- The First & Second Cycles of the UN Regular Process Regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socioeconomic aspects The First & Second Cycles of the UN Regular Process - Presentation by Alan Simcock, (ajcsimcock@aol.com) Joint Coordinator of the Group of Experts of the Regular Process

World Ocean Assessment I is complete UN Regular Process World Ocean Assessment I is complete Published by Cambridge University Press (ISBN 978-1-316-51001-8) and available on line www.worldoceanassessment.org (Final Report)

World Ocean Assessment I Overall Message “The greatest threat to the ocean comes from a failure to deal quickly with the manifold problems that have been described above. Many parts of the ocean, including some areas beyond national jurisdiction, have been seriously degraded. If the problems are not addressed, there is a major risk that they will combine to produce a destructive cycle of degradation in which the ocean can no longer provide many of the benefits that humans currently enjoy from it.” ,

World Ocean Assessment I How was WOAI organized? Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole Terms of Reference and Working Methods Outline of the first global integrated assessment Guidance for contributors Group of Experts of the Regular Process Pool of Experts Secretariat – DOALOS Website Trust Fund ,

Why a Regular Process? UN Regular Process What business does not check on the state of 7/10ths of its assets? 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development recommended a “Regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socioeconomic aspects” The UN General Assembly consequently agreed on a process to produce: an integrated assessment of the ocean agreed priority cross-cutting thematic issues such as food security a baseline for future global assessments.

World Ocean Assessment I How was WOAI organized? Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole Terms of Reference and Working Methods Outline of the first global integrated assessment Guidance for contributors Group of Experts of the Regular Process Pool of Experts Secretariat – DOALOS Website Trust Fund ,

World Ocean Assessment I 10 Main Themes (1) Manifold problems linked to climate change and linked issues Marine biota – higher mortality, lower reproductive success Food security and safety is at risk Biodiversity hotspots are magnets for human activities Increased and conflicting demands for ocean space

World Ocean Assessment I 10 Main Themes (2) Excessive inputs of harmful material Cumulative impacts are key issue Uneven distribution of benefits from the ocean Integrated management is essential – and that needs more and better information Lack of knowledge about integration should not lead to delay in implementing known solutions

World Ocean Assessment I A. Climate Change Changes: Sea-surface temperature; sea-level rise; salinity; stratification; circulation; storms; as well as acidification; UV radiation Implications: Seasonal life-cycles; loss of sea ice; plankton; fish-stock distribution; seaweeds; shellfish productivity; low-lying coasts; coral reefs; submarine cables; eutrophication problems; Arctic shipping

World Ocean Assessment I B. Marine biota Challenges Higher mortality – less successful reproduction Over-fishing Changes in breeding and nursery areas Bycatch Hazardous substances and eutrophication Noise Recreational fisheries Implications Food security Species structure of highly productive areas

C. Food security and safety World Ocean Assessment I C. Food security and safety Importance of sea-based food Importance of livelihoods Importance of small-scale fisheries Significance of aquaculture and fish-stock propagation Compromised food safety Problems of subsidies Role of women Importance of food safety

D. Patterns of biodiversity World Ocean Assessment I D. Patterns of biodiversity Patterns of marine biodiversity Importance of temperature Significance of capture fisheries Lack of knowledge Implications Biodiversity hotspots and ecosystem services Biodiversity hotspots and economic activities

D. Patterns of biodiversity World Ocean Assessment I D. Patterns of biodiversity Patterns of marine biodiversity Importance of temperature Significance of capture fisheries Lack of knowledge Implications Biodiversity hotspots and ecosystem services Biodiversity hotspots and economic activities

World Ocean Assessment I E. Use of ocean space Challenges Population and urbanization; aquaculture and marine ranching; cables and pipelines; offshore hydrocarbons; offshore mining; offshore renewable energy; fisheries management areas; marine protected areas Implications Too many demands to meet them all Need to develop ways of managing them

F. Inputs of harmful material World Ocean Assessment I F. Inputs of harmful material Challenges Land-based inputs (sewage; fertilisers; hydrocarbons; heavy metals; persistent organic pollutants; endocrine disruptors); solid waste disposal; marine debris; shipping; offshore hydrocarbon industries; offshore mining Implications Human health; food safety; food security; marine biodiversity

World Ocean Assessment I G. Cumulative impacts Fisheries, demand for ocean space, inputs of harmful materials, noise, non-native species have a cumulative effect: In all main marine regions In the open ocean On top predators On vulnerable habitats – corals reefs, mangroves, kelp forests and seagrass meadows, seamounts, salt marshes, estuaries On tourism and cultural values

H. Distribution of ocean benefits World Ocean Assessment I H. Distribution of ocean benefits Changes in fish and seafood: lower consumption in poorer areas: diversion to richer areas Employment and income from fisheries Maritime transport Changes in universal benefits Offshore energy Tourism Offshore mining Marine genetic material

I. Integrated management World Ocean Assessment I I. Integrated management There are constraints in assessing only the oceans But We have reached the end of the time when human impacts are small in relation to the vastness of the ocean Many interactions (eg sewage, ship pollution, plastic debris, excessive nutrient inputs, overfishing, acidification) emphasise the problems caused by the absence of integrated management

World Ocean Assessment I J. Urgency for action Some problems – such as those flowing from climate change and acidification – can only be dealt with at a global level Many problems have more local causes and are only global problems because they occur in many places Known solutions exist for many of these locally caused problems Not implementing those solutions imposes environmental, social and economic costs

Problems of the first cycle World Ocean Assessment I Problems of the first cycle G77 fear of OECD takeover Lack of resources – limited meetings, and those hand-to-mouth Slow set-up of website – problems with Pool of Experts Lack of support from Pool of Experts No National Focal Points Shortened timescale – no separate peer review

The Second Cycle is under way UN Regular Process – Second Cycle The Second Cycle is under way In 2016, the UN General Assembly decided: To launch the second cycle, and that In the first cycle, the scope of the Regular Process focused on establishing a baseline The scope of the second cycle will extend to evaluating trends and identifying gaps The second cycle will cover five years, from 2016 to 2020,

Outputs of the Second Cycle UN Regular Process – Second Cycle Outputs of the Second Cycle Output I: second World Ocean Assessment(s) Begin with a scoping exercise in January 2017. The assessment(s) would be finalized by late 2020. Scoping exercise and the assessment(s) supported through regional workshops to among other things, help to identify regional priorities. Output II: Regular Process support for other ocean-related intergovernmental processes Preparation of Technical Abstracts to support and interact with ongoing ocean-related intergovernmental processes

Technical Abstracts completed UN Regular Process – Second Cycle Technical Abstracts completed Published by UN Secretariat and distributed at relevant meetings

UN Regular Process – Second Cycle 2017 Regional Workshops Five workshops before the end of 2017: North Atlantic (including the Baltic, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean and the North Sea) South Atlantic (including the Wider Caribbean) The North Pacific The South Pacific The Indian Ocean (including the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and the ROPME/RECOFI area) The Arctic Council and the Antarctic Treaty organizations will be asked for views in correspondence.

UN Regular Process – Second Cycle Aims of Workshops Present the main conclusions of World Ocean Assessment I Put forward views on the scope and structure for assessment(s) in the second cycle: in particular What aspects of the ocean are most relevant and how far can we establish trends How to establishment trends now and in the future How to evaluate risks What are regional priorities? How to promote capacity-building? How to increase cooperation/coordination? How to structure assessments to help policy-makers? How to improve networking?

UN Regular Process – Second Cycle Other consultations The Regional Seas Organizations The Regional Fisheries Management Organizations The relevant members of the UN family: - FAO, IAEA, IMO, UNEP, UNESCO-IOC - Others if they are interested Members of the Pool of Experts of the first cycle of the Regular Process

Process after consultation UN Regular Process – Second Cycle Process after consultation Group of Experts prepare proposals in the light of the Regional Workshops and other consultations (Jan/Feb 2018) Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole determines the scope and structure of the assessment(s) for the second cycle of the Regular Process Pool of Experts for the second cycle is organized on the basis of nominations by States and suggestions of intergovernmental organizations Writing Teams and their Convenors are identified and organized Timetable for completion by 2020 is established

Possible elements – substance (1) UN Regular Process – Second Cycle Possible elements – substance (1) Better integration of environmental, social and economic aspects World Ocean Assessment I had a “cubist” approach, looking at everything from three angles: ecosystem processes, human activities and habitats (including species) Better coverage of socio-economic issues Relation to Sustainable Development Goals Focusing on specific audiences

How to integrate better? UN Regular Process – Second Cycle How to integrate better? Possibly look at the way in which issues link together? Possible linkages: The ocean and its circulation The food web Coastal and shelf seas The open ocean