A conference organised by UNESCO in Paris was attended by hundreds of scientists, government and non-governmental officials, who discussed the issue of "Ensuring the Survival, Preserving Life, and Improving the Governance" of the oceans.
   
From May 3 to 7, more than 700 participants from 80 countries, including French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, met to discuss 3 main themes: biodiversity, climate change, and governance of the oceans.
   
The topics discussed were numerous, and included the impacts of climate change on the oceans. "There are two types of impact," explained François Gemenne, research associate for Climate and Migration at the IDDRI (Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations). "On the one hand, rising sea levels will cause erosion and floods threatening the very existence of certain populations. Many of the most densely-populated regions of the world are coastal and delta regions, and are therefore highly vulnerable. Rising sea levels threaten the livelihoods and the resources of the people who live in them, who must therefore adapt or eventually move. On the other hand, contamination of the soil and groundwater by salt water will cause problems in water supplies and in the conversion of agricultural methods". Issues such as the impact of climate change on small island states, as well as the challenges and opportunities for the oceans after the agreements signed at Copenhagen were therefore examined.
   
The 5th edition (since 2001) of this conference coincided with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and the International Year of Biodiversity, and represented an opportunity to develop solutions through an exchange of ideas and experiences among the States most likely to have to adapt.
   
The minutes of the meetings indicate that the recommendations focused on strengthening the international efforts designed to protect the biodiversity of rivers and consolidate the governance of the main marine ecosystems. The conference ended with a session entitled "Ensuring survival", to provide a situation report on the urgent, high-priority issue of the impact of climate change on sea beds.

For more information

• Read the UN News Center article- 03/05/10
• Go to the website of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• Visit the website of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations
• Visit the website of the Global Oceans Conference 2010
  
• Consult the minutes of the proceedings of UNESCO’S 5th Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts and Islands