The International Conference on the Protection of Oceans and Coastal Zones held at the Foreign Ministry will be wound up today.
At the initiative of Italian Cooperation, the Conference was organised in partnership with the Permanent Representation at New York, the Ministry of the Environment, the “Ocean Sanctuary Alliance” (OSA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The International Conference on the Protection of Oceans and Coastal Zones held at the Foreign Ministry is winding up today. At the initiative of Italian Cooperation, the Conference was organised in partnership with the Permanent Representation at New York, the Ministry of the Environment, the “Ocean Sanctuary Alliance” (OSA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The symposium focused on the debate between more than 30 scientists and 36 delegates from 34 countries, especially the Permanent Representatives of small island developing States accredited in New York. The workshop was an ideal follow-up to the Ministerial Meeting on Food Security and Climate Adaptation in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) that Italy hosted at the Milan Expo 2015 last 14 and 15 October.
During the first two days of proceedings, scientists explored the main issues underlying the establishment and management of marine and coastal protected areas, with a particular focus on governance issues, monitoring activities and their economic sustainability.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Paolo Gentiloni, opened this morning’s closing session, in which the scientists’ proposals were debated with the diplomats from New York. The debate was aimed at reaching shared recommendations in promoting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which provides for the protection of 10% of the world’s marine and coastal areas by 2020.
To this end, Italy and OSA recently launched the “10by20 Initiative” in New York by setting up a Steering Committee – chaired by Italy and open to the membership of UN and civil society organisations – to support the establishment of marine protected areas, disseminating the relevant information and good practices.
On the sidelines of the conference, Under-Secratary Vincenzo Amendola met with diplomats at Villa Madama last night in order to discuss the role of technology in protecting seas and oceans together with Italian companies operating in the sectors of renewable energy sources and the monitoring of marine and coastal areas and with organisations providing entrepreneur training programmes in Developing Countries.
The Conference was opened by the Ministry’s Secretary General, Michele Valensise, and will close with an address by Environment Minister, Gian Luca Galletti.
