World Meteorological Organization &

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission

(of UNESCO)
JOINT WMO/IOC TECHNICAL COMMISSION FOR JCOMM-5/Doc. 4.3
OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE METEOROLOGY Submitted by:
Fifth Session Secretary-General
Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, 25 to 29 October 2017 27.IX.2017
DRAFT 1

AGENDA ITEM 4: SCIENTIFIC AND OPERATIONAL CONTEXT REQUIREMENTS

OF JCOMM

AGENDA ITEM 4.3: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)

SUMMARY

DECISION/ACTION REQUIRED:

Adopt draft Decision 4.3/1 JCOMM Contribution to SDG 14.

CONTENT OF DOCUMENT:

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DRAFT DECISION

Draft Decision 4.3/1 (JCOMM-5)

JCOMM CONTRIBUTION TO SDG 14

THE JOINT WMO/IOC TECHNICAL COMMISSION FOR OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE

METEOROLOGY,

Recalling the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development that were adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN
Summit; these new Goals universally apply to all with the aim that, over 15 years, countries
will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change,
while ensuring that no one is left behind,

Recalling also that SDG 14 is directly related to the ocean: Conserve and sustainably use the
oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development , and, in particular, that SDG
target 14a is specific to improved technology transfer and capacity development,

Further recalling that ocean observations, data and services, also contribute to the other
SDGs,

Mindful that the UN Ocean Conference (New York, 5-7 June 2017) was held to identify ways
and means to support and advance the implementation of SDG 14, with an overall objective to
reverse the decline in health of the ocean for people, planet and prosperity,

Noting with satisfaction the contribution of both WMO and IOC at the UN Ocean Conference,
where particular areas of interest to WMO and IOC included:

(1) Minimizing and addressing ocean acidification,

(2) Increasing scientific knowledge, and developing research capacity and transfer of
marine technology,

(3) Addressing marine weather impacts in the polar regions,

(4) Addressing oceans and climate and building the Blue Economy,

Noting further with satisfaction the launch of voluntary commitments by IOC and WMO at
the UN Ocean Conference, including:

(1) IOC launched:

(a) A proposal for an International Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable

Development (2021 to 2030),

(b) A Global Ocean Science Report,

(c) And further voluntary commitments related to ocean observations, Ocean

Literacy, Blue Carbon, Western Pacific research capacity, Marine Spatial
Planning, Deep Ocean Sustainability, World Oceans Day, Small Island
Developing States, Ocean Acidification, Coral Reefs, an Ocean Knowledge-
Action Network, and ocean climate,
 JCOMM-5/Doc. 4.3, DRAFT 1, p. 3

(2) WMO launched:

(a) Weather and climate services for African, Caribbean and Pacific SIDS, which
are vulnerable to marine weather events and the impacts of climate change,

(b) Strengthening international coordination for improved early warning of El Nio

events and subsequent preparedness for its impacts, for example on food
security, human safety and health,

(c) The Year of Polar Prediction to foster observations and forecasting capabilities
in polar regions, which are declining rapidly due to climate change,

Recalling the UN Ocean Conference adoption of the Outcome Our Ocean Our Future: Call for
Action which explicitly references the need to sustain ocean observations and address the
impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events and in polar regions,

Taking note that the Call for Action is anticipated to have been endorsed at the 72nd Regular
Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGAS72) commencing 12 September 2017,

Requests the Co-Presidents of JCOMM to ensure the contribution of JCOMM experts in

assisting WMO and IOC in implementing the Call for Action (especially in relation to SDG 14a),
voluntary commitments, and other goals and targets in Agenda 2030, as appropriate;

Requests the Co-Presidents of JCOMM to engage in the proposed International Decade of

Ocean Science for Sustainable Development;

Urges IOC Member States and WMO Members to:

(a) Strengthen their ocean observations as contribution to the Global Ocean Observing
System and commitment to SDG Goals and targets;

(b) Assist the WMO and IOC in their voluntary commitments.

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Annex: 1
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Annex to draft Decision 4.3/1 (JCOMM-5)

UN OCEANS REPORT AND CALL FOR ACTION

1. Report of the United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of the

SDG-14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for
sustainable development (unedited advance version, 2017 Ref A/CONF.230/14).

2. United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable

Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine
resources for sustainable development. Outcome of the Conference: Our ocean, our
future: call for action. (A/CONF.230/L.1).

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