Know our Ocean, Protect our Marine Treasures, Empower Ocean
Citizens Building a green economy in the context of sustainable
development and poverty eradication is at the centre of
discussions at the Rio+20 conference. However, the development
of this ‘green economy’ will rely in part on the sustainable
management and use of the ocean and its resources. On 20 June
2012, a Rio+20 side event, moderated by Wendy Watson-Wright
(Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
UNESCO-IOC), highlighted how the undivided ocean needs inter-
related actions in science, protection and education to approach
sustainable use of its resources. Irina Bokova (Director-
General, UNESCO) lamented that only 1% of the world's ocean
areas are protected, and urged enhancing environmental education
so citizens do not take ocean sustainability for granted. On
enhancing the knowledge base, she stressed the importance of
UNESCO-IOC's Global Ocean Observing System. She noted her
organization's leading role in protecting oce