Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
12.3 The Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development
and the ocean agenda in the years to come
The Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development Outcome Document
contains a number of references and commitments related to the oceans (United Nations,
The Rio+20 Outcome Document reiterates the importance of an ecosystem approach
to the management of activities impacting the marine environment. It calls for states to take
action to reduce the incidence and impacts of marine pollution, including through the imple-
mentation of the relevant conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and
through the GPA,and also calls forsignificant reduction in marine debris, to prevent harm to
coastal and marine environments by 2025. It recognizes the importance of area-based meas-
ures, including MPAs, to conserve biodiversity and to mainstream the socio-economic bene-
fits of biodiversity, and of the important role played by indigenous and local communities in
relation to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
The Rio+20 Outcome Document contains several commitments related to the need to
reduce overfishing and IUU fishing, including intensification of efforts to restore stocks to
maximum sustainable yield levels, the need to address by-catch and destructive practices,
protection of vulnerable ecosystems, application of environmental impact assessment, and
elimination of subsidies in the context of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Capacity
is also to be developed and provided for improved monitoring, control, surveillance, com-
pliance, and enforcement systems. Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs)
were encouraged to undergo independent review to increase transparency and accountabil-
ity. It also called for strengthening international research on ocean acidification.
In relation to SIDS, the Rio+20 Conference called for a third international conference
on SIDS in 2014 and for strengthened support by the UN system to the implementation of
the SIDS agenda. A new multi-year strategy and renewed political commitment for SIDS is
expected to emerge late this year. The Rio+20 Conference also called for support to improve
