Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MS. PRIM MASRINUAN, COUNSELLOR, PERMANENT MISSION OF THAILAND TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE MEETING OF THE AD HOC WORKING GROUP OF THE WHOLE, REGULAR PROCESS FOR GLOBAL REPORTING AND ASSESSMENT OF THE STATE OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING SOCIOECONOMIC ASPECTS, ON AGENDA ITEM 4: REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF THE AD HOC WORKING GROUP OF THE WHOLE (New York, 3 August 2016)

Co-Chairs,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

At the outset, please allow me to express our recognition to the former Co-Chairs, Mr. Joao Miguel Madureira and Ms. Fernanda Millicay, for the good work leading to the adoption of the 1st World Ocean Assessment and we would like to reaffirm our support to you, Co-Chairs, Ms. Juliette Babb-Riley and Ms. Carolyn Schwalger in the tasks ahead. We are confident in your able leadership to conduct this process to a significant progress. We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the experts for their nomination.

Co-Chair,

The 1st World Oceans Assessment is an important document which provides information concerning oceans, from scientific facts on biodiversity and ecosystem; how climate change or marine activities have impacts on the health of the oceans; how we depend on oceans in terms of food security. It also reveals the interdependence between oceans and human beings as well as raise our awareness on how to keep the oceans sustainable.

That is the reason why we are of the view that the 1st Assessment must not be left unheeded. It will continue to provide useful data and factual elements to inform decision. Its dissemination should be encouraged through wide publication and by word of mouth in different oceans related forum and workshops including those organized by civil society. Furthermore, the 1st Assessment contains chapters which relate to capacity-building needs and knowledge gaps in marine biological diversity and habitats. Those needs and gaps should be addressed through different initiatives in collaboration with other relevant bodies, including competent UN specialized agencies, as appropriate, which have expertise in specific field of issues. The regional workshops are also good opportunities to raise awareness of the 1st Assessment as well as to identify some regional priorities and trends for the 2nd Assessment. We also support the idea that the inventory of opportunities and arrangements for capacity-building for assessments done by DOALOS should regularly be kept up-to-date and made available on the Regular Process web-portal.

I thank you.