The topic Oceans gathered ten panelists, Brazilians and foreigners, among academics, businessmen and NGO representatives in the last session of the Dialogues for Sustainable Development this Tuesday, June 19. The meeting produced three recommendations that will be presented to the Heads of State and Governments during the Rio+20’s High Level Segment, which begins on June 20. To launch a global agreement to save the marine biodiversity on the high seas; this was the proposal chosen by the approximately 2.000 members of the civil society present at Riocentro. To avoid pollution by plastics of the oceans through education and community collaboration was the recommendation elected by the Internet voting, closed on June 15. 

The panelists, in turn, decided to combine two of the recommendations that came from the online platform: to develop a global network of international marine protected areas and the creation of mechanisms for global governance of the oceans to preserve biodiversity and genetic resources in a world of increasing nationalization of the marine environment. The final draft will be made by the organizers.

The chief minister of the General Secretariat of the Republic of Brazil’s Presidency, Gilberto Carvalho, ended the Dialogues for Sustainable Development. "We can say today that Rio +20 is the largest conference in the history of the United Nations in terms of popular involvement. This method of participation is here to stay," said Carvalho. He reported that, on average, each session had 1.300 votes from the public.

The moderator, Philippe Cousteau, opened the session with a statement that his grandfather, Jacques Cousteau, made 20 years ago at Rio 92. "I stress the importance of delegations drafting original decisions." According to Philippe, the civil society’s participation through dialogues at Rio +20 is the essence of this innovation. The lack of an international understanding on the protection of the oceans was the most highlighted issue by the invited debaters. Jean-Michel Cousteau said that 70% of the planet is water and 65% of the oceans are a no man's land, where everyone does what they want. Cousteau added that this is a great opportunity for the international community to create regulations for the oceans.

"At Eco 92, it was believed that the oceans were infinite. Today, we know very well that this is not true, and we did nothing yet. This may be our last chance", emphasized Sylvia Earle, founder of the Mission Blue Foundation. The University of Western Australia’s marine biologist, Asha de Vos, said that the Oceans agenda is urgent. "This is immediate! For tomorrow, because we do not have 20 years anymore." She argues that the world community should organize itself to achieve the goal of disseminating knowledge through the new media vehicles available.

Great advocate that the reversal of environmental impacts rests with science and technology, Segen Estefen Farid, professor of COPPE-UFRJ, pointed out that the oceans are a huge source of renewable energy. "The energy created by waves, tides and changes in water temperature exceeds the needs of the world." Arthur Bogason, Iceland’s president of the National Association of Small Boat Owners, agrees and adds that it is necessary to unite technology with traditional knowledge. "The coastal fisheries are the most sustainable. They create three times more jobs without any loss of profit, and their small boats consume 10 times less fuel. Even the manufacturing of these vessels is local".

The predatory and uncontrolled fishing was appointed by the participants as one of the major challenges to save the ecosystem of the oceans. Margaret Nakato, representative of the World Fishermen Forum, argued that small fishing communities, according to her, are the most vulnerable to climate change. "To see if the oceans are well, we need to see if the fish are well. The fish are not well", said Rashid Sumaila Ussif, director of the Fisheries Centre and the Fisheries Economics Research Unit of the University of British Columbia. He added that it is an illusion to believe that man can produce fish in marine farms as well as nature.

Pollution of the seas with the residue left by ships and plastics is also seen by experts as something that needs to involve governments and society. "The total lack of governance over the oceans prevents these issues to be addressed with clarity. We must invest in research on the real impacts of this pollution in the seas," said the representative of the Global Ocean Forum, Richard Delaney. 

ShajThayil, vice president of Technical Services and Ship Management, presented numbers relevant to the discussion: 80% of the world's garbage goes to sea, a plastic bottle takes 450 years to decompose and the oceans absorb one third of the carbon dioxide emissions of the world, noting that this leads to the acidification of the seas. "Acidification will turn oceans unrecognizable," reinforced Robin Mahon, Professor of the University of West Indies. "We did not inherit the Earth from our ancestors. We just borrowed it from future generations," concluded Shaj Thayil, using an Indian proverb.

Structure of the Dialogues

The Dialogues for Sustainable Development started June 16 and ended this Tuesday, June 19, in the Pavilion's 5 plenary at Riocentro. There were 10 rounds of discussions, with ten participants each, that discussed topics that have priority in the international agenda of sustainability. With each round, three proposals were chosen, one by the speakers, one by the participant debaters and one by the internet users. The thirty suggestions with more votes were taken to the Heads of States and Governments during Rio+20's High Level Segment.

The topics of the Dialogues were:  

• (i) Unemployment, decent work and migration; 
• (ii) Sustainable Development as an answer to economic and financial crises; 
• (iii) Sustainable Development to combat hunger;
• (iv) The Economics of Sustainable Development, including sustainable standards for production and consumption; 
• (v) Forests; 
• (vi) Food and nutritional security; 
• (vii) Sustainable energy for all;
• (viii) Water; 
• (ix) Sustainable cities and innovation; 
• (x) Oceans. 

All of the debates were broadcast live on the UN’s website.