The Global Forum is comprised of ocean leaders from governments, non-governmental organizations, international and intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, and scientific associations with the purpose of advancing the global oceans agenda, ie
promoting the implementation of international agreements related to oceans, coasts, and small island developing States (SIDS), especially the goals emanating from the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)
analyzing new emerging issues such as improving the governance regime for ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction
promoting international consensus-building on unresolved ocean issues.
Background
The Global Forum was first mobilized in 2001 to help the world’s governments highlight issues related to oceans, coasts, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on the agenda of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, and was later formalized at the WSSD in Johannesburg. The Global Forum is a response to perceived needs
for fostering cross-sectoral dialogue on ocean issues among governments, NGOs, international organizations, and the private and scientific sectors
for constant advocacy for oceans at the highest political levels
of taking an ecosystem-based and integrated approach to oceans governance at national, regional, and global levels, including treating the water system from freshwater, to coasts, to oceans as the interlinked system that it is.
Since 2001, the Global Forum has involved ocean experts representing all sectors from 93 countries; organized three Global Conferences (in 2001, 2003, and 2006 at UNESCO in Paris); organized the Ocean Policy Summit in Lisbon in 2005 documenting experiences with integrated oceans governance in over 20 countries and 4 regions around the world; prepared a number of reports on the implementation of the WSSD ocean targets, reports on ocean issues in island states for the 2005 Mauritius International Meeting, and reports on capacity development needs on ocean and coastal management in 8 world regions; and provided a series of Internet information services, including periodic newsletters. In late 2006, the Global Forum began a strategic planning effort to chart strategic activities which could be undertaken together with governments, the United Nations, NGOs, industry, and scientific groups to advance the global oceans agenda over the next ten-year period, to 2016. This includes
