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.
 

Oceans Day at Copenhagen UNFCCC COP-15 (December 14, 2009), the first-ever Oceans Day at a UNFCCC Conference of the Parties, brought together 320 leaders from governments, UN agencies, NGOs, science, and industry from 40 countries to focus on the central role of the oceans in climate change and the fact that close to 50% of the world’s population living in coastal areas will suffer disproportionately from ocean warming, sea level rise, extreme weather events, and ocean acidification.