Miljø- og Fødevareudvalget 2016-17
MOF Alm.del Bilag 353
Offentligt
1737241_0001.png
136 IPU Assembly
Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1- 5 April 2017
th
Governing Council
Item 7
CL/200/7(f)-R.1
28 February 2017
Reports on recent IPU specialized meetings
(f)
Annual Parliamentary Hearing at the United Nations
New York, 13–14 February 2017
The Hearing was designed to contribute to the UN Ocean Conference in June this year
and was entitled
A World of Blue: Preserving the oceans, safeguarding the planet,
ensuring human well-being in the context of the 2030 Agenda.
It formed part of the
extensive series of events and initiatives that the IPU is undertaking to advance the
SDGs.
Oceans are the main subject of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Conserve
and
sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development).
Goal 14 acknowledges that oceans will soon reach the limit of their capacity to
regenerate themselves and to play a key role in supporting the entire earth's ecosystem.
In line with past practice, the event was organized by the IPU in partnership with the
Office of the President of the General Assembly. The President of the General Assembly,
Ambassador Peter Tomson, attended with the President and the Secretary General of the
IPU and the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs (on behalf of the
UN Secretary-General, who was on mission abroad).
E
#IPU136
Of the 170 parliamentarians participating, two thirds had never attended this flagship IPU
event. This points to the high degree of interest that parliamentarians have in oceans. A
total of 300 people took part, including diplomats, UN staff, civil society representatives
and parliamentary staff.
 MOF, Alm.del - 2016-17 - Bilag 353: Henvendelse af 27/3-17 fra IPU om høring om havet i FN
-2-
CL/200/7(f)-R.1
There were four main sessions during the Hearing that covered the most important aspects of the
issue: the economic benefits of oceans, the need to protect marine life, interconnections with
climate change, and governance of the high seas. Overall, the Hearing helped to raise awareness
of SDG 14 among parliamentarians and to highlight key actions they can take to protect such a
vital ecosystem, including:
Preventing all kinds of waste from going to the sea, which requires investing in infrastructure
such as waste treatment facilities;
Keeping carbon emissions below a manageable level, and even make carbon-neutrality a
legal requirement;
Establishing marine sanctuaries;
Providing safety nets for out-of-work fishers;
Regulating the fishing industry to protect artisanal fishing from larger commercial entities;
Outlawing the waste of by-catch;
Banning plastic bags, styrofoam and single-use plastic products;
Imposing a moratorium on industrial fishing to allow fisheries to regenerate;
Making funding available for research, public education and awareness-raising.
The overarching conclusion of the Hearing was that MPs must do more to generate the political will
to support the oceans. They should keep the pressure on their governments to do all they can to
implement SDG 14. That work should include asking governments for a briefing on preparations for
the Oceans Conference on 5–9 June, and on the very important negotiations of a new international
agreement to regulate the use of international waters, which account for two thirds of the world’s
oceans.
Parliamentarians are strongly encouraged to participate in the Oceans Conference as part of their
national delegations. They are also encouraged to celebrate World Oceans Day (8 June) by
organizing a public event in their parliaments or a debate to review the conclusions of the IPU-UN
hearing.
The summary of the Hearing will circulate to the Oceans Conference as an official report from the
President of the General Assembly.