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UNDP and Cousteau Society have joined hands to protect and restore oceans for sustainable development The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Cousteau Society signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday June 15th in New York. The aim of this UNDP-Cousteau partnership is to undertake a range of ocean-related joint and coordinated activities at the global, regional and national level. UNDP and the Cousteau Society run programmes which share a number of geographic areas such as the Black Sea, Red Sea and the Comoros Islands. Francine Cousteau, President of the Cousteau Society, signed the agreement on behalf of the Cousteau Society, said, “I thank UNDP and the devoted team for having shown confidence in our capacity to join forces to carry forward the work of Jacques Cousteau in the quest of excellence for the health of our Oceans and for the well-being of people on the water planet. On the eve of the twentieth Anniversary of Captain Cousteau’s passing, it is the most beautiful tribute we can offer to his work and to future generations, I am very enthusiastic and grateful.”

On June 8th 2017, World Oceans Day, his Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco was the first to sign #MyOceanPledge. The pledge was launched by children who come from over 12 UNESCO marine World Heritage Sites in front of 40 Heads of State during a high-level event at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, organized by the UNESCO World Heritage Marine Programme.

 UNDP honour Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s memory and announce plans to work with the Cousteau Society to help achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14), which aims to “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development“. Full article on the UNDP website: Honouring the memory of Jacques Cousteau. Follow The Cousteau Society: Facebook @CousteauGlobal Twitter @CousteauTCS 

 The Arctic is turning green and it’s a bad sign for the future. A new study has confirmed that the vegetation in the Arctic is increasing due to global warming and human activities. Recently, NASA released a studythat says that almost a third of the Arctic Tundra across Alaska and Canada is getting warmer. Now, a new research supports the study, revealing that the Arctic getting greener could be attributed to human activity and greenhouse gas emissions. The research published in the journal Nature Climate Change conducted a “detection and attribution” study, which involves creating climate models for different events or change, such as the Arctic greening, and see how these events will impact the climate models when mixed with human greenhouse gas emissions. The results of the simulations showed that the Arctic greening trend can be mainly attributed to “anthropogenic forcings, particularly to rising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.” The study also notes that even in the areas where there is not much greening, precipitation has been declining as well. Another reason of the said greening in the Arctic is due to the increase of nitrogen in the atmosphere due to the human use of fertilizers and fossil fuels. Reported by Nature Climate Change   

 To answer this question, Cousteau supported a Training Workshop about Sustainable Tourism, which was held on March 20th-23rd 2016 at the El Khabeer International Conference Hall of The Red Sea University in Port Sudan, Red Sea State of Sudan. The Red Sea was explored by Cousteau since in 1956, during the filming of “The Silent World” (Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival; Oscar in Hollywood) and “World without Sun”. In the early 2004, the Cousteau vessel Alcyone anchored on the atoll of Shaab Rumi for an expedition in Sudan, which provided the opportunity to revisit sites where, 50 years earlier, Cousteau had passed through. In 2007, Cousteau has gathered a multidisciplinary team of scientists to carry out the most comprehensive survey of the Sudanese coast and underwater environment ever to be attempted in this region. From there the Society have been supporting and promoting projetcs of sustainable development to follow the Cousteau’s legacy. The workshop, as one of these projects, had its opening ceremony chaired by the Representative of the Wali and Minister of Ficance as well as by The Red Sea University Vice Chancellor and by The Red Sea University Faculty of Marine Science & Fisheries Dean. The Head of the Department of Biological Oceanography Faculty of Marine Sciences & Fisheries of Red Sea University was the master of ceremony.

On 25th February 2016, Cousteau and the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (Unesco) organised a meeting of experts convened at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. This meeting aimed at strengthening local management capacities and scientific partnership for two marine protected areas: Sanganeb Atoll and Dungonab Bay-Mukkawar Island. Another important goal was encouraging sustainable development and ecotourism to the benefit of local communities. Moreover, the concentration of charismatic species such as manta rays, sharks, dugongs, sea turtles and coral reef ecosystems is a remarkable support to develop ecostourism and to protect its unique marine life. The meeting gathered a group of international and Sudanese experts representing the Sudanese Red Sea University, the Sudanese Wildlife Conservation General Administration, the Sudanese National Man and Biosphere (MAB) Committee, the Sudanese National Commission for UNESCO, the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Red Sea & Gulf of Aden (PERSGA); the Sudanese NGO Sudia, The Deep Aquarium (UK), the University of Windsor (Canada) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).  

Take this opportunity to show off your art skills for the chance to have your artwork featured on the cover of the summer edition of Cousteau Kids! Springtime is baby time for many in the animal world, and the ocean is full of adorable aquatic infants. We want you to create a picture of your favorite marine animal as a cuddly, squishy, fuzzy, slimy, lovable baby. The winner will receive:• 10 copies of the magazine with their winning artwork• A feature on our website• A feature in one copy of our direct mail solicitationSelect runners-up will be featured on the inside of the magazine and given two free copies. Send submissions unfolded in a sturdy 9×12 envelope to:4 East 27th StreetP.O. Box 20321New York, NY 10001 Not subscribed to Cousteau Kids yet? Sign up here to get started on your underwater adventure! Please be sure to include the artist’s full name and age (if under 18). All artwork needs to be your original imagery. Submissions must be received no later than February 9th, 2016* to be considered. Artwork should be 8.5×11 in size (no lined paper, please). Good luck and have fun getting creative! 

During the COP21, IPCC and UNESCO-IHP promoted a side event to discuss the key findings of the 2014 Report on Climate Change with special session about Science and Policy dialogue and a seminar on education and climate change. The Cousteau Society was represented by Ms. Marcella Silva, Education and Communication Project Manager, who pointed out the question about the special report on ocean, in order to have the update of its current development. The Secretary of IPCC, Mr. Bruce Stewart responded saying that many countries already agree with its adoption, such themes have been discussed during the 41st IPCC session. He highlighted the importance of this report but added that for its establishment, IPCC demands more volunteer research from scientists, as a source of data. What is the importance of an IPCC Ocean special report? The IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) is a scientific body under the auspices of the United Nations (UN). It reviews and assesses the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic information produced worldwide relevant to providing a climate change report. The panel does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters. Thousands of scientists from all over the world contribute to the work of the IPCC on a voluntary basis. The authors producing the reports are currently grouped in three working groups – Working Group I: the Physical Science Basis; Working Group II: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability; and Working Group III: Mitigation of Climate Change. The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) which increased its focus on the oceans. Because of its scientific and intergovernmental nature, the IPCC embodies a unique opportunity to provide rigorous and balanced scientific information to decision makers. The Oceans have a essential role to regulate atmospheric conditions, to stabilize global temperature, and to provide food and resources to hundreds of millions of people throughout the world. It is however heavily influenced by the rapid rise of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, putting marine ecosystems, people, and industries at risk. In the meeting in Nairobi in February 2015, Monaco presented a proposal for an IPCC special report on oceans, noting the multiple beneficiaries of such a report, including the UNFCCC, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Such a report would send a strong signal regarding the importance of oceans, and should address regional aspects. Countries such as Peru, India, Malawi and Algeria supported by Madagascar, Chad, Egypt, Mali, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Spain, the Philippines, Kuwait, added proposing a special report on the link between climate change and desertification. Japan suggested specific themes that could be pursued, such as ocean acidification and sea-level rise, and highlighted the importance of education programmes on oceans, such as UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education and the World Climate Research Programme. During the Ocean Forum day in COP21, the Environment Minister of France, Ms. Segolene Royal also supported the adoption of the Special Report on Ocean. Looking forward to the COP22 in Marrakesh, the IPCC in April 2016 will have the opportunity to discuss the inclusion of a Special Report on the Ocean during the drafting period of the Evaluation Report on Climate Change AR6. Source : IISD Reporting Services, IPCC 

The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 21 was held in Paris, France, from 30 November to 12 December 2015. The agreement approved in Paris is not yet the best achievement and it is a long way from answering all the demands. But it is definetely an important step toward a post-carbon society. We can rejoice that the 1,5°C is clearly mentioned and the target of zero emissions by the second half of the century as well. This resolution places the fossil fuel industry as part of History. We now leave the COP21, peacefully supported by civil society engagements, who care about our blue planet and who are confident that change is possible ! Is this sufficient to make a sustainable society ? Of course not ! We need to consider not only carbon footprints, but also to solve the 6th mass extinction of the species that we are causing. We need to not only allow the big players, the usual suspects, to make more money and speculate on the green and post carbon related high technologies, but to solve the dreadful problem of social inequality. The nations which have caused most of the climate problems are still promising too little to the people who suffer from climate change in developing countries. But still, despite all the challenges we still have to face, something happened in Paris during COP21 that will be part of History. The Cousteau Society walked with the civil society through the streets of Paris on the 12th of December during the final annoucement of COP21. It was great to see the beauty of diverse people, caring for our planet and for their brothers and sisters. People from the whole world, different cultures, different arguments, however the borders were vanished for a while, the Parisian streets were South American, Asian, European, African, Australian, from the Ocean, the Polar Areas and from the rain forests! And if there is hope, it is certainly promoted by those beautiful and connected hearts, who walked together side by side to create the fairer and greener society that we need.

The Cousteau Society, represented by Tarik Chekchak, takes part to an international workshop organized by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in Dubai from the 20 to the 25 of April. The Cousteau Society goal is to describe and identify with CBD significant marine areas deserving the greatest attention of the United Nations. The workshop focus on the north-west indian ocean région and adjacent gulf areas, as the Red Sea and the Aden gulf. Dr Dirar Hassan Nasr, representative of Sudan and Tarik Chekchak, feature the importance of the Sudanese coast and the Socotra archipelago (Yemen). The CBD is one of the three international treaty signed during the Rio Summit in 1992 (Convention on Climate Change and Convention to combat desertification). The Conference of the Parties, its governing body, advances implementation through the decisions adopted at its periodic meetings. At the outcome of the tenth meeting in Nagoya, the signatory countries formulate a Strategic Plan for Biodiversity with the purpose of safeguarding biodiversity and enhance its benefits for people. Twenty objectives, so-called the Aichi Biodiversity targets, will have to be achieved by the end of 2020. To make this plan concrete, several regional workshops will be hold to draw up the inventory of ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs).

On the occasion of the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference, The Cousteau Society will provide you with keys to understance the importance of ocean in climate change. Data visualisations will be available regulary on our website. This month, discover the crucial role of oceans in regulating the excess heat induced by greenhouse gases.

Ecuador seized around 200,000 shark fins and arrested three suspected poachers at the country’s main fishing port, the government said on Wednesday. Ecuadorian authorities reported that at least 300,000 sharks were killed by the traffickers. This is in one of the most serious environmental crimes reported in the country in years, despite ecuadorian laws prohibiting shark fishing since 2007. Shark finning refers to the removal and retention of shark fins while the remainder of the living shark is discarded in the ocean. Coveted in Asia for medicinal uses and as a delicacy, shark fins are among the most expensive seafood products, commonly retailing at US$700 per kg.* Despite international support for a ban on cutting off fins (100 countries in 2014), many countries continue to practice shark finning. About 30 % of sharks are fished for their fins (this data is difficult to ascertain because of illegal fishing). This practice is considered as the major cause of the global decline in shark numbers. **. Populations have declined by 90 % worldwide and one in three shark species is threatened with extinction ( IUCN – 2003). The Cousteau Society is working towards the resolution of this issue by developing a project to protect shark populations in the Red Sea: Project Sharks and Rays of the Red Sea. Source : * Stefania Vannuccini, « Shark utilization, marketing and trade. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper. No. 389. Rome », Fisheries and Aquaculture Department – FAO,‎ 1999** P. Deynat, Requin : entre menaces et espoirs, Apnéa, 2010, p. 46-50.