Ocean Security International (OSI) Lima Declaration on Protecting the Oceans A Statement on the Conference on Protecting the Oceans: A South - South Dialogue on Innovative Strategies and Good Practices to Address the Impacts of Climate Change Held on November 30th and December 1st, 2014 in Lima, Peru Ocean Security International (OSI) seeks to protect the oceans and promote ocean security. As an independent nongovernmental knowledge based organization it seeks to forge new partnerships to address the impacts of climate change on the oceans. It recognizes the importance of the use of innovative strategies, cooperative programs and information to make progress in addressing current issues and emerging challenges faced by the oceans themselves and the large and increasing populations of coastal cities and settlements. Operating from its headquarters in Cartagena de Indias on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, OSI is well situated to promote and support South-South cooperation. The Lima Declaration is a statement on the recommendations of the Conference on Protecting the Oceans that is issued by OSI; it is a reflection of the Conference, not a formal statement of organizations and individuals participating in the Conference.
The Critical Role of Oceans Oceans play a critical role in the complex challenges of addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation. A diverse range of actions is needed to address these challenges. More effective strategies, policies and programs will require better access to information and knowledge to increase the understanding of decision makers and the public on the role of the ocean for climate and on the impacts of change on the ocean. To restore and maintain a healthy ocean, OSI will support measures to create more resilient coastal cities and communities, and this means addressing local impacts and responses in countries that are most affected and which greater capacity for adaptation to climate change. Complementary actions to support improved management of coastal and marine areas, especially mangroves and coral reefs, and to control land and marine based sources of pollution of all types, also continue to be required. Addressing climate change and ocean protection is a long-term, inter-generational endeavor, in which behavioral change and increased awareness must accompany the current focus on scientific and technical solutions. Governments, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations and faith based organizations will need to form a partnership to collaborate on ensuring that the necessary actions are
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taken over the short, medium and long term. OSI will intensify its efforts as part of this broad and sustained partnership focusing on protecting the oceans and promoting ocean security. Actions OSI plans to undertake the following actions in the short and medium term to protect the oceans and promote ocean security: Engagement •
Maintain a Global Engagement on Ocean Security. OSI will continue to bring together decision makers, representatives of international organizations, national governments and municipal leaders to develop new synergies and craft new partnerships for innovative action, including the private sector
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Continue South – South Dialogue: South-South dialogue and cooperation provides a framework for the sharing of experience and knowledge, which can help support coastal populations, their livelihoods and the ecosystems upon which they depend. OSI will continue this process of activities with progress to be reviewed at the next OSI Conference
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Initiate “Mission 150”: This outreach program seeks to establish over the medium term a network for information collection and dissemination in up to 150 countries following establishment of focal points in Africa, Colombia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka
Strategies •
Support Development of Strategies for the Blue Economy/Blue Ecology: OSI will work at multiple levels to support development of strategies to implement the Blue Economy/Blue Ecology approaches for coastal and marine management and development
Collaboration •
Cooperate with South Africa on Development of “Operation Phakisa”: OSI plans to cooperate with South Africa on selected elements of the “Ocean Economy” element of the initial phase of “Operation Phakisa” using its international network of expertise
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Promote Cooperation Between Central America, the Caribbean and South America with SubSaharan Africa: OSI will examine opportunities at the regional, national and municipal levels to facilitate targeted cooperation for the transfer of experience and strengthening of capacity
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Explore the Feasibility of Cooperatively Developing a Marine Governance Architecture in the Caribbean: OSI will explore how marine governance could be better addressed in the greater Caribbean by both the continental and island states
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Education, Information and Knowledge •
Upgrade and Expand Education and Cultural Outreach: OSI will upgrade and expand its educational and cultural outreach. It recognizes the importance of culture; in the form of art, music and theatre, to engage, educate and inspire citizens
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Examine Feasibility of Establishing an OSI Information Center: A review will be conducted to examine where OSI may have a comparative advantage in the collection and dissemination of information on ocean security issues
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Develop a Teaching Module on Ocean Security: This teaching module will be developed by an OSI network of experts and tested at the Diplomatic Academy of the Caribbean. It could be more widely disseminated after revision based on the testing process
Strengthening OSI •
Enhance Planning and Management. OSI will take measures to enhance its planning and management capacity to support this series of actions
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Resource Mobilization. OSI will seek to strengthen its financial capacity through new forms of resource mobilization – these resources could be used to support activities in the medium and long term – Mission 150 will be used as one mechanism to support resource mobilization
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Pro Ocean Security Labeling. OSI will consider its potential role in establishing a "Pro Ocean Security" initiative to endorse and label products and services that are beneficial to ocean security
The Focus of Future Efforts – Protecting the Oceans and Promoting Ocean Security We express our support for these recommendations and urge others to join us in this global effort to promote a secure future for our oceans; we are convinced that the sustainability of human society depends upon the achievement of this goal. This will only be realized by forging new partnerships and sustained commitment by all concerned parties. Lima, Peru, 1 December 2014
Ocean Security International Suite 2001 Edificio Cartagena de Indias Calle 13 No.1-25 130001 Cartagena de Indias Colombia + 57 313 556 4053 www.ocean-security.org
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