Use of science for advising the UN system
Peter Kershaw
Chair of GESAMP GESAMP The Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection
An inter-agency body of the United Nations established in 1969
Purpose: ‘to provide authoritative, independent, interdisciplinary scientific advice to organizations and governments to support the protection and sustainable use of the marine environment.’ How GESAMP functions
Technical Secretaries –Ten UN Sponsoring Agencies
Partners GESAMP Executive Working groups Office Committee Regional Seas Industry Task teams Science bodies Conventions GESAMP Members* Advice to UN NGOs 10 - 16 Governments independent experts Ad hoc activities
Independent experts
* Membership (2018): Australia, India, Jordon, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, South Africa, UK, USA Working group outputs Technical recommendations (e.g. IMO MEPC)
Technical report Reports & Studies Series
Working group Policy-relevant recommendations
Science needs
Scientific Journals GESAMP working groups:
WG 1 – Hazard evaluation of harmful substances carried by ships – IMO (self-funded)
WG 34 – Review of applications for ‘active substances’ in ballast water management systems – IMO (self-funded)
WG 38 – Atmospheric inputs of chemicals to the ocean - WMO WG 40 – Sources, fate & effects of plastic marine litter and microplastics – IOC, UNEP, FAO WG 41 – Marine geoengineering – IMO, WMO, IOC
WG 42 – Impacts of wastes and other matter in the marine environment from mining operations including marine mineral mining - IMO WG 43 – Sea-based sources of marine litter – FAO, IMO, UNEP WG 1 – Hazard evaluation of harmful substances carried by ships – IMO
To support the development and implementation of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) WG41 Marine geoengineering Definition of geoengineering: “The deliberate large-scale manipulation of the planetary environment to counteract anthropogenic climate change” (Royal Society, 2009).
Report contents: ➢ The potential role of marine geo- engineering in climate regulation ➢ Methodology for assessment/ranking ➢ Assessment of individual techniques ➢ Developing an assessment framework ➢ Wider issues – geopolitics, belief systems, ethics, economics In support of the London Convention and Protocol Capturing emerging issues
GESAMP Members plus Executive Committee
Emerging Correspondence Scoping Working issue Group paper Group
Conference or workshop
Horizon Relevant organisations, science bodies, scanning initiatives & individuals/expertise Microplastics – from emerging issue to the mainstream
➢ 2008 – raised as an emerging issue in GESAMP ➢ 2009 – scoping paper ➢ 2010 – International Conference ➢ 2012 – new Working Group 40 initiated to undertake assessment ➢ 2014 – assessment noted in UNEA Res. 1/6 ➢ 2015 – 1st Assessment Report published ➢ 2016 – 2nd Assessment Report published ➢ 2019 – Monitoring & assessment Guidelines published Informing policy development – marine litter
UNEA Resolution 1/6 [2014] ‘14. Requests the Executive Director, in 2016 consultation with other relevant institutions and stakeholders, to undertake a study on marine plastic debris and marine microplastics ….…’
2016
2017 GESAMP Correspondence Groups:
1. Relevance of inputs of disinfection by-products into the marine environment
2. Impacts of residues of chronic oil spills
3. The causes and impacts of massive outbreaks of Sargassum seaweed in the Caribbean and West Africa
4. The issue of emerging pollutants in pharmaceutical waste and other novelty chemicals
5. The extent and impacts of onshore and offshore sand mining
6. Updating the information on sources and levels of the main pollutants impacting the global marine environment Convening multi-stakeholder meetings
GESAMP International workshop on risk assessment of marine litter & microplastics, May 2019, Geneva IOC-UNESCO UN Environment UNEP Chemicals & Health WHO FAO UNIDO BRS Convention Secretariat
Independent experts
OECD Sustainable Chemistry
Chemical industry
NGOs GESAMP Working Group membership:
➢ Expertise & enthusiasm – essential (pro-bono) ➢ Diverse backgrounds – perspectives, experience & disciplines ➢ Geographical representation ➢ Gender balance ➢ Early career scientist
➢ Natural sciences - physics, chemistry & biology ➢ Social sciences – behavioural, political, economics …..
50th Anniversary of GESAMP 1969-2019
SAVE THE DATE Please join us Tuesday 10 September 2019 UN Headquarters, New York here in
Please join us in celebrating 50 years of providing authoritative, independent advice, on marine September! environmental protection, to the United Nations
Landmark publications Recent studies
GESAMP science advice: ➢ Independent 2001 ➢ Authoritative ➢ Cost-effective