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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">From: </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Ocean Action <noreply@un.org><br>
<b>Date: </b>Monday, 18 December 2017 at 22:40<br>
<b>To: </b>"Barbire, Julian" <J.Barbiere@unesco.org><br>
<b>Subject: </b>UN DESA launches revamped Voluntary Commitments platform to drive Ocean Action for SDG 14</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><img width="1200" height="235" id="_x0000_i1025" unselectable="on" src="https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/images/coabanner.png"></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt;">UN DESA launches revamped Voluntary Commitments platform to drive Ocean Action for SDG 14</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">At The Ocean Conference, held in June 2017 at UN headquarters in New York to further implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 aimed at conserving and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine
resources, close to <strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">1,400 voluntary commitments</span></strong> for concrete ocean action were made by governments, the United Nations system, civil society organizations, academia, the scientific community, and the
private sector. These commitments, together with the Conference outcome document Our Ocean, Our Future: Call for Action, mark a global breakthrough on the path for the health of our oceans and seas.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">To follow-up on the implementation of those voluntary commitments, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the UN Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for the Ocean, Ambassador
Peter Thomson, have launched nine thematic multi-stakeholder <strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Communities of Ocean Action</span></strong> to spur further Ocean Action, and to maintain momentum until the next Ocean Conference, anticipated to be held
in 2020.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Supporting the work of the Communities, UN DESA has revamped The Ocean Conference Registry of Voluntary Commitment, available at
<a id="LPlnk910452" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://oceanconference.un.org">
oceanconference.un.org</a>, which now provides a platform for all stakeholders to report on their commitments, and for sharing of knowledge and best practices within and across the nine Communities of Ocean Action.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The nine Communities of Ocean Action are:</span></p>
<ol type="1" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;" start="1">
<li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Coral reefs</span> </li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Implementation of international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea</span>
</li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Mangroves</span> </li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Marine and coastal ecosystems management</span>
</li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Marine pollution</span> </li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Ocean acidification</span> </li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Scientific knowledge, research capacity development and transfer of marine technology</span>
</li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Sustainable blue economy</span>
</li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Sustainable fisheries</span> </li></ol>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">More information on the Communities of Ocean Action, including list of focal points, available at: <a style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" href="https://oceanconference.un.org/coa">https://oceanconference.un.org/coa</a></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">JOIN THE COMMUNITIES OF OCEAN ACTION</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Communities of Ocean Action are open to anyone with a registered Voluntary Commitment in the Ocean Conference Registry of Voluntary Commitments.</span></p>
<p><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">STEPS TO JOIN</span></u></p>
<ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Register a Voluntary Commitment for SDG 14</span>
</li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Sign in to your account in the Ocean platform (<a style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://oceanconference.un.org/commitments">oceanconference.un.org/commitments</a>)</span>
</li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Click <strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Join Community</span></strong> button on any of the Community of Ocean Action pages (<a style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" href="https://oceanconference.un.org/coa">https://oceanconference.un.org/coa</a>)</span>
</li></ul>
<p><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">HOW CAN MEMBERS CONTRIBUE
</span></strong></p>
<p><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Register Voluntary Commitments</span></u></p>
<ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Ocean Conference Registry of Voluntary Commitments remains open for all stakeholders to register their ocean action. We encourage all to stakeholders to register their ocean action to show their commitment
to SDG 14.</span> </li></ul>
<p><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Take part in webinars and face-to-face meetings</span></u></p>
<ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Each Community will organize on a regular basis virtual global webinars and face-to-face expert meetings. Join the Communities to ensure you receive information and invites.</span>
</li></ul>
<p><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Share progress updates of your Voluntary Commitments</span></u></p>
<ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">All stakeholders with a registered Voluntary Commitment are welcome to regularly share progress of their commitment(s). Updates will be featured on the relevant
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Community of Ocean Action pages</span></strong> and in the
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ocean Action</span></strong> monthly newsletter.</span>
</li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<strong><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Share your progress by Friday 22 December 2017 for inclusion in Ocean Action Newsletter, December issue</span></strong>
</li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Share at: <a style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" href="https://oceanconference.un.org/commitments/progress/">https://oceanconference.un.org/commitments/progress/</a></span>
</li></ul>
<p><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Knowledge Forum - Share your knowledge and ask questions to the community</span></u></p>
<ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">All members of the Community Ocean Action can share their expertise, knowledge, best practices and ask/respond to questions in the
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Knowledge Forum</span></strong>, available under each Community of Ocean Action pages after logging in.</span>
</li></ul>
<p><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">1. I have registered a Voluntary Commitment, but I do not have an account</span></p>
<ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Click Account at <a style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://oceanconference.un.org/commitments">
oceanconference.un.org/commitments</a> and create your account.</span> </li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Once created, Contact us (see link below) and let us know so we can link your Voluntary Commitment(s) to your account.</span>
</li></ul>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">2. I have an account, but I still can't join</span></p>
<ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Contact us and let us know so we can link your Voluntary Commitment to your account.</span>
</li></ul>
<p><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">More questions?</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> Send us a message at:
<a style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" href="https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/contact/">
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/contact/</a></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Ocean Conference Secretariat</span></strong><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br>
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Division for Sustainable Development</span></strong><br>
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Department of Economic and Social Affairs</span></strong><br>
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" href="https://oceanconference.un.org/coa"><span style="font-weight: normal;">https://oceanconference.un.org/coa</span></a></span></strong></span></b></p>
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