The Global Ocean Forum was first mobilized in 2001 to help

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1 The Global Ocean Forum At-a-Glance February 2013 Background The Global Ocean Forum was first mobilized in 2001 to help the world s governments place issues related to oceans, coasts, and small island developing States (SIDS) on the agenda of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa, and was later formalized at the 2002 World Summit. Since 2001, the Global Ocean Forum (GOF) has brought together ocean leaders from governments, non-governmental organizations, international and intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, and scientific associations from over 110 countries. The GOF responds to perceived needs for fostering cross-sectoral dialogue on ocean issues among governments, NGOs, international organizations, and the private and scientific sectors; constant advocacy for oceans at the highest political levels; and the imperative of taking an ecosystem-based and integrated approach to ocean governance at national, regional, and global levels. Mission Statement The Global Ocean Forum is an international, independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote good governance of the ocean, healthy marine ecosystems, and sustainable development by: advancing the global ocean agenda toward sustainable development for the well-being of humanity, in the context of climate change, working as a catalyst to mobilize knowledge resources and organizational actions, fostering a mutually supportive global network of ocean leaders, raising the international profile of the ocean, coasts, and islands at global, regional, and national levels, monitoring the implementation of global commitments for ocean sustainability, mobilizing decision makers, stakeholders, and the public on global issues related to the ocean, coasts, and islands through dialogue and information sharing, involving governments, international organizations, private sector, and civil society concerned with sustainable development of the ocean, coasts, and islands towards a healthy ocean and equitable global prosperity. Major Areas of Focus Biodiversity; Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ); SIDS; Capacity Development; and Public Education and Outreach involving the input and collaboration of ocean stakeholders from all sectors and backgrounds in the global ocean community. Advancement of the global ocean agenda entails the effective implementation of major global and regional commitments related to the ocean, coasts, and SIDS, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the UN Fish Stocks Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, and the outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference. Public Edication and Outreach Capacity Development Small Islands Integrated Governance Global Ocean Agenda Figure 1. Areas of Focus of the Global Ocean Forum For a detailed description of the Global Ocean Forum work in these areas, please see the 2012 Global Ocean Forum Report of Activities, available at: edu.globaloceans/files/gof-reportofactivities-2012.pdf Global Ocean Conferences Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction Climate and Ocean Issues Biodiversity Since 2001, the Global Ocean Forum has regularly organized Global Ocean Conferences as a means to gather experts and highlevel representatives from all sectors to highlight the major issues facing the oceans, facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogue, examine various approaches and best practices for addressing ocean issues, and raise the profile of oceans among high-level decision-makers and the public. Global Conference on Oceans and Coasts at Rio+10: Toward the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg December 3-7, 2001, UNESCO, Paris The Global Ocean Forum focuses on the advancement of the global ocean agenda, through a cross-sectoral approach, in a number of key issue-areas-integrated Governance; Climate Change; ference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Convened nearly ten years after the 1992 United Nations Con- 1

2 Janeiro, the first Global Ocean Conference assessed the status of oceans and coasts and progress achieved over the previous decade, identifying continuing and new challenges, and laying the groundwork for the inclusion of an oceans agenda at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). This conference is perceived as having been catalytic in placing ocean, coastal, and island issues on the WSSD agenda, which resulted in the adoption of an extensive set of global targets and timetables related to oceans, coasts, and SIDS. Second Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands: Mobilizing for Implementation of the Commitments Made at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development on Oceans, Coasts, and Small Island Developing States December 10-14, 2003, UNESCO, Paris, France Following the WSSD, the GOF organized the second Global Ocean Conference to spur immediate implementation of the WSSD oceans commitments. The conference reviewed what had been done to date in implementing the WSSD commitments and to catalyze action on WSSD implementation through collaboration among governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. Third Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands: Moving the Global Oceans Agenda Forward January 23-28, 2006, UNESCO, Paris, France The third Global Ocean Conference and the ensuing report, Meeting Global Commitments on Oceans, Coasts, Freshwater, and Small Island States: How Well Are We Doing? reviewed the available information and provided a bottom line of progress achieved so far a report card -on each of the ocean-related goals of the WSSD and Millennium Development Goals. Generally, participants at the third Global Ocean Conference agreed that progress toward implementation of the global oceans targets had been slow, but that there were many promising developments. Fourth Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands: Advancing Ecosystem Management and Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management by 2010 in the Context of Climate Change April 7-11, 2008, Hanoi, Vietnam The fourth Global Ocean Conference focused especially on assessing the progress that has been achieved (or lack thereof) on the global oceans targets established by the world s political leaders at the 2002 WSSD, especially: Achieving ecosystem-based and integrated ocean and coastal management by 2010, reducing marine biodiversity loss by 2010, establishing networks of marine protected areas by 2012, and restoring fishery stocks by The fourth Global Conference focused, in particular, on the central role of oceans in climate and the challenges posed by climate change in coastal areas and island nations, effectively putting this issue squarely on the agenda of the global oceans community. As well, conference discussions underscored the imperative of bringing the ocean issues to the global climate negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Fifth Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands: Ensuring Survival, Preserving Life, Improving Governance- Oceans, Climate, Biodiversity: From Copenhagen 2009 to Nagoya 2010 May 3 7, 2010, UNESCO, Paris, France The fifth Global Ocean Conference was organized around three major themes: -- Ensuring Survival: Oceans, Climate and Security and Major Issues in Mitigation, Adaptation, and Financing in the Post-Copenhagen Climate Regime. -- Preserving Life: Marine Biodiversity (2010 global goal), Networks of Marine Protected Areas (2012 global goal), and Celebrating the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity Toward Nagoya 2010 Convention on Biological Diversity 10th Conference of the Parties. -- Improving Governance: Achieving Integrated, Ecosystem- Based Ocean and Coastal Management (2010 global goal) at National and Regional Levels and in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. The conference also celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the International Year of Biodiversity Multi-Stakeholder Policy Dialogues The Global Ocean Forum serves as a valuable forum for open and informal multi-stakeholder policy dialogue on the most pressing and conflictual issues facing the ocean. These dialogues have been beneficial in sharing best practices, examining the various approaches to integrated ecosystem-based ocean governance, and developing and refining policy options for new and emerging areas. Selected examples of multi-stakeholder policy dialogues organized by the GOF include: 2

3 -- The Ocean Policy Summit, October 10-14, 2005, Lisbon, Portugal -- Strategic Planning Workshop on Global Ocean Issues in Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction in the Context of Climate Change, January 2008, France -- Policy Analyses and Workshop on Governance of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction: Management Issues and Policy Options, November 2008, Singapore. -- Global Ocean Policy Day, World Ocean Conference, May 2009, Manado, Indonesia -- Oceans Days at the 15th (Copenhagen, Denmark, 2009), 16th (Cancun, Mexico, 2010), and 17th (Durban, South Africa, 2011) Conferences of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) -- Oceans Day at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (Nagoya, Japan, 2010) -- Oceans Day at Rio+20, United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, June 16, 2012, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Participation in the United Nations The Secretariat of the Global Ocean Forum, which is accredited as a non-governmental organization to the UN Economic and Social Council, is an active player in a variety of United Nations fora, contributing policy analyses and hosting various types of multi-stakeholder events. The GOF has been active in the following UN fora: -- UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (Consultative Process) -- Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC -- Conference of the Parties to the CBD -- UN Ad hoc working group to study issues related to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction Rio+20 - United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, June 2012 The Global Ocean Forum participated very actively in the Rio+20 process and in the Rio+20 summit itself. As is well known, the global sustainable development summits are landmark events that define the policy priorities that officials at the highest levels of government, international agencies, civil society, and other actors will pursue in the future. The advocacy of ocean issues by the Global Ocean Forum in the Rio+20 process was pivotal in achieving a high level of recognition of issues related to oceans, coasts, and SIDS in the Rio+20 outcome document. Prior to Rio+20, the GOF prepared a major report, in collaboration with many partners, Oceans at Rio+20, How Well Are We Doing in Meeting the Commitments from the 1992 Earth Summit and the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development?, which provides an account of the progress achieved on the major ocean and coastal commitments from UNCED and the WSSD (Summary for Decision Makers available here: sites/udel.edu.globaloceans/files/rio20summaryreport.pdf). The Global Ocean Forum organized the Oceans Day at Rio+20 on June 16, The Oceans Day brought together high-level representatives from governments, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, industry, and the scientific community to highlight the critical role of the oceans and its resources in sustainable development, as well as to discuss the drivers, challenges, and opportunities for managing the oceans more effectively in the coming decade. The Oceans Day at Rio+20 also provided a key opportunity to make tangible pledges for action, including the presentation for ocean, coast and SIDS related Voluntary Commitments for Rio+20. Panel presentations focused on: Renewing political commitments and ensuing implementation, scaling up integrated governance of the oceans, the living oceans, SIDS and oceans, climate change and ocean acidification, and the blue economy. The Rio Ocean Declaration was the document emanating from Oceans Day at Rio+20: RioOceanDeclaration.pdf 3

4 Selected Publications The Global Ocean Forum produces a broad variety of policy analyses, publications, and information services with the goal of providing relevant and timely information about integrated ocean policy to the global oceans community, with a particular emphasis on decision-makers. 1. Integrated National and Regional Ocean Policies: Comparative Practices and Future Prospects, UNU Press (2013). 2. Rio+20 Oceans Day Summary sites/udel.edu.globaloceans/files/oceansdayatrio20summary.pdf 3. Oceans at Rio+20, How Well Are We Doing in Meeting the Commitments from the 1992 Earth Summit and the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development?--Summary for Decision Makers (2012) udel.edu.globaloceans/files/rio20summaryreport.pdf 4. Summary of the Workshop on Oceans at Rio+20: Discussion with UN Delegations, held in New York on September 12, Summary of the Oceans Day at Durban, Oceans and Coasts at the UNFCCC and at Rio+20: The Need for Concerted Action 6. Summary of the Oceans Day at Cancun, Oceans: Essential to Life, Essential to Climate udel.edu.globaloceans/files/cancun_summary.pdf 7. IISD Summary Report of Oceans Day at Cancun iisd.ca/download/pdf/sd/ymbvol186num1e.pdf 8. Nagoya Oceans Day Summary sites/udel.edu.globaloceans/files/nagoya_summary.pdf 9. 5th Global Conference on Oceans Coasts, Islands Summary Report th Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands: IISD Summary Report (2010) sd/ymbvol68num5e.pdf 11. Policy Brief on Halting Marine Biodiversity Loss and Establishing Networks of Marine Protected Areas (2010) Policy Brief on Ensuring Survival: Oceans, Climate and Security (2010) globaloceans/files/policybrief-climate-oceans.pdf 13. Policy Brief on Improving Governance: Achieving Integrated Ecosystem-Based Ocean and Coastal Management (2010) files/policybrief-ebm-icm.pdf 14. Oceans Day at Copenhagen Summary Oceans and Climate Change: Issues and Recommendations for Policymakers and for the Climate Negotiations (2009) globaloceans/sites/udel.edu.globaloceans/files/policy-briefs- WOC2009.pdf 16. Executive Summary: Workshop on Governance of Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction: Management Issues and Policy Options, November 3-5, 2008, Singapore globaloceans.org/sites/udel.edu.globaloceans/files/singapore- Workshop-ExecutiveSummary.pdf 17. Report to the Ninth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP- 9), May 2008, Bonn, Germany (2008) Biodiveristy-and-MPAs-PB-May15.pdf 18. Submission to the 2nd meeting of the UN Ad Hoc Open- Ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction (2008) Report from the Strategic Planning Workshop on Global Ocean Issues in Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction in the Context of Climate Change (2008) High-Seas-PB-April9.pdf 20. 4th Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands: IISD Summary Report (2008) Policy Brief: Climate, Oceans, and Security (2008) Policy Brief: Ecosystem-based Management and Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management and Indicators for Progress (2008) Policy Brief: Large Marine Ecosystems (2008) LME-PB-June18.pdf 4

5 24. Policy Brief: Marine Biodiversity and Networks of Marine Protected Areas (2008) loceans/sites/udel.edu.globaloceans/files/biodiveristy-and- MPAs-PB-May15.pdf 25. Policy Brief: Fisheries and Aquaculture Sustainability and Governance (2008) Policy Brief on SIDS and Implementation of the Mauritius Strategy (2008) sites/udel.edu.globaloceans/files/sids-and-mauritius-strategy-pb-april2.pdf 27. Policy Brief on Linking the Management of Freshwater, Oceans, and Coasts (2008) globaloceans/sites/udel.edu.globaloceans/files/freshwater-to- Oceans-PB-April3.pdf 28. Policy Brief: Strategic Interventions for Developing Capacity to Improve Governance of Oceans, Coasts, and Small Island Developing States Over the Period 2008 to 2018 (2008) gloaloceans/files/capacity-building-pb-april2.pdf 29. Policy Brief: Compliance and Enforcement (2008) Policy Brief: Developing a Strategy for Public Education/ Outreach/Media (2008) oceans/sites/udel.edu.globaloceans/files/public-education-pb- April2.pdf 31. Meeting the Commitments on Oceans, Coasts, and Small Island Developing States Made at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development: How Well Are We Doing? Co- Chairs Report (Volume 1) of the Third Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands, UNESCO, Paris, January 23-28, Reports from the Third Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands: Moving the Global Oceans Agenda Forward Co- Chairs Report (Volume 2) of the Third Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands, UNESCO, Paris, January 23-28, Capacity Building Assessments in Small Island Developing States in the Pacific, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, the Atlantic, and the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (2006) Small Islands, Large Ocean States: A Review of Ocean and Coastal Management in Small Island Developing States since the 1994 Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) (2005) files/smallislandslargeoceanstates_0.pdf 35. Island Bellwether: Climate Change and Energy Policy Strategy for Small Island Developing States (2005) globaloceans.org/sites/udel.edu.globaloceans/files/islandbellwether_0.pdf 36. Global Multilateral Environmental Agreements and Small Island Developing States (2004) sites/udel.edu.globaloceans/files/gmea-and-sids.pdf 37. Mobilizing for Implementation of the Commitments Made at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development on Oceans, Coasts, and Small Island Developing States (2003) files/pre-conferenceproceedingsvolume.pdf 38. Voluntary Partnership Initiatives from the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development and Small Island Developing States (2003) edu.globaloceans/files/voluntarypartnershipinitiatives.pdf 39. A Guide to Oceans, Coasts and Islands at the World Summit on Sustainable Development: Integrated Management from Hilltops to Oceans (2002) 40. Ensuring the Sustainable Development of Oceans and Coasts: A Call to Action. Co-Chairs Report, the Global Conference on Oceans and Coasts at Rio+10, Paris, UNESCO, December 3-7, 2001 (2001) imagecache/2001rep1.pdf

6 41. Ministerial Perspectives on Oceans and Coasts at Rio+10 (2001) edu.globaloceans/files/imagecache/2001rep3.pdf 42. Reports of the Conference Working Groups, The Global Conference on Oceans and Coasts at Rio+10, Paris, UNESCO, December 3-7, 2001 (2001) sites/udel.edu.globaloceans/files/imagecache/2001rep4.pdf Public Participation and Outreach The Global Ocean Forum has organized ocean events especially aimed at decision-makers and is collaborating with Nausicaa (Centre National de la Mer, France) and the World Ocean Network (WON) in the creation and dissemination of information on global oceans issues to the public. The GOF recognizes the importance of increasing public awareness of the global agenda on oceans, coasts, and SIDS to advance the global oceans agenda. Since 2002, the GOF has enjoyed a close collaboration with Nausicaa, also the co-organizer of WON (the network of 450 museums, aquaria, and ocean learning centers around the world). The GOF and Nausicaa/ WON have prepared and disseminated a package of public information materials highlighting global oceans issues and demonstrating how individual citizens can make a difference in achieving sustainable development of oceans. The WON and Nausicaa have developed a long-range plan (to 2015) with a framework for public information activities in support of GOF goals and objectives. Financial or In-Kind Contributors to the Global Ocean Forum Global Ocean Forum activities have been supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and a wide number of intergovernmental and international organizations, governments, non-governmental organizations, research institutions, foundations, and museums and aquaria, as noted below. - United Nations Environment Programme (Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Branch; Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities) - United Nations University - UN-Oceans - World Bank - World Bank Institute - World Meterological Organization International Organizations - Agulhas and Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystems Project - Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem Programme - Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem Project - Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Project - Coastal and Marine Programme, New Partnership for Africa s Development - Commission Peripherique des Regions Maritimes, Europe - Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries - Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment - Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative - Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem Project - International Coral Reef Initiative - Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone - New Partnership for Africa s Development - Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat - Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia Intergovernmental Organizations - Asian Development Bank - Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat - Food and Agriculture Organization - Global Environment Facility - GEF International Waters Learning Exchange and Resource Network - International Maritime Organization - Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission - South Pacific Regional Environment Programme - United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; Division of Ecological Sciences; Division of Water Sciences; Environment and Development in Coastal Regions and in Small Islands) - United Nations Development Programme Other Entities - Partnership for Climate, Fisheries, and Aquaculture (comprising twenty intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and civil society organizations) Governments - European Commission (DG-MARE; DG Environment) - European Environment Agency - Government of Belgium (Minister for Economy, Enterprise, Science, Innovation, and Foreign Trade) - Government of Canada (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) - Government of France (Directorate for Water and Biodiversity, Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and the Sea; Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs; and French Marine Protected Areas Agency) - Government of Grenada - Government of Indonesia (Ministry of Marine Affairs 6

7 and Fisheries) - Government of Italy (General Directorate for Nature Protection, Ministry for the Environment and Territory) - Government of Japan (Ministry of Environment, and Secretariat of the Headquarters for Ocean Policy) - Government of Mexico (National Polytechnic Institute; Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources; Secretariat of Planning and Environmental Policy) - Government of Mozambique - Government of the Netherlands (Department of Nature) - Government of People s Republic of China (State Oceanic Administration) - Government of Portugal (Intersectoral Oceanographic Commission, Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education; Strategic Commission on the Oceans; Secretary of State for Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Port Authority of Lisbon) - Government of Republic of Korea (Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, The Organizing Committee for Expo 2012, Yeosu, Korea; Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute) - Government of Seychelles - Government of Singapore (Ministry of Foreign Affairs; National Parks Board) - Government of South Africa (Department of Environment Affairs) - Government of Spain, Ministry of Science and Innovation - Government of the United States of America (NOAA: National Ocean Service (Coastal Services Center, International Program Office), National Marine Fisheries Service; Department of State; USAID) - Government of United Kingdom, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 7 - Government of Vietnam (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam Administration for Seas and Islands) - Principality of Monaco - City of Yesou, Republic of Korea - Secretaries of Environment and Natural Resources of the Mexican States of Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatan, Mexico Nongovernmental Organizations - Fórum Do Mar, Brazil - Global Partnership for Climate, Fisheries, and Aquaculture - Green Cross France et Territoires - International Coastal and Ocean Organization - International Ocean Institute - International Union for the Conservation of Nature - Oceana - Natural Resources Defense Council - Sea Orbiter - Tara Expeditions - The Nature Conservancy - The IOC (UNESCO) Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions - World Wildlife Fund - Worldfish Center Foundations - Gulbenkian Foundation, Portugal - Lighthouse Foundation, Germany - Luso-American Development Foundation, Portugal - Nippon Foundation, Japan - Ocean Policy Research Foundation, Japan - Sea Level Rise Foundation, Seychelles Research Institutions - Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University

8 - Centro de Ecologia, Pesquerias y Oceanografia del Golfo de Mexico,Universidad Autonoma de Campeche, Mexico - Dalhousie University, Marine and Environmental Law Institute - Global Change Institute, University of Queensland - InterAcademy Panel on International Issues - Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, France - Instituto Español de Oceanografía - Plymouth Marine Laboratory/Partnership for the Observation of the Global Oceans - Pusan National University, Republic of Korea - Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego - Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, Duke University - University of Delaware, Gerard J. Mangone Center for Marine Policy - University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center - Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association - Zoological Society of London, UK Aquaria and Museums - Centre de Decouverte du Monde Marin, Nice, France - NAUSICAA (Centre National de la Mer), France - Oceanario de Lisboa - World Ocean Observatory - World Ocean Network For more information Please see: Global Ocean Forum Report of Activities globaloceans.org/sites/udel.edu.globaloceans/files/gof- ReportOfActivities-2012.pdf - Global Ocean Forum 10th Anniversary Celebration Book files/gof10thanniversary.pdf Contact For additional information, please contact: Dr. Miriam C. Balgos Program Coordinator, Global Ocean Forum Telephone: mbalgos@udel.edu 8