UN Ocean Conference

Subject: Geography

Section: Oceanography

Context:

Leaders from 120 countries are assembling in Lisbon to attempt to reach an agreement to save global oceans as climate change takes a toll.
The oceans face a severe threat from global warming, pollution, acidification and other problems.
The Governments of Kenya and Portugal will co-host the Ocean Conference.
The conference sought to find ways and urge for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14.

Concept :

Threats

Pollution, overfishing, and the effects of climate change severely damage the health of our oceans.
For instance as oceans are warming and becoming more acidic, biodiversity is becoming reduced and changing currents will cause more frequent storms and droughts.
Every year around 8 million metric tons of plastic waste leak into the ocean and make it into the circular ocean currents.
This causes contamination of sediments at the sea-bottom and causes plastic waste to be embedded in the aquatic food chain.
It could lead to oceans containing more plastics than fish by 2050 if nothing is done.
Key habitats such as coral reefs are at risk and noise pollution is a threat to whales, dolphins, and other species.
Furthermore almost 90 percent of fish stocks are overfished or fully exploited which cost more than $80 billion a year in lost revenues.

Agenda of the Conference

The Ocean conference will adopt a declaration which would not be binding on its signatories, but could help in implementing and facilitating the conservation and protection of oceans and their resources.
The declaration is being negotiated within the framework of the United Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is the main international agreement governing human maritime activities.

India at Ocean conference

From India, the Minister of Earth Sciences, will attend the conference.
He will speak on the theme– “Scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation for the implementation of goal 14: stocktaking, partnerships and solutions”.
India will provide science and innovation-based solutions for implementing Goal 14.