38th Session, Paris, 2015 rep Report 38 C/REP/9 28 July 2015 English and French only REPORT OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION ON ITS ACTIVITIES (2014-2015) OUTLINE According to Art. 3.2 of the Statutes and Rule of Procedure 49.2, the IOC prepares regular reports on its activities, which shall be submitted to the General Conference of UNESCO. The IOC s report to the General Conference at its 38th session (Paris, 3-18 November 2015) covers the period 2014-2015 and focuses on the main achievements in the implementation of the UNESCO Medium-term Strategy 2014-2021 (37 C/4) with respect to Strategic Objective 5 Promoting international scientific cooperation on critical challenges to sustainable development. 1. Established in 1960 by Resolution 2.31 adopted by the General Conference at its eleventh session, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission is a body with functional autonomy within UNESCO. The IOC promotes international cooperation and coordinates programmes in marine research, services, observation systems, hazard mitigation and capacity development in its 147 Member States. 2. The IOC Assembly at its 27th session (Paris, 26 June5 July 2013) adopted, through Resolution XXVII-2(B), the IOC Medium-Term Strategy for 2014 2021 (IOC/INF-1314). In line with the IOC mission statement, a vision for the period 2014-2021 reflects perceived societal needs, emerging issues, and requirements for intergovernmental coordination. Vision: Strong scientific understanding and systematic observations of the changing world ocean climate and ecosystems shall underpin sustainable development and global
38 C/REP/9 page 2 governance for a healthy ocean, and global, regional and national management of risks and opportunities from the ocean. 3. The implementation strategy is organized in a conceptual framework of functions required to advance towards the IOC Vision and to achieve the Expected Results defined by the IOC Governing Bodies for the quadrennial programme of the Commission for 2014-2017. Accordingly, this report provides brief summary on programme implementation for the period 2014-2015 by Expected Result and by function. 4. The IOC has been strongly affected by the financial crisis experienced by UNESCO, not only through the reduction in its regular budget but also a loss of USA s extensive voluntary contributions, which used to provide a solid funding base for its global programmes. To give priority to the programme implementation, the IOC resorted to a drastic reduction of its administration and coordination costs to ensure continuation of programmatic staffing needs and to preserve to the extent possible the quality of delivery. Activities were downscaled across all major areas of work, from ocean observations and tsunami warning to marine spatial planning, integrated coastal area management, and ocean acidification research. The reductions applied follow strictly the guidance by the IOC Governing Bodies. EXPECTED RESULT 4: Scientific understanding of ocean and coastal processes bolstered and used by Member States to improve the management of the human relationship with the ocean Function A: Ocean research 5. IOC continued its work in the area of micro-plastics in the marine environment within the GESAMP 1 framework, including acting as an advisory body on potential plastics projects funded by the European Union Joint Programming Initiative on Oceans (EU JPI Oceans). Together with PICES 2 and ICES 3, IOC has convened the 3rd International Symposium on the Effects of Climate Change in the World s Ocean (Santos, Brazil, 23-27 March 2015), which attracted 284 participants from 38 countries. 6. IOC co-leads the Global Ocean Acidification (OA) Observing Network (GOA-ON), which aims to coordinate and improve observations. The GOA-ON roadmap was published in September 2014, and a biological working group co-chaired and coordinated by IOC was established to improve measurements to detect the impact of increasing CO 2 levels on marine life. IOC continued to enhance awareness about OA among policymakers by launching the Ocean Climate Platform, which brings together representatives of the research community and civil society, by celebrating the World Oceans Day (8 June 2015) entirely dedicated to ocean-climate issues and by organizing side events at COP-20 and 21. The launch by International Ocean Carbon Coordination Project of the Surface Ocean CO 2 Atlas (SOCAT) version 3 in September 2015 has been a major recent undertaking by sea-going marine carbon scientists from across the world. 7. Among the many developments in the regions, the IOC Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (IOCARIBE) project Demonstrate Approaches for Nutrient and Sediment Reduction at Selected Pilot Study Areas in the Wider Caribbean was one of the key components of the GEF-financed Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystems Management in Caribbean SIDS (IWEco) Project. A new project proposal Partnership for Sustainable Management of Ocean and Coasts in Latin America was prepared in close cooperation with UNDP GEF International Waters. 1 2 3 Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (IMO-FAO-UNESCO-WMO- WHO-IAEA-UN-UNEP-UNIDO). North Pacific Marine Science Organization. International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.
38 C/REP/9 page 3 8. The objectives, outline and expected outcomes of the IOC s Global Ocean Science Report were presented at the 16th meeting of the Informal Consultative Process on Ocean and the Law of the Sea in New York and the interest of Member States in it was quite encouraging. 9. IOC, SCOR 4, and IOGOOS 5 formed an Interim Planning Committee for the Second International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE-2). The launch of the IIOE-2 is planned on 4 December 2015 in Goa, India, and benefits from support from the Perth Project Office and from a dedicated office to be established in India. Regional IOC Sub-Commissions in Africa and Asia (IOCAFRICA and WESTPAC, respectively) have both participated in the planning process. Function B: Observing system/data management 10. Given that the reduced IOC regular programme budget is not in position to fully support the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) workplan, priority has gone to sustaining the activities of GOOS focused on observation of physical parameters. Activities to expand the scope of GOOS to support monitoring of ocean health have been able to advance with in-kind support from IOC Member States. Among many fundraising initiatives, IOC is a partner in a new European Commission Horizon 2020 project AtlantOS, focused on optimizing and enhancing the integrated Atlantic Ocean observing system. 11 JCOMMOPS, which provides direct technical coordination to most of the Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) in situ observing programmes, inaugurated its new offices at the French Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (Ifremer) in Brest, France, improving opportunities for coordination with European in situ networks, entirely supported on extrabudgetary funding. 12. The WMO-IOC-ICSU-UNEP Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) completed a Status Report to be presented to the UNFCCC COP-21 in December 2015 in Paris, France, and is preparing for an updated Implementation Plan to be delivered in 2016. 13. The International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) community celebrated on 16 March 2015, the 10th anniversary of its IOC Project Office in Ostende, Belgium. The celebration event was held in Bruges, Belgium on 16 March and was attended by 160 guests. 14. WESTPAC and IOCARIBE have been promoting the value of sustained ocean observations and services in their respective regions, and IOCAFRICA organized a Forum on the Future of Sustained Ocean Observations for IOC Group V (Africa and Arab States) from 11 to 13 April 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya, with support from the Republic of Korea. 15. Challenges encountered and lessons learned: Shortage of resources has led to reduced interaction of IOC with key scientific fora and hampered its capacity development work, especially in ocean observations. Dilution of the IOC brand and reducing delivery for all Member States were mitigated by stronger coordination and due to in-kind support of IOC Member State institutions. EXPECTED RESULTS 5: Risks and impacts of tsunamis and other ocean-related hazards reduced, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures taken, and policies for healthy ocean ecosystems developed and implemented by Member States Function C: Early warning and services 16. Four regional tsunami wave exercises with high level of participation have been carried out over the past year to assess the effectiveness of communication among the stakeholders, the country readiness, and the efficiency of emergency procedures. New tsunami warning products were issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (USA) providing greater detail of estimated 4 5 Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research. Indian Ocean component of the Global Ocean Observing System.
38 C/REP/9 page 4 level of impact and reducing the frequency of false warnings. The IOC Indian Ocean Tsunami Information Centre (IOTIC) was officially launched in Indonesia, Jakarta on 24 November 2014 and completes the network of TICs in all four IOC regional tsunami warning systems. Through extrabudgetary projects and partnerships activities to raise the level of awareness and preparedness were maintained in Haiti and Dominican Republic. 17. For the tsunami programme there were many anniversaries in 2015. The three youngest regional tsunami warning systems in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and the North Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and connected seas celebrated their 10-year anniversary. The Pacific Tsunami Warning System celebrated its 50-year anniversary with a large conference entitled Making the Pacific Ready for the Tsunami Threat and the publication by NOAA of a commemorative book: Pacific Tsunami Warning System: A half-century of protecting the Pacific, 1965-2015. 18. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the tragic 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, IOC in collaboration with the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) organized an international conference, which was attended by 160 participants from 28 countries, 10 United Nations agencies, 10 media organizations and many NGOs, research institutions, universities and private organizations. 19. The JCOMM Management Committee established a Task Team on integrated marine meteorological and oceanographic services within the WMO Information System, in order to improve the interfaces between ocean data and service providers and meteorological information systems. 20. Recognizing that Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP) is the most extensive human illness caused by harmful algae, the IOC Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB) has started the development of a global Coordinated Ciguatera Strategy involving the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The active engagement of the World Health Organization (WHO) is being pursued. Function D: Assessment and information for policy 21. IOC continued to provide technical input to the World Ocean Assessment (WOA) report. It led the marine components of the GEF-funded Transboundary Water Assessment Programme (TWAP) aiming to inform a number of ocean governance mechanisms. New Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) products supporting ocean assessments are under development through the project Development of Information Products and Services for Ocean Assessments funded by the Government of Flanders (Belgium). 22. The IOC is strongly involved in the Blue Carbon Scientific Working Group. Internationally applicable standards for quantifying and monitoring carbon storage, sequestration, and emissions in coastal ecosystems on regional and local scales were identified and the manual Coastal Blue Carbon: methods for assessing carbon stocks and emissions factors in mangroves, tidal salt marshes, and seagrass meadows was published and launched at the meeting of the Scientific working group of the Blue Carbon Initiative in Rio Grande, Brazil, in October 2014. In early 2015, the IOC produced two publications: Directory of Atmospheric, Hydrographic and Biological datasets for the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (Technical Series 110) and a related review Oceanographic and biological features in the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (Technical Series 115). 23. Challenges encountered and lessons learned: Considerable progress has been made over the last 10 years in all four regional tsunami warning systems. The main challenges are to secure the sustainability of these systems and to make sure the systems reach all communities at risk. As tsunamis will continue to occur, continued tsunami education, community preparedness (hazard assessment, coastal planning, standard operating procedures) measures and awareness raising are the increasing priority.
38 C/REP/9 page 5 EXPECTED RESULT 6: Member States institutional capacities reinforced to protect and sustainably manage ocean and coastal resources Function E: Sustainable management and governance 24. A new set of international guidelines on Evaluating Marine Spatial Plans (IOC Manuals and Guides, 70) was published in October 2014 as the outcome of a two-year project funded by the Moore Foundation. With a new grant work is under way on global assessment and dissemination of MSP. IOC is participating in the EU Horizon 2020 AQUACROSS (2015 2019) consortium aimed at support of EU efforts to enhance the resilience and stop the loss of biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems, including coastal and marine waters, as well as to ensure the ongoing and future provision of aquatic ecosystem services. 25. In the framework of the GEF-funded new Community of Practice Project for Large Marine Ecosystems, which will be implemented in partnership with NOAA, ICES, UNDP and IUCN, the IOC intends to host the Secretariat of the Project and to establish a global network of LME practitioners through enhanced sharing and application of knowledge and information tools. 26. In the follow-up to the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, IOC co-leads the United Nations Ocean Task Support Team mandated to provide scientific and technical information upon request to the Member States negotiating the formulation of SDGs. On 21 April 2015, together with the UN-DOALOS, IOC organized a side event to highlight the role of IOC in capacity development and ocean sciences. A new brochure on IOC s contribution to Transfer of Marine Technology (IOC/BRO/2014/3) was launched at the 16th meeting of the United Nations Informal Consultative Process on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea. 27. Regional sub-commissions continued to play their role as catalysts for regional programme design and delivery, and WESTPAC celebrated its 25th anniversary. Function F: Capacity development 28. New IOC Capacity Development Strategy was prepared with active participation of 37 Member States, reviewed by regional sub-commissions and presented to the IOC Assembly in June 2015. The IOC addresses the Global Priority Africa through actions in the domain of marine sciences and operational oceanography, with a special emphasis on aspects dealing with the impacts of adaptation to climate change in the coastal zones and on enhancement of capabilities to safeguard marine resources. In this context, the projects funded by Spain to enhance oceanographic capacities in Western Africa and training courses provided by OBIS with funding from the Government of Flanders deserve particular mention. Capacity-development activities are also a cornerstone of HAB programme. 29. The focus of the training courses and their location are demand-driven. Most of them use of the OceanTeacher web-based learning platform and include qualification by examination. WESTPAC employs adaptive and self-driven approaches to capacity development in the region with guiding principles to focus on regional and national needs, to foster North-South and South- South cooperation, and to link training to the attainment of research goals addressing critical challenges to sustainable development in the region. 30. The Second Sino-Africa Forum on Marine Science and Technology was co-organized on 9 and 10 April 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya, by IOCAFRICA and the State Oceanic Administration of China. 31. IOCARIBE, in close cooperation with the Colombian Ocean Commission, participated in an exhibition promoting IOC s activities in the Caribbean Region under the framework of the International Event Sail Cartagena de Indias 2014 (15-19 May, Cartagena, Colombia). IOCARIBE SIDS actively participated in the United Nations SIDS Conference (September 2014, Samoa) and
38 C/REP/9 page 6 in the International Ocean Forum and Round Table 2014 in Yeosu, Korea, from 21 to 24 October 2014. 32. Challenges encountered and lessons learned: Regions are very different in terms of available capacity, level of regional collaboration and ability to mobilize resources. There is a need to improve coordination and communication between the global programmes and the subcommissions. 28th session of the IOC Assembly 33. The session was held at UNESCO in Paris, from 18 to 25 June 2015, and was, for the first time, preceded by an Ocean Science Day, initiated by the officers of the Commission. The Assembly examined a vast array of items requiring its decision and overall guidance: The Assembly endorsed the IOC Capacity Development Strategy (2015-2021) and stressed the need to regularly measure its effectiveness and impact; The Assembly decided to launch the Second International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE-2) at Goa, India, on 4 December 2015, for an initial period of five years and appreciated the generous offers of India and Australia to host the IIOE-2 Project Office in Hyderabad and the Perth Programme Office, respectively; The Assembly endorsed the revised Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure for the Joint IHO IOC GEBCO Guiding Committee and decided to review the GEBCO project with a focus on the IOC s role and involvement in the project, mainly from a vantage point of users of GEBCO bathymetric dataset and products; The Assembly reviewed and endorsed the Executive Secretary s proposal for a draft budget for 2016-2017. It agreed that the Commission s mandate to establish a longterm, systematic ocean observing, modelling and analysis programme, which is the foundation of environmental protection, sustainable development, climate change and hazard risk reduction, needs to guide the budgeting process. Member States emphasized the need to raise the awareness of the role that the IOC with its regional bodies can play as the global intergovernmental hub for ocean science cooperation, advice, and information. The Assembly entrusted the newly elected officers of the Commission to systematically work on raising awareness within UNESCO of the IOC functional autonomy and its intergovernmental status in the United Nations system. It called for in-depth consultation among Member States, during the intersessional period, on the ways and means of ensuring the required institutional and operational sustainability of the Commission, exploiting all provisions offered by Article 10 of the IOC statutes ( Financial and other resources ). Printed on recycled paper