The Global Ocean Commission held its second formal meeting in Glen Cove, New York, on 5th-6th July.
The central aims of the meeting were to brief Commissioners on issues not covered in the first meeting (held in Cape Town in March), discuss the policy development pathway and agree areas for public engagement.
To meet the first of their objectives, the Commission was briefed by experts including:
- Prof Rashid Sumaila (fisheries economist) from the University of British Columbia
- Prof David Keith (energy and geoengineering policy) from Harvard University
- Michael Lodge, Legal Counsel to the International Seabed Authority
- Dr Enric Sala (marine biologist), Explorer-in Residence, National Geographic Society.
Topics included potential future uses of the high seas for energy and carbon sequestration, outstanding questions on the economics of the ocean and work programmes the Secretariat is pursuing to address them, and some options for reforming the current high seas management system.
Click here to read more about the 2nd Meeting of the Global Ocean Committee.