in SD processes
• Partnership initiatives between govt, businesses
  civil society

53
Contd

• Key targets, commitments time tables
• Poverty eradication
• Water sanitation
• Sustainable use of resources
• Energy
• Management of natural resource base
• - Oceans fisheries
• 2010 EBM approach application
• 2015 Restore depleted stocks to levels
  that can produce
• MSY
• 2005 - Management of fishing capacity
• 2004 - Prevent, deter IUU fishing
• Financial commitments by donors to focal/targeted
  areas.

54
Contd

• WSSD Pacific Is countries
• For PICs the summit was seen as an opportunity to
  redress their concerns as SIDS in their attempts
  to achieve SD, and to seek international
  cooperation in achieving SD.
• Submission of PICs to WSSD
• a) Vision
• Achieve SD and improve quality of life
• b) Mission
• Strengthen capacity to implement Agenda
  21 in order to enhance livelihood of people.
• c) Objectives
• Integration of PICs SD priorities into
  WSSD process

55
Contd

• Secure political support from international
  community on issues vital SD in PICs,
• Promote strengthen partnership useful to
  SD in PICs,
• Secure use resources effectively to
  develop national capacity for SD.
• d) PICs initiatives for WSSD process
• i) Oceans
• Renewed commitment to ocean management,
• Effective cooperation amongst regional
  and
• international organizations,

56
Contd

• develop implement national ocean policies
  to support enhance SD,
• promote implement EBM approach.
• ii) Natural Resources
• develop implement legislation policies,
• promote SD SM of natural resources
  (enforcement, data management, monitoring,
  assessment economic evaluation),
• Recognize ownership protection of
  traditional knowledge practices,
• Access to appropriate technology.

57
Contd

• iii) Climate change, variability sea level
  rise
• Ratification of UNFCCC Kyoto Protocol,
• More action on addressing adaptation
  strategies to climate change,
• Commitment to reducing greenhouse gas
  emissions.
• iv) Islands vulnerability
• Address smaller Islands vulnerability
  ability to adapt to effect of climate change,
• Encourage research to better understand cause and
  impacts of climate change,
• v) Energy
• Develop promote renewable energy sources
• Encourage energy efficiency.

58
Contd

• vi) People
• People the heart of SD
• Health - reduce control of waste pollution
• - prevent threats from diseases
• Governance - promote transparency
  accountability
• vii) Capacity building
• Develop capacity building framework/policies
  are appropriate responsive to needs,
• Empowerment through integrated
  participatory approaches,
• Infrastructure upgrade strengthen technical
  capacity.
• viii) Financial resources

59
Conclusion

• WSSD put SD at centre of international agenda
• Re-commitment of States to achieving goals of SD
• Concrete commitment by States to implement
  actions to strengthen capacity to implement
  Agenda 21.
• Encourage partnerships for SD.

60
Contd

• 2. Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Policy (PIROP)
• Outline
• Introduction to PIROP
• Rationale context of PIROP
• Policy (Summary of Principles)
• Avenues of Development (Strategic Actions)
  

61
Introduction

• Presented at WSSD in 2002
• Milestone agreement in regional cooperation
• 1999 request from Forum Leaders
• Policy to be basis for harmonization of national
  and regional action in relation to oceanic and
  coastal resources
• Platform for Pacific Island Regional Ocean
  Strategic Action Plan

62
Contd

• Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific
  (CROP) was responsible for developing the policy
• CROP mandated the Marine Sector Working Group to
  produce the draft
• Between 2001 - 2002, MSWG drafted the Policy
• MSWG met on fringes of other meetings to produce
  draft
• Draft was endorsed by Forum in Suva in 2002
• Draft was circulated to different governing
  councils for comments

63
Rationale context

• Vision for a healthy ocean that sustains the
  livelihood and aspirations of Pacific Island
  communities
• Demonstrate the commitment for ocean which
  dominates their world
• Countries of the region are custodians for 12 of
  the worlds oceans
• PIROP is not legally binding but is basis of SD
  in the region

64
Contd

• Issues -
• capacity building
• vulnerability
• enjoyment of rights and responsibilities
• Recommitment to SD of ocean resources

65
The Policy

• Goal - to ensure the future sustainable use of
  oceans and its resources
• The Policy is purposely generalized to highlight
  the importance of the Ocean
• 5 principles

66
Contd

• Principle 1 - improving understanding of the
  ocean
• knowledge of ocean and how it functions and how
  its affected by usage
• importance of science and technology
• understand the threat of pollution
• understand ecological services.

67
Contd

• Principle 2 - sustainably developing and managing
  the use of ocean resources
• resources include living and non living,
  extractive and non extractive
• waste disposal, recreation, cultural activities
  and life support systems
• incorporate integrated and precautionary
  principles
• Principle 3 - maintaining ocean health..
• preservation of ocean ecosystem
• minimize impact of human activities
• water quality must be maintained despite dumping,
  spillage and accidents

68
Contd

• Principle 4 - promoting peaceful use of the sea
• discouraging unacceptable, illicit or criminal
  activities that contradict national and
  international agreements
• need for effective control and surveillance
• innovative policies to control the outsiders
  activities
• education to support policy
• Principle 5 - creating partnerships and promoting
  cooperation
• effective collaboration within FFA members
• joint venture and developments needed.

69
Avenues for development

• Principle 1
• Establish a harmonized regime for scientific
  research
• provide data collection program
• conclude maritime boundaries determination
• develop new marine industries -biotechnology
• regional research agenda
• develop capacity.

70
Contd

• Principle 2
• ensure that legislations reflect international
  standards
• devise common EIA regime to marine activities
• formulate legislation, policies and strategies
  that articulate integrated and precautionary
  approach

71
Contd

• Principle 3
• promote and develop renewable energy sources
• mainstream the use of alternative renewable
  sources of energy
• encourage energy efficiency

72
Contd

• Principle 4
• promote and develop more effective international
  agreements
• use more efficient surveillance and control
  measures
• devise cheaper surveillance, control and
  enforcement
• encourage engagement of community

73
Contd

• Principle 5
• promote and develop more effective international
  agreements
• use more efficient agreements
• more innovative arrangements
• encourage engagement of community.

74
Conclusion

• PIROP provides framework
• National involvement in devising policies
• Seek support for national actions
• More pressure for implementation