The oceans cover almost 2/3 of the earth's surface, with ecological, social and economic functions which have a great effect on the lives of the people living on this earth. The oceans, land and the atmosphere above them are indeed part of one system with intimate links between them.
The expanse of the oceans plays a major role in determining world climate and weather, however on the other hand the increasing rate of global climate change in recent times is having a great impact on life in and around the oceans, affecting both marine life and the lives of people whose livelihoods depend on marine resources and on the environmental services provided by the marine and coastal environment.
From the legal framework aspect, maritime activities are regulated under The Convention on the Law of the Sea, which came into effect in 1982 (UNCLOS 1982) and has been ratified by over 135 nations across the world. UNCLOS lays the ground-rules for the use of marine resources and establishes the rights and responsibilities of nations in developing their maritime activities, including the obligation to apply the Convention in a right and proper fashion. However we re now aware that this Convention which has been in effect for over 25 years does not really address the ways in which governments manage maritime affaires related to the impacts of global climate change on the oceans, or indeed the role of the oceans in the phenomena of global climate change.
It is now known that climate change has major impacts in the marine field and threatens the way in which the oceans support the lives and livelihoods of mankind, our "life-support" system. In order to save the oceans from the negative effects of climate change, manage and mitigate climate change- impacts and preserve the life-support functions of the oceans, we need to work together across national divides, through the establishment of an instrument containing a strong commitment of all parties to the implementation of management measures to address marine matters which are related to global climate change.
With this goal in mind, Indonesia has taken the initiative of holding the World Ocean Conference (WOC) in Manado – Indonesia on the 11th – 15th May 2009, hereafter referred to as WOC2009, which will be attended by Ministers and High Level Government Officials and High Level Officials from Multilateral Organisations in order to develop a common understanding and firm commitment to face up to the impact of climate change on the state of the world's oceans and to increase our understanding of the role of the oceans in determining the rate of global climate change.
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