The Oceanic Circle

The oceanic circle The United Nations University is an organ of the United Nations established by the General Assembly in 1972 to be an international community of scholars engaged in research, advanced training, and the dissemination of knowledge related to the pressing global problems of human survival, development, and welfare. Its activities focus mainly on the areas of peace and governance, environment and sustainable development, and science and technology in relation to human welfare. The University operates through a worldwide network of research and post- graduate training centres, with its planning and coordinating headquarters in Tokyo. The United Nations University Press, the publishing division of the UNU, publishes scholarly and policy-oriented books and periodicals in areas related to the University’s research. The oceanic circle: Governing the seas as a global resource Elisabeth Mann Borgese United Nations a University Press TOKYO u NEW YORK u PARIS ( The United Nations University, 1998 The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations University. United Nations University Press The United Nations University, 53-70, Jingumae 5-chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-8925, Japan Tel: (03) 3599-2811 Fax: (03) 3406-7345 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.unu.edu United Nations University Office in North America 2 United Nations Plaza, Room DC2-1462-70, New York, NY 10017, USA Tel: (212) 963-6387 Fax: (212) 371-9454 E-mail: [email protected] United Nations University Press is the publishing division of the United Nations University. Cover design by Joyce C. Weston Photograph by Sally Widerstrom Printed in the United States of America UNUP-1013 ISBN 92-808-1013-8 (cloth) UNUP-1028 ISBN 92-808-1028-6 (paper) Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Borgese, Elisabeth Mann. The oceanic circle / Elisabeth Mann Borgese. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 9280810138 ISBN 9280810286 (pbk.) 1. Oceans – Social aspects. 2. International Ocean Institute. 3. Club of Rome. I. Title. GC11.2.B67 1998 333.91064–ddc21 98-40090 CIP This book is dedicated to Krishan Saigal, as a token of gratitude for all he has taught me. Contents Foreword ix Preface xi Acknowledgements xvii Prologue 3 1 Ocean perspectives: physical 23 2 Ocean perspectives: cultural 45 3 Ocean perspectives: economic 59 4 Ocean perspectives: legal 109 5 Ocean perspectives: institutional 132 6 Recommendations and conclusions 184 Annex: An International Sea-bed Authority for the twenty-first century 199 Bibliography 229 vii Foreword The Club of Rome, an institution concerned with the world prob- le´matique which regards itself as a catalyst of change and a centre of innovation, sets forth initiatives for solutions in the studies and debates it conducts, in a context of complete intellectual indepen- dence. The ensuing report to the Club of Rome on the oceans provides opportunities for in-depth debate and discussion. Our colleague in the Club of Rome, Elisabeth Mann Borgese, has brought to this text the best of her life-long studies and immense world-wide experience in activities at the very highest level on and about the oceans, which she has compiled in this report with all the devotion and enthusiasm of which she is capable. We realize that some of the ideas contained herein for submission to public and professional opinion are likely to be controversial. The pointed comments made by Ruud Lubbers, distinguished member of the Club of Rome Executive Committee, in his sub- stantive introduction stress the importance and complexity of the issues discussed by Elisabeth Mann Borgese. In keeping with her previous work experience, views and vision, at the end of this report, the author puts forward a number of specific operational proposals for solving the problems before us. It is, however, the view of the Club of Rome Executive Committee members that no single solution embodies ultimate or absolute answers, but rather that a suite of alternative solutions must be envisaged. It is in this spirit, then, that the Club of Rome Executive Commit- tee accepts this eloquent text as a new report to the Club of Rome. ix Foreword Rather, however, than taking a stand on the operational proposals made, which may number among the many possible, it issues an invitation for a world-wide discussion on the subject, to begin at once. There is a definitive need to heighten a global public awareness along these lines and spur our collective imagination, which is at least as important today as the available knowledge base. Ricardo Diez-Hochleitner (President), July 8, 1998 For the Club of Rome Executive Committee Belisario Betancur (Vice-president); Bertrand Schneider (Secretary General); Ruth Barnela Engo-Tjega; Umberto Colombo; Orhan Gu¨ venen; Yotaro Kobayashi; Eberhard von Koerber; Ruud Lubbers; Manfred Max-Neef; Samuel Nana-Sinkam; and Felix Unger. x Preface In this book before you two paths come together. Thirty years ago Arvid Pardo, the Ambassador of Malta to the United Nations, de- livered his historical speech defining the oceans as ‘‘the Common Heritage of Mankind.’’ Only a few years later the International Ocean Institute was founded and the first conference under the heading of ‘‘Pacem in Maribus’’ took place. Both institutions devel- oped impressively (and acted as a sort of paranymphs giving birth to the law of the seas); and in both Elisabeth Mann Borgese, the author of this book, played the crucial role. She devoted her life to the oceans. This is the first path. Thirty years ago a few eminent persons came together in Rome sharing their concerns about ‘‘Limits to Growth.’’ This became the Club of Rome. The Club of Rome was very much about environment, but in fact its mission became broader. What governance is needed to safeguard the development of economy and technology all over the globe in such a way that quality of life is preserved and improved: how to achieve ‘‘the man in the center’’? Elisabeth Mann Borgese became one of the most active members of the Club of Rome sharing insights and contributing to concepts of governance. Her moral concerns about how to give shape and substance to a more and more interdependent world, and how to take profit of different cultures and civilizations, matured more and more. This is the second path. These two paths (how to relate to the oceans and how to develop a global system of good governance) come together in this book ‘‘The Oceanic Circle.’’ In that way they culminate together in a climax in this year 1998. 1998 has been declared by the United Nations as the xi Preface Year of the Ocean. It is therefore the excellent moment to give spe- cial attention to the role of the oceans. Historically the oceans were – next to a limited function in terms of a resource for fishing (as near to the coast as possible) – in the first place seen as large, dark and dangerous waters which had to be bridged to reach other countries, territories, terrestrial areas. Today we have learned to realize the richness of the oceans; not only in terms of fish, but also in their biodiversity and as a buffer to balance our climate. Today it is about valuing the oceans in their richnesses. Attheverysametimewehavestartedtorealizethethreatstothe oceans. Because of technology, economy and the contemporary prevalence of the market system there is an acceleration of produc- tion and consumption and beyond that an increased migration to coastal areas, mega-cities near the oceans, and exploitation in terms of offshore and tourism; all leading to an increased interface of mankind and the oceans. It started with fish. However, the time of abundance is already over fordecades.Thereforeonewascompelledtostarttothinkintermsof sustainableuseoftheoceans.Butwehavelearnedthattheproblem of sustainable use is much more general and global. The increased interface of mankind and the oceans fuels the need for a new way of thinking and new goverance. A few months ago the Independent World Commission on the Oceans published its report ‘‘The Oceans, Our Future.’’ Elisabeth Mann Borgese played a significant role in establishing the Indepen- dentWorldCommissionontheOceansandinitswork. This book ‘‘The Oceanic Circle’’ is a much more comprehensive study and builds further on ‘‘The Oceans, Our Future.’’ It is symbolic that Elisabeth Mann Borgese baptizes her book ‘‘The Oceanic Cir- cle’’ citing Mahatma Ghandi giving credit to wisdom beyond the western Enlightenment. ‘‘Life . will be an oceanic circle whose center will be the individual.’’ In this year 1998 we write six years after the conference in Rio de Janeiro on environment and development. This conference was a result of ‘‘Our Common Future’’ and the concept of sustainable development as formulated in the eighties. UNCED produced a treaty on biodiversity and a convention on climate change. The agenda for the 21st century was set, although still in a primitive form. To the oceans especially chapter 17 was devoted. Rio was also another step to the conceptualization of new principles to realize sustainable development; to realize harmony in a more and more xii Preface interdependent world, safeguarding solidarity and a future for gen- erations to come. One of these principles is the precautionary principle: take care applying new technologies; abstain as long as there are uncertainties. This new golden rule is a complement to the positive attitude towards technology as formulated in ‘‘Our Common Future.’’ Indeed, technology is at the very same time a solution for many environmental problems and threats, as well as it can be a threat in itself. The words ‘‘economy’’ and ‘‘ecology’’ both have their roots in the Greek word ‘‘oikos,’’ meaning ‘‘our common home.’’ In the economy one applies the factor interest, respectively one discounts. This is about a system to make rational choices there where resources are scarce.

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