RIO + 20: AND AFTER?

In June, the RIO +20 world summit was held. The proposals that came out of the meeting reaffirm once again the main principles that had emerged 20 years ago, and particularly insist on the need for global governance of the oceans, and support for the blue economies of all. small island states: 50 pages to save the planet, it remains to be seen how the transition from paper to the field will be made.

WORLD GOVERNANCE OF OCEANS

This is one of the major themes supported in Rio: the need for real global governance of the oceans, to prevent safeguard measures taken locally from not having the desired effect because they would be isolated. It therefore becomes necessary to create and implement an institutional and legal framework in order to protect habitats and biodiversity which are located beyond national jurisdictions, to reform regional organizations responsible for ocean management, to improve coordination, the coherence and effectiveness of United Nations systems in the management of ocean issues.

ECONOMY GREEN OR RATHER BLUE

Several pages of the text are devoted to “green economy policies”, that is to say economies geared towards sustainable development, depending on the specificities of each country, its reality on the ground, respecting local realities rather than by imposing methods from outside. And since many of the countries concerned are largely or even completely focused on the sea, it is in fact the term blue economy that takes on its full meaning. The policies put in place must also “help to bridge the technological differences between developed and developing countries”.

SUPPORTING SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES

Those known as small island developing States (SIDS) in international fora remain particularly vulnerable because of their vulnerability to climate change, geographic isolation and small size. They feel particularly vulnerable to threats to their marine environment and economic viability, and are fully aware of the need for human, technical and financial support (including the establishment of marine protected areas wastewater and solid waste management). They were therefore at the heart of the conference's issues.

SAVING OCEANS, NOT FOR WHALES BUT FOR US

The new documentary by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, "Ocean Planet" was previewed at the Rio Summit. With a clear message from the photographer and director: in short, we must save the oceans not only to save the whales but simply to save the human species. The film will be presented at the next World Festival of Underwater Image at the end of October 2012 in Marseille.