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This month's newsletter features signficant oceans-related news and events:
Following the recent Rio+20 Conference, held in Brazil from 20-22 June, a dedicated section on oceans and seas, and small island developing States (SIDS) features in the Outcome Document The Future We Want. It stresses the critical role that oceans play in sustainable development and commits to protecting and restoring the health, productivity and resilience of oceans and marine ecosystems in order to maintain their vital biodiversity for present and future generations.
Other highlights in the newsletter include World Oceans Day on 8 June celebrated the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and World Environment Day celebrated 40 years on 5 June.
On July 9 the 30th Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries, kicks off. COFI is the only global intergovernmental forum where major international fisheries and aquaculture problems and issues are examined.
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Thank you,
The UN Atlas of the Oceans Editors
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Comments? Please write to UN-Atlas-Oceans-Project@fao.org
- The Future We Want : Outcome of the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, available in 6 languages. (Document)
- Oceans Feature in Rio+20 Outcomes : The Rio+20 Conference Outcome Document "The Future We Want" recognised the importance of the oceans and seas, as well as small island developing states (SIDS), and "commit[ed] to protect, and restore, the health, productivity and resilience of oceans and marine ecosystems, and to maintain their biodiversity, enabling their conservation and sustainable use for present and future generations". Image shows wind power in the northeast of Brazil. (News)
- Rio+20 Pictures of the World : We wish to thank everyone for promoting Sustainable Lifestyles by uploading 1206 pictures to the webpage for the Rio+20 Conference. (News)
- Rio+20: Ban urges world leaders to build on sustainable development commitments : Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged world leaders to build on the commitments they made during the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) to achieve economic, environmental and social prosperity for people all over the world. (News)
- Rio+20: Secretary-General challenges nations to achieve ‘zero hunger’ : Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has launched a ‘Zero Hunger Challenge’ which invites all countries to work for a future where every individual has adequate nutrition and where all food systems are resilient. (News)
- Hungry Planet: RIO+20 Special Report (Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO) : Special video for Rio+20 (Multimedia)
- UN and Partners Launch Global Partnership on Marine Litter at Rio+20 : Governments, industry representatives and UN bodies have backed a new partnership to tackle the damage caused by marine litter to the environment, livelihoods and human health. (News)
- The vanishing north : Special report from 'The Economist' on the steady retreat of glaciers, sea ice and permafrost in the Arctic -- where warming is occurring at rates two times higher than average. (News)
- IMO: IMO reaffirms commitment to sustainable maritime development at Rio+20 : The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting sustainable maritime development, during a side-event organized by IMO on 20 June at the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Presenting his vision at the panel discussion on “Sustainable Maritime Development - Contribution of Maritime Transport to Green Growth and Inclusive Development”, IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu said that the promotion of sustainable shipping and sustainable maritime development would be one of the major priorities of his tenure as IMO Secretary-General. (News)
- Rio+20: UN Conference on Sustainable Development kicks off with call to action : More than 100 Heads of State and government today gathered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the start of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), which seeks to shape new policies to promote global prosperity, reduce poverty and advance social equity and environmental protection. (News)
- IMO: Australia supports IMO’s technical co-operation programme with new agreement : The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), to support IMO’s Integrated Technical Co-operation Programme (ITCP) capacity-building activities through the provision of experts and hostship facilities for the delivery of ITCP activities, as well as the secondment of staff from AMSA. (News)
- IMO: 2012 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea to go to Canadian and Chilean rescuers : The IMO Council has decided that the award will go to Sergeant Janick Gilbert (posthumously), Master Corporal Max Lahaye-Lemay and Master Corporal Marco Journeyman, crew members of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 424 (Transport and Rescue) Squadron, nominated by the Government of Canada; and to Able Seaman César Flores Flores, a rescue swimmer in the aerial detachment of the Chilean Navy, nominated by the Government of Chile. (News)
- IMO: “Sustainable Development: IMO’s contribution beyond Rio+20” selected as World Maritime Day theme for 2013 : The IMO Council has endorsed a proposal by IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu to adopt “Sustainable Development: IMO’s contribution beyond Rio+20” as the World Maritime Day theme for 2013. The theme was chosen in order to focus IMO’s efforts during 2013 on the commitments to be made at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, better known as Rio+20, to be held from 20 to 22 June in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (News)
- Neglected indigenous food can be important tool to fight hunger – UN official : Indigenous foods which have been neglected by the food industry and urban consumers can be an important tool to alleviate hunger and malnutrition, a United Nations official said. (News)
- Rio+20 Feature: Seven Issues, Seven Experts – Oceans : Interview with Andrew Hudson, the head of the Water & Ocean Governance Programme of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and UN-Oceans Coordinator, about the importance of regulating the shipping industry, choosing fish in the supermarket, and why microscopic plankton may be the most important organism on Earth. (News)
- On World Oceans Day, Ban urges countries to protect marine environment : United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged countries to boost their efforts to protect the world’s oceans, which are threatened by overfishing, toxic waste, and climate change. (News)
- Oceans Day Celebrates 30th Anniversary of UNCLOS : World Oceans Day, celebrated on 8 June 2012, featured a panel discussion to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the opening for signature of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Day aims to raise global awareness of the current challenges faced by the international community in connection with oceans. (News)
- Oceans Day at Rio+20 : The Rio Conventions Pavilion (RCP) continued on Saturday, 16 June 2012, focusing on Oceans. The event consisted of seven panels, a lunch celebrating 10 years of the Global Ocean Forum (GOF) and the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and a closing session presenting the outcomes of Oceans Day to the Rio+20 process. (News)
- Rio+20 News & Analysis - science and technology : SciDevNet: The Rio+20 UN Conference in June 2012 provides a chance to reflect on science’s contribution to sustainable development since the first Earth Summit 20 years ago, and on how it can contribute most effectively in the future. (Website)
- IMO: Former Secretary-General Mitropoulos to get 2011 International Maritime Prize : The IMO Council has unanimously agreed to award the prestigious International Maritime Prize for 2011 to Mr. E.E. Mitropoulos, Secretary-General Emeritus of IMO, Secretary-General of the Organization from 2004 to 2011, for his significant contribution to the work of IMO during a long and distinguished career with the Organization. (News)
- Rio+20: countries announce agreement on Conference outcome document : Member States today announced that they have reached an agreement on the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). (News)
- UN food agencies call on G20 leaders to redouble efforts in fight against hunger : As the leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) leading economies meet in Mexico, the United Nations food and agriculture agencies have called on them to redouble their efforts to fight hunger. (News)
- Rio+20. Second Chance for the Planet : The 7 June 2012 issue of Nature contains several articles & commentaries relating to Rio+20. Nature Vol 486 assesses where we have come in the past 20 years. (News)
- Oceans Day at Rio Pavilion Celebrates Ten Years of the Global Ocean Forum : Oceans Day consisted of seven panels, a lunch celebrating ten years of the Global Ocean Forum and the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and a closing session presenting the outcomes of Oceans Day to the Rio+20 process. (News)
- Plan for World's Largest System of Marine Protected Areas : Three million square kilometers, a third of Australia's territorial waters, are to be protected from fishing and oil exploration in a plan to create the world's largest network of marine parks. The concept of a national representative system of marine protected areas was first put forward in 1990 and will be discussed at Rio+20. (1m 19sec video clip) (News)
- Scientists ask Rio+20 leaders to protect the bounty of the Seven Seas for future generations. : "If I were speaking to all the leaders at Rio+20 I'd say this is not [a choice between] the ocean or ourselves," said marine ecologist Enric Sala, a National Geographic explorer-in-residence. "A healthy ocean means healthier humans, more food on our tables, more jobs, and a healthier economy." (News)
- Oceans in Focus: Science and Governance for Global Sustainability : At Rio+20, the IOC is organising a side event on ocean and science. The forum will provide a space for interdisciplinary scientific discussions and dialogue between scientists, policy makers, major groups and other stakeholder. More information. (Event)
- ICSU Science Forum at Rio+20. 11-15 June : The aim is to help establish the research, technology and policy agendas that will be needed after Rio+20. The Forum brings together leading international scientists and policy-makers to explore the key role of interdisciplinary science and innovation in the transition to sustainable development, a green economy and poverty eradication. (News)
- Know our Ocean, Protect our Marine Treasures, Empower Ocean Citizens : This side event will be the occasion to discuss and present a number of initiatives that support the Rio+20 ocean targets leading to the sustainable use of the ocean. More information. (Event)
- Celebrate World Oceans Day - 8 June 2012 : The UNESO-IOC celebration of World Oceans Day on 8 June 2012 will include an evening of tribute to Albert Falco, the former captain of the Calypso and preview screening of the film Albert Falco, l’Océanaute, a documentary by Sylvain Braun. (News)
- Reminder: Transit of Venus on 5-6 June 2012 : Reminder of the Transit of Venus. More information (News)
- 10 Proposals for the Ocean, Rio+20 : The changes that will be required to transition to a Blue-Green Economy will be a mix of physical, behavioural and institutional. (Website)
- Blueprint for the Future. Factsheets for Rio+20 : Fact sheets on Marine Pollution, Ocean Acidification and Biodiversity (Website)
- UNESCO IOC Organise Rio+20 Forum : UNESCO and ICSU are organizing an important Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development just ahead of the Summit to provide a platform for the science community to discuss sustainable development challenges and solutions with policy-makers and other stakeholders. UNESCO-IOC and other UN colleagues will be involved in this Forum (11-15 June) to link science and policy at Rio+20. (News)
- UN agency welcomes $66 million for agriculture and fishing projects in Saudi Arabia : The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) today welcomed Saudi Arabia’s contribution of $66 million to implement its technical assistance projects in the country, which aim to benefit small-scale agricultural producers and fishermen. (News)
- Deep Sea Hitchhiking : The bottom of the sea is dark and lonely. Yet there is life usually isolated and located near some source of energy such as a deep sea vent. (News)
- Rising seas not only issue facing island nation : The island nation of Kiribati is one of the countries most threatened by rising sea levels. However, many of the floods it has seen may be due to a mix of natural variability and human activities, complicating the picture of how rising sea levels are endangering Kiribati and other island nations. (News)