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Liaison Newsletter > LIAISON Vol. 2, No. 1, January 1998 - Articles
International Year of the Ocean (1998)
Since 1959, the UN has designated a wide array of International years in order to draw attention to, and to encourage international action on, major issues which are deemed to be of global importance. This year, for the first time ever, the UN has focussed on an environmental issue -- the oceans.
Recognizing the importance of the earth’s oceans and the marine environment to human life, the UN adopted a declaration in 1994 declaring 1998 to be the International Year of the Ocean (IYO). The IYO aims to increase scientific and public awareness about current threats to the oceans, such as pollution, population pressure, overfishing and climate variability. Raising awarenes is considered to be necessary in order to encourage decision-makers to take action and protect the marine environment. A number of activities will occur during the year, including the signing of an Ocean Charter, international conferences, public outreach and educational initiatives.
UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission will be spearheading the implementation of IYO. Other UN agencies involved with marine issues are also organizing programmes, including the Food and Agricultural Organization, the International Maritime Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme. For more information on IYO check out its homepage at http://www.unesco.org/ioc/iyo/iyohome.htm. For its part, UNA-Canada is developing a new section on our website devoted to monitoring the UN’s role and activities in sustainable development. Sponsored by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the site will provide both background information on the issues, and cover major UN events and programmes linked to sustainable development. Due to the immense scope of the topic, we will be adding to the site on an issue-by-issue basis. In honour of the IYO, the first issue covered by the site is the oceans.
Any suggestions or feedback regarding the site’s development would be appreciated. Please direct your queries to Lynn Broughton at (613) 232-5751, ext 228, or by e-mail at info@unac.org .
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