Loading
Delegates' Area
English
G20 SOCIAL
Oceans 20 presents proposals for marine conservation to be delivered to the G20 leaders
The Social G20 engagement group finalizes recommendations to the sherpas and prepares a preview of the proposals that will be presented to the Finance Track in July, during the meeting of Deputy Ministers and Deputies in Rio de Janeiro.
Oceans 20 (O20) presented its recommendations to the G20 Sherpas, as well as an outline of what will be delivered to the Finance Track at the Deputies meeting next week in Rio de Janeiro. During the Midterm Meeting, mediated by Alexander Turra, coordinator of the UNESCO Chair for Ocean Sustainability, the group emphasized the need for cooperative action and the inclusion of the ocean in global policies.
The proposals to the Sherpas were delivered at the track meeting that took place between July 3 and 5 in Rio de Janeiro. The document points to the actions needed by the G20 countries, such as the importance of a clean, healthy and productive ocean, the development of ocean science and the expansion of sustainable ocean activities. As general recommendations, the O20 calls for the inclusion of the ocean in global policies and structures, which involves simultaneous and cooperative action by government bodies and the recognition of the relationship between the ocean and climate in policy actions.
Specific recommendations to the Sherpas include expanding sustainable aquatic food production; taking strong action against illegal fishing and empowering coastal communities and indigenous peoples in conservation and decision-making; seeking the rapid ratification of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity in Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ); supporting and sustaining the work of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to decarbonize maritime transport by 2050; and supporting Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) frameworks that balance conservation with economic activities.
Specific recommendations to the Sherpas include expanding sustainable aquatic food production; taking strong action against illegal fishing and empowering coastal communities and indigenous peoples in conservation and decision-making; seeking the rapid ratification of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity in Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ); supporting and sustaining the work of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to decarbonize maritime transport by 2050; and supporting Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) frameworks that balance conservation with economic activities.
The draft recommendations to the Finance Track, to be evaluated at the meeting on July 22 and 23, also in Rio de Janeiro, include investment in capacity building for good practices and scaling up science, the development of financial instruments to evaluate climate sustainability projects, the creation of accessible financing mechanisms such as microcredit, standardization of financing metrics and robust methodologies to measure the value of natural capital and incorporate this value into financial instruments.
Oceans Dialogues
The O20 proposals come from the Oceans Dialogues, events proposed by civil society to co-create solutions. Data presented by Patrícia de Mendonça, from Global Compact Brasil (Pacto Global Brasil) shows that nine dialogues were held in the first phase of the agenda, with ten more planned for the second phase, which is still open to proposals, bringing together participants from 19 countries and two blocs.
"The strategy for a group that is just starting out was a big call, where the stakeholders are invited to the table," explained Simone Pennafirme, from the UNESCO Chair, referring to the fact that this is the first year that Oceans 20 has been institutionalized. Like the other 12 engagement groups, the O20 will have its recommendations evaluated by sherpas and deputies, who define what should be included in the document to be delivered to the G20 heads of state.
Holistic approach
Recurring in the speeches during the meeting, the intersection of the ocean with various aspects of sustainability, especially the climate agenda, makes the G20 Summit an opportunity. As Janice Trotte, from the National Ocean Research Institute (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisa Oceânica) said, the ocean relates to all dimensions of sustainable development. “Investing in ocean health also brings economic and social benefits". Kilaparty Ramakrishna, from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, raised the possibility of cooperation for an integrated ocean agenda. "The world community still has a fragmented approach. Even with all the multilateral agreements, each one is reflecting the protection of a particular area. The important thing about the O20 is to start from a holistic approach," he said, concluding the meeting.
The O20 is coordinated by the UNESCO Chair for Ocean Sustainability in collaboration with the UN Global Compact, the World Economic Forum, (Fórum Econômico Mundial /FUNBIO), the National Institute for Ocean Research (Instituto Nacional para Pesquisas Oceânicas /INPO) and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, along with several other national and international partners.
With information from O20.
Watch the full Oceans 20 Midterm Meeting
Propose an Oceans Dialogue: www.oceans20brasil.org