Biliana Cicin-Sain welcomes attendees to the Fifth Global Ocean Conference

The Global Oceans Conferences provide the major opportunity for all sectors of the global oceans community--governments, international agencies, nongovernmental organizations, industry, scientific groups, and museums and aquaria--to make progress in advancing the global oceans agenda.  2010 is the year when nations are expected to have met major international targets set by the world's heads of state at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development.  This is the year to address the challenges, opportunities, and obstacles posed in the forging of international consensus on a new climate regime.  2010 celebrates the International Year of Biodiversity considering  progress towards reducing the rate of biodiversity loss at global, regional, and national levels. Lastly, 2010 celebrates 50 years of advancement of ocean science and policy through the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.

The Global Oceans Conference 2010 brought together 859 participants from 80 countries to address three major interrelated themes:  Climate and Oceans, Reducing Biodiversity Loss, and Integrated Ocean and Coastal Governance.  This web page presents video interviews and materials on the key themes of the conference.  Other materials, including Policy Briefs prepared as inputs to the conference, the Conference Concluding Statement from the Conference Co-Chairs, copies of Powerpoint presentations, are available at www,globaloceans.org