2015
and Climate Platform comprising
NGOs, private sector representatives,
scientific institutions and IOCUNESCO) stressed the importance
of protected and functioning marine
ecosystems in view of the services
they provide, such as their natural
capacity to capture CO2. Additionally,
their role as “lung” of the planet is as
important as forests’.
The Call also pleas for an integration
of sustainable marine biodiversity
management projects into climate
finance mechanisms. The need to
support scientific research, as a
means to expand our understanding
of climate processes and thus
improve political action is another
component. It will be presented to
Member States during COP21 in
December 2015, together with a set
of recommendations to include the
ocean in climate change mitigation
and adaptation strategies.
It was read by Sandra Bessudo,
the Columbian High Presidential
Counselor for Environmental
Management, Biodiversity, Water &
Climate Change, to the attendees of
the closing ceremony, notably HSH
Prince Albert II of Monaco, Tommy
Remengesau, President of Palau,
Freundel Stuart, Prime Minister of
Barbados, and Danny Faure, Vicepresident of the Seychelles.
Everyone is invited to give the
ocean a voice by signing the Call
on change.org/oceanforclimate
(#OceanForClimate), thus joining
forces with the scientists, skippers,
and associations that will champion
this vital call for the planet’s future
during climate negotiations.
*About the Ocean and Climate
Platform
The Ocean and Climate Platform
stems from an alliance of nongovernmental organizations
and research institutes, with the
support of the Intergovernmental
Oceanographic Commission of
UNESCO. It was established in on 10
June 2014 on the occasion of World
Oceans day. Today the Platform
includes scientific organizations,
universities, research institutions,
non-profit associations, foundations,
science centers, public institutions
and business organizations, all acting
to bring the ocean to the forefront in
climate discussions.
Interesting Ocean Facts
Area: about 140 million square miles
(362 million sq km), or nearly 71% of
the Earth’s surface.
Average Depth: 12,200 feet (3,720 m).
Deepest point: 36,198 feet (11,033 m)
in the Mariana Trench in the western
Pacific.
Mountains: The ocean ridges form a
great mountain range, almost 40,000
miles (64,000 km) long, that weaves
its way through all the major oceans.
It is the largest single feature on
Earth.
Highest Mountain: Mauna Kea,
Hawaii, rises 33,474 feet (10,203 m)
from its base on the ocean floor; only
13,680 feet (4,170 m) are above sea
level.
Coastlines
The total length of the world’s
coastlines is about 315,000 miles,
enough to circle the Equator 12
times.
As coastal zones become more and
more crowded, the quality of coastal
water will suffer, the wildlife will be
displaced, and the shorelines will
erode. 60% of the Pacific and 35%
of the Atlantic Coast shoreline are
eroding at a rate of a meter every
year.
Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene • July - August 2015
31