COOPERATION UN ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME – EUROPEAN COMMISSION UNDER THE MOU
ROADMAP 2017 FOR HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE OCEANS 1.
RATIONALE
Healthy and productive oceans and seas are one of the key priorities of marine and coastal policies for both the European Commission and UN Environment. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDG 14 includes goals and targets related to to oceans management. The United Nations Environment Assembly Resolution on Oceans and Seas (2/10), together with the other relevant UNEA Resolutions related to the marine environment, such as resolution 2/11 on microplastics and marine plastic litter and 2/12 on sustainable coral reef management, provides a strong global mandate for action1. A joint communication entitled ”International ocean governance: an agenda for the future of our oceans”2 was tabled by the European Commission and the High Representative in November 2016. The communication sets out an agenda for the future of our oceans, proposing 50 actions for safe, secure, clean and sustainably managed oceans around Europe and the world. In November 2015, UN Environment and the European Commission organised a workshop on regional ocean governance3, resulting in a set of conclusions and recommendations, focusing inter alia on the fundamental role of regional ocean governance in the implementation of the ocean-related Sustainable Development Goals and associated targets. Whereas the main responsibility to implement the Sustainable Development Goals lies at national level, regional mechanisms, such as the Regional Seas Conventions, can greatly facilitate implementation, coordination, monitoring and follow-up. It was also concluded that the ecosystem approach is of key importance, and that cross-sectoral institutional cooperation and policy coordination at national and regional levels is necessary for effective implementation. There are a number of models, experiences and tools developed in different regions that can be promoted to demonstrate best practices and concrete examples of effective cooperation and coordination at regional level. Further, the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) has decided to develop a regional ocean strategy for Africa.UN Environment and the European Commission can play an important role to support this process.
2.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this initiative is to develop a Roadmap 2017 for Healthy and Productive Oceans, which would contribute to increase coherence, synergies in achieving global commitments and stronger regional cooperation for healthy and productive oceans. The activities under this Roadmap will be developed in reference to two milestones in 2017: the UN Conference to Support the Implementation of SDG 14 in June 2017 and Our Oceans Conference in October 2017. In addition, UNEA 3 in November 2017 under the theme "pollution" will provide an important forum for concrete deliverables relating to marine pollution.
1
http://web.unep.org/unea/list-resolutions-adopted-unea-2 http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/sites/maritimeaffairs/files/join-2016-49_en.pdf 3 http://www.unep.org/ecosystemmanagement/water/regionalseas40/Meetings/UNEP-ECWorkshoponOceanGovernance/tabid/1060722/Default.aspx 2
These two events will provide a platform for States, civil society, private sector, academia, regional organizations, and international and UN organisations to leverage capacity, support and resources for an ecosystem-based and integrated ocean governance that support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources. This roadmap is without prejudice to the specific EC/EU and UN Environment process of preparation and participation to these two conferences and UNEA 3. 3.
KEY MILESTONES AND DELIVERABLES
Timeline
Activity
20 December 2016
Finalisation of Roadmap 2017 – 2018 on Healthy and Productive Oceans at the EC-UN Environment Annual High Level Meeting
December 2016 – end of April Analysing best practices from regional sea programmes, including in 2017 particular UNEP/MAP, in order to develop a toolbox for achieving Healthy and Productive Oceans through regional frameworks January/February 2017
Workshop on Regional Cooperation/Governance (focus on institutional interactions and Area Based Management Tools) for delivery of ocean related targets and indicators in Agenda2030, prior to the PrepCom for the UN SDG14 Conference.
January - March 2017
Contribution to the African Ministerial Conference on Environment mandated process to develop an African Strategy on ocean governance
January - March 2017
Preparation of a concept note for considering a joint strategic partnership initiative with other relevant partners (possibly for Our Ocean Conference)
February 15-16, 2017
Joint meeting/side-event at the Prepcom for the UN SDG14 Conference
February – June, 2017
Cooperation on preparing coordinated or joint commitments for Partnership Dialogues of SDG 14 Conference and Our Ocean Conference Joint review of UNEA 2 commitments on oceans in the perspective of preparations of UNEA 3
March – May 2017
Preparation of Guidance for policy-makers on tools and models for policy coherence in regional cooperation
June 2017
Side Event on Regional cooperation/governance for delivery of ocean related targets in Agenda 2030 at the UN Conference to support the implementation of SDG14
October 2017
Our Oceans Conference – Launch of a series of coordinated or joint commitments for a Healthy and Productive Ocean. Possible side-events with the involvement of Barcelona Convention
December 2017
UNEA 3 – Side event related to the theme "Pollution" , including implementation of UNEA 2 commitments