COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT, WITH DEBATE FOCUSED ON OCEANS AND SEAS
Press Release
ENV/DEV/506
COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT, WITH DEBATE FOCUSED ON OCEANS AND SEAS
19990422 Solomon Islands Calls on Commission to Condemn Illegal Fishing; Threats From Land-based Pollution, Coastal Development Also DiscussedThe Commission on Sustainable Development should convey a strong message condemning illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, that body was told this morning, as it continued its high-level segment on oceans and seas.
The Minister of Forests, Environment and Conservation of Solomon Islands, speaking also for the Group of South Pacific Countries (SOPAC), called on the Commission to urge the international community to address overfishing. In addition, expressing concern about increasing levels of marine pollution in the Pacific region, she said the Commission should call on the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to implement the 1995 Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land- based Activities.
The topic of oceans and seas is one of the Commission's substantive themes for its seventh annual session, which will end on 30 April. The Commission will also consider sustainable tourism, consumption and production patterns and small island developing States during its two-week session, as part of its mandate to monitor implementation of Agenda 21, the action plan adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) (Rio de Janeiro, 1992).
Also addressing unregulated fishing, Australia's Minister for Environment and Heritage told the Commission that nations and regional fisheries organizations should give urgent priority to the Food and Agriculture Organization's work to combat unregulated and unreported fishing to avoid the collapse of the planet's shared fish stocks. Further, he said, international cooperation and coordination on oceans issues must be improved. Various sectoral bodies should integrate efforts and focus on ecosystem-based solutions. He also called for an open-ended working group on oceans to report to the General Assembly.
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The Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom said the major threats to seas were: unsustainable fisheries; land-based pollution; dumping; substandard shipping; coastal development; and climate change. The links between those factors and the wider problems of poverty elimination, environmental protection and sustainable development must be recognized. Global systems were needed to support national and regional arrangements to protect oceans and seas.
After hearing statements from Ministers, the Commission moved to a dialogue with multiple-stakeholders. On land-based pollution, speakers stressed the need to implement and enforce existing agreements on the protection of oceans. Norway's representative suggested that UNEP hold a conference addressing land-based pollutants, such as sewage disposal and the dumping of garbage. Other representatives called for greater attention to chemicals that were polluting oceans, and harming wildlife, especially in the Arctic.
The representative of the Netherlands called for an international convention on environmental crime that would cover cross-border activities that polluted the environment. Such a convention would provide sanctions and penalties for those who violated international standards for environmental protection.
Statements were also made by: the Minister of the State Environmental Protection Administration of China; the Federal Minister for Environment, Nature and Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany (on behalf of the European Union); the representative of Lithuania; the Minister of Environment and Forests of Côte d'Ivoire; the Minister of Environment and Protection of Nature of Senegal; the Director-General of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency of Nigeria; the representative of Algeria; the Minister of the Environment of Norway; the Administrative Vice-Minister of the Environmental Agency of Japan; the Minister for Environment and Energy of Denmark; the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forests of India; and the Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs of South Africa.
The Commission will meet again at 3 p.m. today, to continue its high- level dialogue on oceans and seas.
Commission Work Programme
The Commission on Sustainable Development, whose charge is monitoring the implementation of Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), met this morning to continue its high-level dialogue. The topic for discussion will be oceans and seas and there are three reports before the Commission: a report of the Secretary- General on oceans and seas; a report on emergency issues for the high-level meeting; and a report of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Oceans and Seas and on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States.
In the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and seas, (document E/CN.17/1999/4 and Add.1) he states that, in its comprehensive review of oceans and seas, the Commission might wish to focus its attention on a few issues that are generally considered to be particularly problematic. Those issues include: degradation of the marine environment and coastal areas; the unsustainable exploitation of marine living resources; marine pollution caused by shipping and offshore oil and gas activities; and the protection of fragile ecosystems, including coral reefs and marine biodiversity.
The report states that it is now well accepted that the complex nature of the marine environment requires an integrated and multi-sectoral approach to the management of oceans and coastal areas, including considerations of the freshwater systems that drain into them, which incorporates economically, socially and environmentally sound solutions. For example, the world cannot hope to solve problems in relation to fishing without considering the impact of land-based pollution, and it cannot consider the protection of species or habitats without considering fishing, shipping and land-based pollution. Action in one field must be integrated with that in other related fields.
In the area of coastal and marine areas, the report states that more than half of the world's population lives in coastal areas, and the proportion could rise to three quarters in the next 20 years. The incidence of poverty in coastal areas is increasing, along with increasing pressures on limited resources. Deterioration of the coastal and marine environment has largely been caused by land-based activities of humans, as well as natural phenomena, such as climate change, floods and storms, which together threaten the sustainability of coastal resources. While land-based sources contribute about 80 per cent of marine pollution, the impact of natural disasters and sea level rise on coastal areas is devastating, especially for the most vulnerable populations of small island developing States and densely populated delta areas.
On the topic of overfishing of waters, the report states that recent estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) indicate that 35 per cent of all major marine fisheries are subjected to severe overfishing, 25 per cent are fully exploited and 40 per cent still offer scope for development. Marine fishery production began to stagnate in the second half
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of the 1990s, following two decades of expansion, due to an increasing number of fisheries reaching and surpassing their optimum long-term sustainability. Several important international instruments that could address the threats to fishery resources remain unimplemented. A key to the future regulation of fisheries is the United Nations Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The report goes on to say that the goal of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, of 1996, is to facilitate the realization of the duty of States to preserve and protect the marine environment. It states, at the outset, that its implementation will require new approaches by and new forms of collaboration among governments, organizations and institutions, including the promotion of innovative financial mechanisms to generate needed resources. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has reported that additional funding was necessary to adequately implement the Global Programme of Action.
The addendum to the Secretary-General's report, on trends in national implementation, was prepared by the National Information Analysis Unit of the Division for Sustainable Development. It examines the progress made towards sustainable development within oceans and seas based on the information that governments have provided in their national reports to the Commission.
The report states that the major achievement in the last few years was in the area of decision-making on ocean and sea policy. In that regard, progress has been made in such areas as: strengthening the legal and administrative frameworks; increasing focus on respecting the rights of indigenous and local people; improving information for decision-making and public awareness; and using financial incentives that promote sustainability, such as waste-water charges, recycling incentives, tax exemptions for investment in energy-saving equipment and environmentally sound technology.
The report goes on to say that, despite national, regional and international efforts and activities to promote sustainable development within oceans and seas, much remains to be done. Weak coordination, implementation and monitoring of legislation are the main obstacles to full implementation of international agreements and commitments. Further, there are still areas where exploitation of marine resources is unorganized, national fishery policy is not clearly formulated and legislation for land use in coastal areas or fisheries management is totally non-existent, the report states.
Economic development and dense population, combined with scarce land resources, results in increased stress on the resources and affects the ecological balance of the coastal zone, the report goes on to say. The challenge is finding the means to avoid the adverse effects of industries and human settlements on the coastal environment and to manage the conflicts that arise from competing uses of the coastal space, particularly in densely populated countries.
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The report further recommends that:
-- Greater understanding is needed on ways to develop and, especially, implement integrated coastal zone management programmes;
-- More emphasis is also needed to integrate all elements of sustainable development into coastal management and oceans policies;
-- Monitoring and controls need to be put into place to address frequent violations in the disposal of toxic and hazardous waste in the catchment areas;
-- Programmes need to be designed to enhance the conservation of biodiversity in coastal areas and rehabilitate degraded areas.
On the topic of climate change, the report states that interacting and drastic problems could result and have already resulted from global climate change. Those include: sea level rise; increasing frequency and strength of storms, hurricanes and floods, and their potential economic, environmental and social consequences, such as decreasing tourism; risks to daily lives of people and to human health; and increased erosion. Though efforts are under way, many small island States have admitted that plans for the adaptation to sea level rise are not available and there is no national funding for adaptation measures.
According to the report, one of the biggest concerns related to protection of marine environment was untreated or insufficiently treated waste water (from population centres, industrial effluents and irrigation drainage water). Despite the various international and regional agreements, marine pollution control and monitoring are still inadequate in many parts of the world. Thus, oil spills and legal and illegal discharges of oil and wastes from vessels at sea continue. Further commitment, and especially tougher inspection and control procedures, are needed at the national level.
The report states that one of the problems in the conservation and sustainable use of marine living resources is that there appears to be a lack of political will to end overfishing and destructive fishing methods, and efficiently implement long-term sustainable development strategies for major fish stocks in many parts of the world. There are still major gaps concerning surveillance and monitoring of fisheries at sea. Despite many international and national efforts, overexploitation of living coral sites and degradation of mangroves continues.
The report of the Secretary-General on emerging issues for the high- level meeting (document E/CN.17/1999/9) highlights policy options under discussion related to ocean governance and the main challenges on the agenda of future sessions.
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Regarding ocean governance, the report states that there seems to be broad agreement by the international community on a few key concerns affecting oceans and seas. They include: the conservation, management and sustainable use of marine living resources; the prevention of pollution and degradation of the marine environment from land-based and other activities; and the scientific understanding of the way in which the oceans and seas interact with the world climate system, particularly in comprehending and responding to such events as the El Niño phenomenon.
In addition, the report continues, they agree on such concerns as the need to enhance international cooperation in support of action at the national and regional levels in developing countries and those with economies in transition, including through the provision of financial and technical assistance and the transfer of environmentally sound technologies. The complex nature of the marine environment requires an integrated and multi- sectoral approach to the management of oceans and coastal areas, including the priority areas identified by the Commission and other forums. Such an approach must incorporate economic, social and environmental solutions.
The report states that while fully endorsing the fact that the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea sets out the overall legal framework within which all actions in the field must be considered, there is a growing appreciation that the integrated concept of ocean space should be reflected in the way that the United Nations considers ocean issues. It is hoped that the Commission's focus on oceans and seas at its present session will provide an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing global debate on these and other critical issues.
The report also outlines preparations for the five-year review of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. It describes, as well, preparations for the ninth session of the Commission on matters related to: energy and sustainable development; land and agriculture; forests; and the cross-sectoral cluster: financial resources/trade and investment/economic growth.
According to the report, the impact of the recent financial crisis on the economic situation in a large number of developing countries has demonstrated very clearly that financial resources and mechanisms will continue to play a crucial role in the implementation of Agenda 21. Therefore, particular importance will be attached to the discussion of financial means of implementation at the eighth session.
Also before the Commission is the report of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Oceans and Seas and on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (document E/CN.17/1999/17). (For a summary of the report, see Press Release ENV/DEV/499 of 19 April.)
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Statements
XIE ZHENHUA, Minister of the State Environmental Protection Administration of China, said the coastal areas of his country were economically developed with high population density. China had identified the prevention and control of marine pollution from land-based activities in those coastal areas as a priority. Coastal areas were now investing more in construction of municipal waste-water treatment plants to ensure that all the industrial enterprises would comply with the emission standards. Also, this year China had begun to implement a Clean Seas Programme for the prevention and control of marine pollution from land-based sources of pollution.
He said that countries should strengthen the control and management of marine pollution sources, including pollution from non-land-based activities. They also needed to implement effectively the existing international agreements relating to the marine environment. Protecting seas and oceans meant using them sustainably. The exploitation and conservation of the marine biological resources should be mutually coordinated. For the developing countries, marine fishery resources were crucial for reducing poverty, ensuring food security and a growing economy. Sustainable fishery development involved various elements, such as the improvement of aqua-culturing techniques and changing the lifestyles of fishermen. It was important that the Commission propose relevant action plans that took into account different situations and levels of economic development.
JURGEN TRITTEN, Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany, speaking for the European Union, briefly reviewed the Union's position on oceans and seas, explaining that its position paper would be circulated. All States had to fulfil their respective commitments to develop and review national action programmes, and identify obstacles to their implementation. On the issue of fisheries, he stressed the importance of integrating environmental and social conditions into sustainable management policies. Sustainable limits for specific fish types, such as sharks, must be developed. Developing and implementing programmes to reduce economically unsound quotas was another important measure. A global framework for the sustainable management and conservation of fisheries must be established.
International cooperation on ocean affairs should be improved, he continued. A more coordinated and comprehensive approach to oceans and seas -- involving legal, institutional, economic, social and environmental aspects -- was necessary at the global and regional levels. Oceans could not be managed solely by sectoral approaches. Also, it was essential to make the best use of existing mechanisms. The Commission's current session should strive to develop simple strategies that did not overlap or replicate work already achieved. All parties agreed that the protection of oceans and seas was of the utmost global importance, as they provided the essence of life.
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EVALDA VEBRA (Lithuania) said the Baltic Sea was a semi-closed water body connected to the North Sea by narrow and shallow sounds that limited water exchange. Contaminants and nutrients entered the Baltic Sea via river run-off, direct discharges from land and from human activities at sea. In order to solve the acute problems of the Baltic, an action programme had been implemented that provided an environmental management framework for the long-term restoration of its ecological balance.
In the past few years, great progress had been made in improving surface water quality in Lithuania, he said. However, water treatment problems remained one of the priorities in its national environmental strategy. His Government was confident that, with the help of the international community, water protection and management and implementation of sustainable development principles in the Baltic Sea would be successfully solved. Lithuania would enter the twenty-first century with new and positive environmental results.
JEAN-CLAUDE KOUASSI, Minister of Environment and Forests of Côte d'Ivoire, said his country had embarked on a series of reforms related to the objectives of Agenda 21. It sought to integrate environmental concerns with its programmes for economic and social development, reform the institutional framework of the environment sector, and broaden popular participation. Côte d'Ivoire was developing reliable indicators and an environmental database. It intended to establish impact evaluations, and reinforce facilities available locally to carry out such reviews. It also planned to design and implement local projects for coastal areas, but that effort would take a long time and require the international community's attention. Other goals were to improve waste management and strengthen protection of the country's forests.
Côte d'Ivoire had established projects to bring sanitation to water bodies, and water purification was to be improved, he said. A water code had been adopted, as had a policy for the integrated management of water resources, to restore the environment and maintain ecological balance. Coastal erosion was being prevented by relevant regulations, as well as the construction of breakwaters and dikes.
Those efforts would require the equivalent of about $34 million, he said. His country could provide about 20 per cent of that amount, and was seeking the rest from bilateral and multilateral donors. Côte d'Ivoire was hoping to make its methods of production and consumption more sustainable, to better target its actions and to benefit its population. The capacity of developing countries must be improved and their level of poverty reduced through greater equity in international relations. Special attention should be given to assistance in-kind. Developed countries must participate actively, and there must also be stronger involvement from the people themselves.
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JOHN PRESCOTT, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, said some 60 per cent of the world's coral reefs were already at medium to high risk of degradation. The major threats to the seven seas were: unsustainable fisheries; land-based pollution; dumping; sub-standard shipping; offshore minerals; coastal development; and climate change. There was a need to work together to fight those threats. That meant recognizing the links between them and the wider problems of poverty elimination, environmental protection and sustainable development. It also meant agreeing on effective actions. Fish catches must be sustainable, if marine ecosystems were to be protected and poverty and hunger eradicated. There was wide agreement on what was needed, but the problem was implementation.
Globally, he continued, there was a need for systems to support national and regional arrangements. The Commission must put its weight behind action to produce such systems. He deplored the reckless illegal fishing under flags of convenience that threatened the stocks of toothfish in the Antarctic, with consequences for birdlife, including the wandering albatross. Countries like Belize and Honduras were becoming havens for industrial fishing fleets, some of which ignored international standards and conventions. According to the recent International Transport Federation and Greenpeace report, Belize had the worst record of port State control in Europe, with over 77 per cent of the ships detained. Those modern day "buccaneers" must not be allowed to plunder the seas for profit, he stressed.
Regarding land-based pollution, he said the Washington Global Programme of Action provided the necessary framework for addressing those problems. The Commission must put its weight behind the drive to implement that programme. There was also a need for a single global focus for integrating actions on the oceans. That was why his country had called for a second London oceans workshop in December. He said that Jacques Cousteau had once described the oceans as "the lungs of the world" -- vital to the life of the planet. The international community must pledge, here at the United Nations, to find the mechanism to better care for the world's oceans, for today and for future generations.
SOUTY TOURE, Minister of Environment and Protection of Nature of Senegal, said her country had implemented sectoral development plans to protect the environment, especially to promote sustainable actions near the coast. Senegal had 750 kilometres of coastal areas and the protection of oceans and seas was a particular concern. To protect its waters, a technical committee was established to address the marine environment and coastal areas, as well as the health and well-being of people living near the sea. It had also begun work on a master plan for the development of the coastal areas, to ensure eco-friendly activities and the sustainable use of natural resources. There was also a programme to increase knowledge of coastal systems and the renewal of exploitable natural resources. She appealed for the international community to take part in programmes to protect the oceans and seas in the African continent.
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R.O. ADEWOYE, Director-General/Chief Executive of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency of Nigeria, said issues relating to oceans and seas were of great importance to man's existence, because they concerned the main source of the world's natural resources. Of great importance to his country were the fishing and industrial activities in coastal areas. The spillage of pollutants into the water led to the elimination of natural resources and the reduction of marine life. Countries must control such activity and focus on the sustainable utilization of marine resources. His delegation was concerned at the slow rate of progress that had been made in the implementation of the Global Programme of Action on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities. To facilitate the implementation of that programme, there was a need for international cooperation to build capacities, create awareness and mobilize resources for the development of national action plans.
He added that Nigeria had developed a national action plan for the protection of the Niger Delta area. Various studies had been carried out to find long-lasting solutions to the environmental and social problems of the Delta area. Nigeria had also initiated the "Dump Watch" programme to monitor the dumping of hazardous wastes. The United Nations system must review its programmes to accord priority to capacity-building relating to marine environment science, the administration of fisheries and shipping. Also, developing nations needed to be protected from the impact of large fishing fleets, which depleted fish resources.
ABDALLAH BAALI (Algeria) said his country had always attached the highest importance to all matters relating to the seas and oceans, including their preservation and sustainable use. The Mediterranean was one of the most polluted seas in the world. For that reason, his country was most concerned about pollution, generated by intense maritime traffic and industrial activities, among others.
Algeria had been actively involved in the international community's efforts to address ocean issues, he continued. It had joined all the international conventions on the subject and six regional instruments, as well. He paid tribute to UNEP's active role in supporting the fruitful cooperation of Mediterranean States through the Barcelona Convention. His country sought to address land-based pollution through regulations. Without fruitful and close international cooperation, however, the efforts of developing countries to preserve the marine environment might prove fruitless.
Regarding fisheries, he said his country had taken efforts to ensure rational use of those resources and reduce the effects of illegal and non-regulated fishing. It had set up a system for regulating the efforts of coral fishing through a rotational system of exploitation of fisheries. To adopt a global and integrated approach to the management of coastal and marine areas, Algeria had, in 1998, set up a national maritime council.
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The issues being discussed today had a number of complex elements, he said. They must be considered by the General Assembly, where all States were present. The Assembly should decide on policy. Debate on the Assembly's agenda item on oceans and the law of the sea allowed all States to express themselves. Member States should extend the time-frame for consideration of that agenda item. There was need to act without undue haste -- yet not too slowly --- to ensure that the issue was discussed transparently and democratically. He hoped the Assembly's forthcoming debate would result in global and integrated action.
GURO FJELLANGER, Minister of Environment of Norway, said that irresponsible and unregulated fishing was a serious threat to oceans and seas. The international community must agree to combat unregulated fisheries. In that context, the use of flags of convenience was of particular concern. No nation should allow its flag to be used as a flag of convenience. Norway had adopted regulations that required a special permit for fishing by Norwegian flagged vessels on the high seas. Furthermore, Norway did not grant licences to fish in Norwegian waters to vessels that had been involved in unregulated fishing on the high seas. It had also established a list of vessels known to have engaged in such activities.
Fisheries and environmental management mechanisms needed to be better integrated, he added. The Commission should, therefore, call upon all regional fishing organizations, as well as regional environmental protection organizations, to cooperate in the development of such integration, based on an ecosystem approach. Common efforts for the sustainable use of oceans should continue to be on a global level. Following the Commission's session, there should be greater efforts to strengthen the United Nations ability to conduct a comprehensive and thorough debate on ocean issues, although the United Nations should avoid creating new institutions in that regard.
KENJI TANAKA, Administrative Vice-Minister of the Environment Agency of Japan, said that, as a nation surrounded by water, Japan's prosperity derived in part from marine resources. It fulfilled its obligations on marine pollution and protection of the ocean, and had proposed the development of a legally-binding instrument to regulate ship ballast and use of anti-fouling paints, through the International Maritime Organization (IMO). It also participated in regional initiatives under the Regional Seas Programme, which was a pillar of its environmental efforts in that area.
He said the FAO International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity was to be applauded, but illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing remained a problem and harmed regional and global efforts. The Commission should support efforts to address the relationship between subsidies and excessive fishing. Aspects of subsidies, however, could contribute to sustainable development and socio-economic policy goals.
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To improve international coordination, the discussion needed to be deepened to accurately assess the situation of the oceans, he said. Effective use of frameworks provided by existing international instruments should be first used to develop an overview. The Commission's task would be to identify issues where improved coordination was required. Marine science could assist in understanding climate change and the status of the living marine environment, so specialized agency initiatives in that area should be encouraged. Japan was determined to promote marine environmental protection. As 70 per cent of the planet was oceans and seas, its protection was tantamount to protection of the global environment.
HILDA KARI, Minister of Forests, Environment and Conservation of Solomon Islands, spoke also for the South Pacific (SOPAC) group of countries: Australia; Federated States of Micronesia; Fiji; Marshall Islands; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Samoa and Vanuatu. The South Pacific countries were diverse and separated by great distance, but the ocean united them in a common purpose, she said. The countries of the region were the "custodians" of a vast expanse of the world's oceans. The collective exclusive economic zones of the 16 South Pacific Forum countries covered more than 30 million square kilometres.
It was a matter of great concern, she said, that despite all the efforts that had been undertaken by the international community, the state of the oceans remained precarious. The Commission had a vital role to play in addressing the situation, and the South Pacific wanted to work with other delegations to ensure that the Commission remained an effective and relevant body.
She said the region's ocean-related priorities included: fisheries management; habitat protection; and controlling marine pollution. Most of the countries were small island developing States, and such issues were of vital importance to them. Since the success of national development planning for small island developing States was substantially dependent on the health of the oceanic and coastal systems, those countries looked to the Commission to convey a strong message on fisheries management and to urge the international community to address the obstacles to sustainable fisheries, such as illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.
She called for the entry into force of the United Nations Agreement on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and for the Commission to give support to the International Coral Reef Initiative. Expressing concern about the increasing level of marine pollution in the Pacific region, she said the Commission should call on UNEP to implement the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment. Other areas requiring urgent attention were the needs for building capacity and for development assistance.
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Ocean management required a cooperative approach, she said. That was the premise behind the Convention on the Law of the Sea and Agenda 21. Successes had been achieved through regional cooperation in the Pacific, which had resulted in a range of effective programmes, including the regional register of vessels licensed to fish in the region, put in place in 1983. Now, negotiations were under way for a fisheries management regime for tuna in the central and western Pacific.
But, coordination at the global level was crucial, she continued. Currently, there was no opportunity for the international community to review the state of the oceans and the implementation of the Convention on the Law of the Sea and other relevant agreements in an integrated manner. Due largely to the limited resources of island countries, it had become increasingly difficult to keep abreast of the wide range of oceans issues being discussed in different forums.
What took place in the General Assembly was inadequate, she said. There should be an adequate preparatory process leading up to the General Assembly's consideration of oceans and the law of the sea. That would be best achieved by establishing a working group under the Assembly to review relevant reports and make recommendations to the Assembly. Since discussions on oceans should be inclusive, the working group should be open to all governments and have input from the rest of the international oceans community, such as industry and non-governmental organizations. In particular, the participation of small island developing States should be promoted. A discussion paper detailing her group's approach to the issue was attached to copies of her speech.
SVEND AUKEN, Minister for Environment and Energy of Denmark, said that the state of oceans and seas were worse today than they were when the Commission began. Of particular concern was the Arctic environment, where the population had severe health problems due to pollutants and metals that were not even used in that region. There were many threats to the oceans, including fishing and land-based pollutants. What should also be addressed was the influx of chemicals into the world's oceans. Little was known about the effects such chemicals could have on the environment.
He added that the United Nations and other bodies had created many rules for the protection of oceans and seas. There was little need for new regulations, except possibly in the areas of chemicals and fisheries. What was crucial was the implementation of the existing rules. The Commission should place increased attention on enforcement. The world already had institutions to protect the environment; the problem was making them work and avoiding duplication. The problem was not institutional -- the lack of action was due to a lack of political will. Too often countries criticized deficiencies in institutions, in order to hide the lack of political will.
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VISHWANATH ANAND, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forests of India, said that a comprehensive view of the subject would have to take into account the issues of land-based pollution, resulting from the rapid industrialization along the coastline, municipal sewage and pesticides. In order to find a pragmatic solution to those concerns, it would be necessary to consider the socio-economic and environmental dimensions of the subject. It was essential that national, regional and global approaches be taken up in a coordinated and integrated manner to meet the challenges for protecting the marine environment. India had initiated a number of programmes to that end.
Under the Global Plan of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, the actions proposed for dealing with land-based pollution of oceans had yet to gather momentum, he said. In many developing countries there were, as yet, no viable and cheap alternatives to some of the persistent organic pollutants. Keeping in mind the usefulness of those chemicals for public health programmes and food security, adoption of a legal instrument on persistant organic pollutants targeted for the year 2000 needed to be reviewed. There was also a need for capacity-building in the ocean sector.
He said there should be no proliferation of forums over and above those already existing, which could be tasked with a more comprehensive consideration of the issues. The Commission could consider proposing an enhanced role for the General Assembly to deliberate along those lines.
PETER R. MOKABA, Minister of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism of South Africa, said that ministers could not hope to get endorsement for their policies unless those policies were integrated in the framework of sustainable development. It was to that end that a ministerial conference was held in South Africa last year on marine and coastal protection. The conference was convened in order to heighten the political awareness of African leaders to the fact that their economic future depended on Africa's ability to protect marine and coastal environment. In regard to that conference, it was stressed that environmental protection was crucial to economic and food security.
He added that the African ministers at the conference agreed that sustainable development efforts should have the following goals: revitalizing regional conventions; attracting private investment; forging a mutually supportive dialogue between African countries in order to accommodate requests for access to natural resources; and ending fragmentation, which was identified as the enemy of progress.
ROBERT HILL, Senator and Minister for the Environment and Heritage of Australia, said he would circulate his paper and summarize it briefly. Most of the world's ocean-related problems were well known, including pollution and overexploitation. The solutions were often well known as well. The challenge seemed to be how to encourage the political will to achieve and implement
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decisions. The Commission could assist towards reaching practical, achievable outcomes. It should encourage ecosystem-based management plans.
There was need to find ways to improve international cooperation and coordination on oceans issues, both within national jurisdictions and on the high seas, he said. There was an urgent need to draw together the various sectoral bodies to integrate efforts and achieve solutions that were ecosystem-based. An open-ended working group on oceans should be established to report to the General Assembly.
Continuing, he said there was further need for better protection of marine biodiversity in international waters. That issue had not been well addressed in the past, due largely to jurisdictional difficulties and the fact that collective knowledge of the biological diversity of the high seas had been limited. But, now was the time for the international community to develop arrangements to conserve biodiversity before it was lost. Regarding development and protection of marine areas, he said that could be based on the premise that exploitation was legitimate, provided it was consistent with conservation values. Australia had considerable experience with that, for example regarding the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. In the long term, he supported marine protected areas in the high seas as well, to ensure conservation for all time.
He then emphasized the need to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, he said. In Brussels, next week, there would be a special meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Living Marine Resources. The aim of the meeting would be to develop catch certification and trade-related measures to help protect southern ocean stocks of Patagonian toothfish from illegal and unregulated activity. The outcome of that meeting would contribute to the efforts of the FAO to develop a global plan of action to combat such fishing. He urged all nations and regional fisheries organizations to give urgent priority to the FAO's work to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, and so avoid the collapse of the planet's shared fish stocks.
Dialogue
The Commission began by focusing on the theme of land-based pollution affecting marine environments.
The representative of Norway said that what was needed was not more plans and agreements, but implementation of plans that had been agreed upon at the national, regional and international levels. She said there could be a UNEP conference to address such land-based pollutants as sewage disposal and the dumping of garbage. The environmental aspects of oil production also needed to be dealt with at the international level. There was also a need for more international agreements controlling chemicals in oceans. The effects of
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chemicals were being found in the Arctic, where polar bears were being found with birth defects.
The representative of Egypt said that often plans of action alone were not implemented, but treaties did make a difference. Why were there no efforts to create legally binding requirements on land-based ocean pollution?
The representative of the United States said that there had been discussions of creating a legally binding agreement on ocean pollution in various international forums. At this point, however, the issue did not require an international treaty. One problem in controlling ocean pollution was that no single authority was in charge to protect oceans. Action in that areas, therefore, required coordination between parties that were not used to working with each other. He added that many States had not yet taken action on the Global Programme of Action on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities. The Commission should note and address that problem.
A representative of UNEP said his organization had taken a number of steps to implement the Global Programme of Action. It recently opened an office in The Hague for that purpose and it was working on a strategic action plan to promote the Programme.
The representative of Pakistan said there had been a meeting of the South Asian countries to address measures for environmental protection and enhance production capacity of South Asian States. At the meeting, countries agreed to take measures to control land-based pollution. Holding such regional meetings, with the involvement of all stakeholders, would go a long way in protecting the marine environment.
The representative of Canada said the council of circumpolar countries had developed an action plan on land-based pollution activities. The problem was that such pollution came mainly from other countries, rendering the programme of action ineffective. Pollution travelled via air and water. It concentrated in the region and in animals, particularly marine animals, which were then consumed by indigenous peoples. Generally, the trend was that, when people were directly affected by pollution nearby, they demanded change. In the Arctic, however, that did not happen, since pollution came from distant areas.
The representative of Egypt said that a number of regional initiatives existed, but were not working. There was need to revitalize UNEP's Regional Seas Action Programme. Language in the Commission's decision should encourage further development of plans of action by regional entities. Regarding the elements for a draft decision contained in the Working Group's report, specifically paragraphs 21(a), on cooperating to build capacities, and 21(c), on establishing a clearing house mechanism, who would be cooperating and where? he asked. By whom would such a mechanism be established? He was
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worried that the Commission was not including concrete goals and targets, so it would not be able to review in future years what had and had not been implemented.
The representative of Mozambique described a meeting of African States in his country last year to address the problems facing the continent's seas and the coasts. In Maputo, a number of tasks had been delineated, most importantly that a management programme should be developed and, with world assistance, implemented. Those issues had then been taken up in December in Capetown, where focus was on African agreements on the continent's coasts and seas. Numerous agreements had been promoted and ratified, but not implemented. Efforts focused on how to make them work. The conference in South Africa had developed an action plan and decided on a conference of partners, to be held at the start of 2001. It would call on African governments, the private sector and all interested parties to see how Africa's seas and coasts could be better managed.
Japan's representative said he supported the Global Programme of Action but was concerned about the slow rate of progress. The activities of the regional seas programme might be more important, since many projects were specific to regions. The draft paragraph calling for encouraging regional programmes of action should be strengthened.
A non-governmental organization representative supported the Commission's current emphasis on land-based sources of marine pollution, particularly against the context of increasing urbanization in coastal areas. The Global Programme of Action should be accelerated. Also, the distinction between local and global should be softened. Success had been achieved by combining local coastal zone management projects with those of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for adjoining international marine areas. Argentina was now implementing such a joint project. In the programme of action process, non-governmental organizations and the private sector should be more involved.
How available was the GEF funding for advancing the Global Plan of Action? the CHAIRMAN asked.
A GEF representative said the operational strategy adopted by his organization's council contained many programmes with which countries could address such issues as biodiversity and multi-country cooperation in international waters. Five projects were ongoing responding to the Global Programme of Action: three in Latin America; one relating to the Black Sea; and a project with Mediterranean countries. More were being prepared.
The representative of the Netherlands said greater attention should be given to seabed pollution. A particular problem in that regard was the scrapping or destruction of ships. States and ship owners should take responsibility for making sure the scrapping of ships did not pollute the
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oceans. The IMO could examine the issue and report back to the Commission. The world community should consider the creation of an international convention on environmental crime that would cover cross-border activities that polluted the environment. There was a need for sanctions and penalties for those who violated international standards for environmental protection.
The representative of the United Kingdom said the flag State had the responsibility for regulating its ships, and shipping companies had to be held to international standards. There were laws governing environmental behaviour, but States were not enforcing them. There was also a need for a forum that allowed various international bodies dealing with the marine environment to discuss issues and coordinate their efforts.
The representative of the United States said that States needed to coordinate their local marine policies before there could be international coordination. In that regard, governments needed to start being consistent in their recommendations in such forums as the Commission.
The representative of Egypt agreed with that statement, saying that often governments gave different or conflicting comments to the Secretariat.
NITIN DESAI, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said that national policy for the marine environment was rarely organized in one place. There was little coordination at the national level and that was reflected at the international level. The Commission could encourage governments to coordinate their national efforts in ocean and sea protection.
The representative of India said it had a coordinated system of monitoring the environment in coastal zones through coastal zone management authorities. It was important, however, to address the question of who would provide resources for coordination efforts.
The representative of Denmark said that governments often acted differently in different forums because different ministries were represented at the forums. Governments would be more responsive to the environment if there was greater public participation and access.
In that regard, the representative of Côte d'Ivoire said that effective participation was important. Countries often held seminars and meetings with non-governmental organizations and then claimed that there had been public participation. They must make sure that members of the public were not just spectators of such meetings.
The representative of Canada said his country had created a basis for incorporating the Law of the Sea into its national legislation.
For the International Seabed Authority, a speaker said his organization had been trying to inculcate in States the need for coordination at the
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national level, with varying success. At the international level, agencies and bodies had different mandates and constituencies. They often ignored the work of other entities. There should be a forum to enable agencies to highlight some of the problems in their areas of responsibility and to be a forum for discussion among States to help in achieving regional and national coordination.
The Commission then moved to the subject of the effect on local communities of land-based pollution. A local authority representative said that land-based pollution threatened communities and, therefore, local authorities required funds for such measures as the enforcement of national environmental standards. Local authorities should be encouraged by national authorities to classify their coastal areas and develop management mechanisms for each area. High sensitivity areas should be preserved free of development. Many local authorities also faced problems related to cruise ships and their efforts to enforce regulations must be supported. Also, national governments must back local authorities on issues regarding climate change, such as efforts to reduce urban emissions.
The CHAIRMAN said there was widespread agreement that any plan of action must involve local communities.
Mexico's representative brought up the El Niño phenomenon. Last year was one of history's most dramatic in terms of human and environmental losses. At the start of 1998, extreme droughts occurred, which then resulted in terrible fires. The second half of the year brought floods and heavy rains. The El Niño phenomenon should not be viewed as transitory. It was not clear what the links were between it and climate change, but the issue must be addressed. Efforts to detect and prepare for the effects of the phenomenon must be pursued more aggressively, through national and international strategies. The Commission should recommend that United Nation agencies coordinate efforts to address the matter and invite financing entities to support funding that work.
A speaker from the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said El Niño was not the only phenomenon that dramatically affected the change in climate patterns. The changing climate must be continuously observed. He called for a consolidated review of the work of all United Nations agencies on oceans.
Iceland said there was need to improve monitoring of marine resources, and the functioning of the earth's system, and the results should be widely disseminated. Such an assessment must also consider long-term, socio-economic effects. The current mechanism for assessing marine pollution did not meet the needs. The establishment of an intergovernmental panel on marine pollution should be considered. Governments and other stakeholders must be
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brought into the process of identifying problems and reviewing the conclusions.
For the IMO, a speaker said that, as requested by the Commission's fourth session, the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Protection (GESAMP) had revised its document and approved the change two years ago. Still, there was need for further revision. So, at the next GESAMP meeting the document would be further reviewed, possibly to include expertise beyond the sponsoring agencies' candidates. The intention was to include government experts and non-governmental organizations in the work of IMO.
The representative of Egypt said that the draft decision's paragraph 26(c), addressing the impact of increased climate variability, invited intergovernmental agencies only. Major responsibility for climate change rested with governments. The text should be changed.
Costa Rica's representative supported Mexico's proposal regarding the Commission conveying to the Assembly the initiative to study the El Niño phenomenon. The entire international community must work together to prevent, if at all possible, a recurrence of those disasters.
According to a representative of the Permanent Commission of the South Pacific, established in 1952, that body had been studying El Niño for almost 20 years. It had held a world conference in Ecuador in 1997, resulting in the Guayaquil Declaration, containing calls for action that the Commission should reflect.
The CHAIRMAN said a question had been asked about his proposal for trying to summarize the discussion before they left. The Commission's outcomes would be produced next week by the Commission, which would have the possible elements for a draft decision as a basis of the work. The Chair's report would provide guidance on key issues on which he sensed ministers would like to give guidance. That report would be presented to the high-level segment on Friday afternoon. Much of it would be written. In view of the Commission's schedule, however, small islands and consumption and production would be provided orally.
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