3rd Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands January 23-28, 2006, UNESCO, Paris, France

Two High-Level Informal Ministerial Roundtable sessions at the Global Conference brought together 19 high-level government representatives to share their perspectives on the global oceans agenda in separate informal sessions. The Informal Roundtables aimed to foster the development, in the long-run, of a High-Level Government Leaders Oceans Roundtable, that could meet periodically to further the development of strategic and cross-cutting approaches to enhancing oceans governance at  global, regional, and national levels. Participating ministers and high-level government officials agreed that there is general consensus on the global agenda for the sustainable development of ocean and coastal areas and small island developing States. They underlined the importance and need  for a strong global leadership to ensure the coordination and successful implementation of the agenda's programs
and actions.

The ministers strongly supported the informal scope of the Ministerial Roundtables as a rare and exceptional opportunity for ministers and high-level government officials from developed as well as developing states to actually discuss and interact with each other onmajor oceans issues without
the pressure of making official declarations or statements.

4th Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands, April 7-11, 2008, Hanoi, Vietnam

The Informal Ministerial Roundtable Discussion at the 4th Global Conference provided an opportunity for high-level representatives to discuss oceans, climate, and biodiversity issues, including a Post-Bali update. Twenty-nine participants attended the discussion and emphasized the importance of bringing climate change into the oceans agenda, and vice versa, as well as discussed funding opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation. The discussion highlighted the importance of developing a more integrated approach in addressing ocean and climate change issues.