WORLD OCEAN CONFERENCE DECLARATION ADOPTED
16 Mei 2009
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Wrapping up an arduous two-year negotiation process, 76 countries, including Indonesia, on Thursday signed a pact to protect oceans and coastal areas from the impact of climate change. Representatives from the 76 countries officially adopted the Manado Ocean Declaration after four days of meetings at the World Ocean Conference in the North Sulawesi capital of Manado.

"All participants have unanimously agreed on the points that have been delivered and the next step will be to bring the declaration to Copenhagen," said Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numberi, referring to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) in December in Denmark.

Numberi said the declaration reflected participants' political will "that oceans and coastal area issues will be included in future climate change negotiations."

The declaration contained 35 paragraphs and highlighted the need for financial resources and incentives to help developing countries protect oceans and seas, for renewable ocean technologies, and for funding for more research into the impact of climate change on oceans and the role of large bodies of water in fighting the harmful effects of climate change.

Arief Havaz Oegroseno, Head of the Indonesian Delegation, said the declaration also invited parties to the UNFCCC to submit adaptation project proposals for coastal and ocean management to the Adaptation Fund Board.

Numberi denied accusations by NGOs that the declaration did not adequately protect the fisheries sector, saying the statement included all actions necessary to secure the livelihoods of coastal communities in Indonesia or elsewhere. Numberi said that the declaration was not a scientific document but a political one.

Following the WOC, six member countries of the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) agreed to push ahead to create a secretariat and work out funding later in a bid to protect the region's fast-diminishing coral reefs, said Numberi.

Officials of the six nations -- Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and the Solomon Islands -- were expected to sign what was termed a CTI Leader's Declaration. The secretariat is in the very early stages. Only the US has confirmed funding, allocating $40 million over five years.

The body is seeking $70 million from the Global Environmental Fund, which addresses the funding of global environmental issues, particularly climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Although no decision has been made on the location of the secretariat, Indonesia is considered the likely location although the Philippines is reportedly also vying for the site, which can be expected to generate one of the world's top marine research centers. (Trade and Investment News, 16 May 2009)

Sumber: Trade and Investment News - www.ekon.go.id