Ensuring Survival, Preserving Life, and Improving Governance, May 3-7, 2010, UNESCO, Paris, France
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO
Celebrating the International Year of Biodiversity 2010
The Global Oceans Conferences provide the major opportunity for all sectors of the global oceans community-- governments, international agencies, nongovernmental organizations, industry, and scientific groups-- to address the major policy issues affecting the oceans at global, regional, and national levels and to make progress in advancing the global oceans agenda.
2010 is a year of major importance for the world’s oceans. It is the year when:
• Nations around the world are expected to have met major international targets set by the world’s
heads of state at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development:
-- applying integrated, ecosystem-based approaches to the governance of oceans and coasts
-- halting biodiversity loss by 2010
• The international community will be addressing the challenges and opportunities posed by the emerging
international consensus on a new climate regime (as developed through the UN Framework Convention
on Climate Change, Copenhagen, December 2009). Mitigation, adaptation, and financing issues will
profoundly affect oceans, coasts, and Small Island States which are at the front line of climate
changes. The Conference will also discuss innovative, private sector solutions to the challenges of
climate change.