United Nations-Oceans
Encyclopedia
The United Nations-Oceans (or UN-Oceans) is an inter-agency coordination mechanism of the United Nations
, set up to enhance cooperation and coordination of activities concerned with the world oceans and coasts. The UN-Oceans was formed in September 2003 by the United Nations System Chief Executive Board (CEB), to replace the Sub-Committee on Oceans and Coastal Areas (SOCA) of the Administrative Committee on coordination (ACC) that was formed in 1993.
that took place in Rio de Janeiro
on June 13, 1992, 178 governments of the United Nations
agreed upon Agenda 21
as an action plan for the 21st century for sustainable living. As part of this sustainable living, UN agencies involved in the coordination of ocean and coastal issues formed the 'Sub-Committee on Oceans and Coastal Issues' (SOCA) as part of the 'Administrative Committee on cooridination' (ACC). This was in compliance with chapter 17 of Agenda 21 which refers to the protection of the earths oceans and the rational use and development of their resources in the 21st Century.
In 2001, the ACC (now the United Nations System Chief Executive Board) conducted a review of its subsidiary committees (including SOCA) and announced that they should cease to exist by the end of 2001; that task-orientated arrangements such as those to do with the ocean, and any inter-agency support requirements be handled by a lead agency. Following consultations between UN Programs, agencies and organisations involved in coordinating oceans and coasts, indications of interest in forming a new inter-agency coordination mechanism became apparent. The United Nations High Level-Committee on programmes approved the creation of the United Nations-Oceans in 2003 as the new network in the UN system.
, Geology
, Research and Exploration, issues of concern such as sustainable development
and food security. The uses of the ocean such as human settlement, extraction and its geography.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, set up to enhance cooperation and coordination of activities concerned with the world oceans and coasts. The UN-Oceans was formed in September 2003 by the United Nations System Chief Executive Board (CEB), to replace the Sub-Committee on Oceans and Coastal Areas (SOCA) of the Administrative Committee on coordination (ACC) that was formed in 1993.
History
Following the Earth SummitEarth Summit
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development , also known as the Rio Summit, Rio Conference, Earth Summit was a major United Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 June to 14 June 1992.-Overview:...
that took place in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
on June 13, 1992, 178 governments of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
agreed upon Agenda 21
Agenda 21
Agenda 21 is an action plan of the United Nations related to sustainable development and was an outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992...
as an action plan for the 21st century for sustainable living. As part of this sustainable living, UN agencies involved in the coordination of ocean and coastal issues formed the 'Sub-Committee on Oceans and Coastal Issues' (SOCA) as part of the 'Administrative Committee on cooridination' (ACC). This was in compliance with chapter 17 of Agenda 21 which refers to the protection of the earths oceans and the rational use and development of their resources in the 21st Century.
In 2001, the ACC (now the United Nations System Chief Executive Board) conducted a review of its subsidiary committees (including SOCA) and announced that they should cease to exist by the end of 2001; that task-orientated arrangements such as those to do with the ocean, and any inter-agency support requirements be handled by a lead agency. Following consultations between UN Programs, agencies and organisations involved in coordinating oceans and coasts, indications of interest in forming a new inter-agency coordination mechanism became apparent. The United Nations High Level-Committee on programmes approved the creation of the United Nations-Oceans in 2003 as the new network in the UN system.
UN Atlas of the Oceans
The UN Atlas of the Oceans was created under the authority of the UN-Oceans, as an information system designed for policy-makers and scientists to help them to know more about the oceans such as its BiologyBiology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, Geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
, Research and Exploration, issues of concern such as sustainable development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
and food security. The uses of the ocean such as human settlement, extraction and its geography.