ALBERT

Description: As a changing climate alters ocean conditions, the redistribution of marine ecosystem services and benefits will affect maritime activities and societal value chains. While the magnitude of the effects will be diverse and region-specific and vary across sectors, both humans and nature will be subjected to increasing and intense negative impacts. Furthermore, the impacts of a changing climate on maritime economies are yet largely unknown and there are uncertainties and limitations of climate and ocean management options, which are at a very early or experimental stage. Significant gaps in technical, institutional and financial capacities for climate change adaptation between developed and developing countries exist, pointing to an imbalanced response to the global climate crisis. Marine/Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) is being developed and implemented worldwide as a way to foster sustainable ocean use and management. The spatial and temporal distribution of human uses in marine spaces through MSP aims to minimise conflicts and promote synergies among uses, as well as between uses and the environment. In addition to the many environmental and socio-economic challenges which MSP seeks to address, a changing climate must now be included. Mainstreaming climate change into MSP will allow for improved preparedness and response, as well as reduced vulnerability of marine systems. “Climate-smart MSP” refers to planning initiatives in the ocean space which integrate and may adapt to the effects of a changing climate. For MSP to become “climate-smart”, data and knowledge on the pathways through which climate change impacts marine ecosystems and human uses are needed at appropriate spatial scales. These should address the inherent uncertainties in planning scenarios themselves with regard to climate change, particularly in relation to their ability to adapt to changing ocean conditions. In this regard, the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) will play a key role, as one of its main objectives is filling the significant remaining gaps in marine knowledge, including the effects of climate change. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and other spatial marine management tools can also be used to promote specific adaptation-relevant features, while climate literacy can help build capacities and facilitate behavioural change to better cope with climate-related challenges. Increasing the knowledge base on the impacts of a changing climate is necessary. This includes building evidence on the uses most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and integrating their possible spatial relocation in MSP; knowledge on conservation priority species and keystone ecosystem components and including them in impact analysis assessments to promote their sustainability and resilience; and an understanding of the social and economic implications of climate change, particularly in communities highly dependent on marine resources for their livelihoods. It is also necessary to raise awareness on the effects of a changing climate on marine ecosystems and maritime activities, and fostering new behaviours and social norms in local communities to improve knowledge and skills on opportunities for sustainable mitigation and adaptation options, for enhancing climate literacy and promoting sustainable actions at the local level. This involves integrating strategic climate objectives into overall sustainable development and environmental policies using climate-smart, nature-inclusive MSP as a common framework for setting up meaningful and effective actions across regions, which may be achieved through establishing interdisciplinary MSP networks. Practical adaptation and mitigation strategies at appropriate scales, using fit-for-purpose, spatially explicit and operationally mature nature-based solutions, as well as strategic investments to achieve long-term visions reflected in climate-smart, nature-inclusive spatial plans, are also required.

Description: European Union (DG MARE)

Description: OPENASFA INPUT

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: The Integrated Ocean Carbon Research (IOC-R) programme is a formal working group of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) that was formed in 2018 in response to the United Nations (UN) Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), “the Decade.” The IOC-R will contribute to the science elements of the overarching Implementation Plan for the Decade1. The Implementation Plan is a high-level framework to guide actions by which ocean science can more effectively deliver its contribution and co-development with other entities to achieve the societal outcomes outlined in the Decade plan and the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the UN. Knowledge of the ocean carbon cycle is critical in light of its role in sequestering CO2 from the atmosphere and for meeting goals and targets such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the associated UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Increasing levels of CO2 in the ocean, predominantly due to human greenhouse gas emissions, and the partitioning of CO2 into organic and inorganic species have fundamental impacts on ocean carbon cycling and ecosystem health. The Integrated Ocean Carbon Research (IOC-R) effort aims to address key issues in ocean carbon research through investigative and observational goals. It takes advantage of the appreciable knowledge gained from studies over the last four decades of the ocean carbon cycle and its perturbations. IOC-R addresses the clear and urgent need to better understand and quantify the ocean carbon cycle in an integrative fashion in light of the rapid changes that are currently occurring and will occur in the near future. IOC-R can make significant breakthroughs, capitalizing on advances in modeling, data assimilation, remote sensing, and new in situ observing technologies, including novel biological observing techniques, artificial intelligence, and the use of bioinformatics. This IOC-R vision reflects an increasing appreciation for the significant role the ocean carbon cycle has on global well-being now and in the future, and for the critical need to study and monitor it in a holistic fashion.

Description: OPENASFA INPUT The complete report should be cited as follows: IOC-R. 2021. Integrated Ocean Carbon Research: A Summary of Ocean Carbon Research, and Vision of Coordinated Ocean Carbon Research and Observations for the Next Decade. R. Wanninkhof, C. Sabine and S. Aricò (eds.). Paris, UNESCO. 46 pp. (IOC Technical Series, 158 Rev.) doi:10.25607/h0gj-pq41.

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: Pursuant to 200 EX/Decision 5.I.B and 38 C/Resolution 19, the Director-General submits to the General Conference this information document which contains a summary of progress made in the implementation of the MAB Strategy 2015-2025 and the Lima Action Plan for UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves 2016-2025. Notably, this document includes information recently collected for and presented at the 29th session of the International Co-ordinating Council of the Man and Biosphere Programme held from 12 to 15 June 2017 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France. The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme Strategy 2015-2025 (“the MAB Strategy") was endorsed by the 38th session of the General Conference (38 C/Resolution 19) following a broad and transparent consultation process and the collective contributions of many Member States under the auspices of the MAB International Coordinating Council (MAB ICC). Through 38 C/Resolution 19, the General Conference also encouraged the MAB ICC, in cooperation with the MAB Secretariat, to finalize the development of the Lima Action Plan for UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) 2016-2025 (“Lima Action Plan”) in support of the MAB Strategy, and requested the Director-General to present to the Executive Board, at its 200th session, a progress report on the implementation of the MAB Strategy and the associated Lima Action Plan, including their contribution to the implementation and follow-up of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. At its 200th session, the Executive Board expressed its appreciation to the Director-General for the report and to Peru for hosting the Lima Congress and the 28th MAB ICC (14-17 March 2016, Lima, Peru). The Executive Board then endorsed the Lima Action Plan as adopted and endorsed respectively by the 28th MAB ICC and the Lima Congress and requested the Director-General to present a progress report on the implementation of the MAB Strategy for 2015-2025 and the Lima Action Plan to the 39th session of the General Conference (200 EX/Decision 5.I.B). The requested progress report is contained in the present document. Relevant information can also be found in the report of the MAB ICC on its activities (2016-2017) contained in document 39 C/REP/10. For ease of reference, the complete texts of the MAB Strategy, the Lima Action Plan and the Lima Congress Declaration are available in a single publication (in the six official languages of UNESCO) entitled “A New Roadmap for the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves”.

Description: OPENASFA INPUT Report submitted for information to the UNESCO General Conference, 39th Session, Paris, 2017.

Description: Published

Description: Non Refereed

Description: In 2017, the UNESCO General Conference adopted the Strategy for Action on Climate Change (SACC) which outlined UNESCO’s four-point strategy to support Member States adapt to climate change and mitigate its effects on their citizens and territories over the period 2018-2021. As the Strategy comes to an end, the Organization has commissioned an evaluation to assess its effectiveness and determine whether it should be renewed. Owing to its careful alignment with existing international reference frameworks in the area of climate change, in particular the 2015 Paris Agreement, the Strategy has successfully positioned UNESCO as a contributor in this field and the Organization’s insights on climate change within the framework of its specific areas of expertise is valued by partners and Member States alike. In the 3 years of the Strategy’s existence, the Organization produced knowledge products and undertook multiple interventions, especially targeting UNESCO’s priority groups (Africa, women, indigenous peoples, SIDS, youth) and ensuring their involvement in policy development and trainings. However, it is difficult to measure the effects of these activities or even attribute their results to the SACC specifically. Indeed, while the SACC has had the merit of giving UNESCO the political legitimacy and strategic guidance to act on climate-related issues, most of these activities were embedded in UNESCO’s existing programmes and have been largely reported against the different Major Programmes’ and IOC’s expected results. This is further amplified by the lack of a dedicated budget to implement the Strategy, which has led to an overreliance on ad hoc fundraising efforts to attract extrabudgetary resources and diverging implementation strategies depending on local context and Sectors’ priorities. Although the SACC aimed to encourage greater in-house cooperation to achieve its objectives, the evaluation found that, despite the existence of a large cross-sectoral Task Team, the SACC has failed to fully foster intersectoriality. As a result, whilst UNESCO has registered significant achievements and made important contributions, its action on climate change has not necessarily been cohesive.

Description: OPENASFA INPUT

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: This document has been prepared by Laura Kong, Director International tsunami Information Centre (ITIC). The Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme is an international community-based recognition programme developed by UNESCO/IOC. It aims to build resilient communities through awareness and preparedness strategies that will protect life, livelihoods and property from tsunamis in different regions. In June 2021, the IOC Assembly through IOC Decision A-31/3.4.1 (Warning Mitigation Systems for Ocean Hazards) approved the establishment of the IOC Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme, with the aim of making 100% of communities at risk of tsunami prepared for and resilient to tsunamis by 2030 through the implementation of the UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme and other initiatives. The implementation of the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme will be a key contribution to achieving the societal outcome ‘A Safe Ocean’ of the Ocean Decade. This document presents the main features of a UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Ready Programme. It is presented to the TT DMP for discussion and approval for recommendation to the TOWS-WG-XV, for the establishment of the programme.

Description: OPENASFA INPUT Working Document from the Meeting of the Inter-ICG Task Team on Disaster Management and Preparedness held online on 21-22 February 2022, Proposal for endorsement by IOC.

Description: Published

Description: Not Known

Description: A fundamental element towards attaining water security, water education has been at the heart of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme since its establishment in 1975. However, in much of Asia and the Pacific, water security remains elusive. Ensuring a water secure future for the region will require the unlocking of broader appreciation, acceptance and internalization of basic water science principles and concepts among experts and communities alike. For this, broader and more effective water education is required. For this potential to be fulfilled, reinforced human, financial and technical resources are required to deliver education, training and capacity development across large segments of society. Not only does this require the mobilization of a much larger contingent of trainers, instructors and conveners—it requires the development of new teaching and learning approaches, methodologies and curricula. This curriculum represents an invitation to tertiary-level educators as well as water managers and decision-makers to redouble efforts towards water security in Asia and the Pacific – and invitation grounded in a process that lies at the heart of UNESCO’s mission: the sharing of knowledge, experience and technologies – in this case among scientific, educational and water management communities across the region. Published with the support of the Government of Japan.

Description: OPENASFA INPUT

Description: Published

Description: Not Known

Description: Brochure prepared by the International Hydrological Programme of UNESCO on Megacities Alliance for Water and Climate.

Description: The Megacities Alliance for Water and Climate aims to highlight the impacts of these global changes – urban growth and climate – on megacities and their resources, and equally on their water services. In this respect, the founders of the Alliance have published monographs of 16 emblematic megacities.

Description: OPENASFA INPUT

Description: Published

Description: In 2017, UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre published the first global scientific assessment of the impact of climate change on UNESCO World Heritage coral reefs. The ‘Assessment’ reported that heat stress events have increasingly caused severe coral bleaching and mortality of World Heritage-listed reefs around the world over the past three decades. Of the 29 World Heritage-listed natural coral reef properties (Fig. 1), 15 were exposed to repeated severe heat stress during the 2014-2017 global bleaching event1. Recurrent severe bleaching was already apparent at more than half of the properties. While this global event did not trigger the onset of annual severe bleaching conditions in perpetuity, the impact of recurrent bleaching on coral reefs was clearly demonstrated. The first global assessment was released ahead of the 41st session of the World Heritage Committee in 2017 and underpinned the first decision of the Committee on coral reefs and climate change: to reiterate “the importance of States Parties undertaking the most ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement of the UNFCCC [United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change]”, and to strongly invite all States Parties “to undertake actions to address Climate Change under the Paris Agreement consistent with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances that are fully consistent with their obligations within the World Heritage Convention to protect the OUV [Outstanding Universal Value] of all World Heritage properties”. This update responds to the recommendation of the Assessment to undertake high-resolution future projection analysis under the RCP2.6 emissions scenario, in which emissions peak during the current decade (2010-2020) and achieve the limit of well below 2°C by 21005. This update further responds to the World Heritage Committee request to make available the most current knowledge regarding the impacts of climate change on World Heritage properties. This updated analysis provides understanding of the implications of meeting the long-term goal of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement for World Heritage-listed coral reefs.

Description: Agence Française pour la Biodiversité

Description: NOAA

Description: University of Miami

Description: University of Colorado

Description: OPENASFA INPUT Suggested citation: Heron et al. 2018. Impacts of Climate Change on World Heritage Coral Reefs: Update to the First Global Scientific Assessment. Paris, UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

Description: Published

Description: Not Known

Description: Six years after the First International Conference on “Water, Megacities and Global Change”, held on the occasion of the 21st United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 21), which drew attention to the significant challenges megacities are facing, and proposed the creation of the Megacities Alliance on Water and Climate (MAWAC), UNESCO’s Division of Water Sciences and ARCEAU-IdF1 decided to join forces once again to co-organize the Second International Conference on Water, Megacities and Global Change (EauMega) at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France and online on a dedicated platform for the conference, on 11-14 January 2022. Organized in close collaboration with the Greater Paris Metropolis and the Greater Paris Sanitation Authority (SIAAP), and with the support of many other public and private partners, this conference builds on the results of the online Pre-Conference on Water, Megacities and Global Change, which took place in December 2020. The Pre-Conference event, which brought together more than 6,000 participants, helped the organizers identify the issues requiring further consideration during the Second International Conference on Water, Megacities and Global Change by selected scientists, water operators, decision-makers, representatives of basin authorities and civil society at large. Given their size, the challenges posed to Megacities by water management within the context of climate change are of particular importance. Indeed, they raise new and specific issues that require close collaboration between scientists who advance knowledge, operators and basin authorities (public and private) who innovate technically and socio-politically, and local decision-makers who can support new, just and more efficient models of water governance, while remaining in constant interaction with civil society. Following a Call for Papers launched in late 2019, this publication is a compilation of the best scientific articles selected and peer-reviewed by the 87 international experts responsible for designing the scientific programme of the conference. Reflecting the structure of the conference with its 12 thematic sessions, the Proceedings present all the peer-reviewed articles in the following thematic chapters: • Disaster Risk Reduction; • Sustainable Development Goals & Service continuity; • Knowledge of the technical and social conditions; • Governance modalities in megacities; • Holistic water management; • Land issues and challenges; • Planning tools. • Technical and technological solutions; • Innovative initiatives at governance, technical, institutional or social level; • New water culture; • Strengthening of sustainable solidarity; The publication not only provides a state of the art on the challenges that Megacities are facing in their management of water and of the new global changes they encounter, but also presents the latest innovative and multi-disciplinary solutions being used to overcome these challenges and ensure optimal and sustainable resource management. By compiling a collection of experiences and best practices at global level, integrating the following three aspects – megacities, water and global change including climate change – it is our hope that this publication will represent a source of inspiration for other Megacities and large urban centers to overcome similar challenges and strengthen their climate resilience. By promoting fruitful exchanges and synergies among megacities, research institutions, the private sector and civil society at large, as well as inspiring further joint research studies on climate change and water-security related issues, the conference represents without doubt a fundamental building block of the Megacities Alliance on Water and Climate (MAWAC). On behalf of the Conference organizers, we wish to thank the co-conveners and partners of this second major international Conference on Water, Megacities and Global Change, as well as all the authors for their valuable contribution and their recommendations.

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: It is our great pleasure to present the second volume of the Catalogue of Hydrologic Analysis for Asia and the Pacific. This volume focuses on the topic “Dam reservoir operation for addressing water related disasters, water scarcity and quality in Asia and the Pacific”. It contains seven documents from China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, and Viet Nam. It is the outcome of the international cooperation of the member countries of the Regional Steering Committee for Asia and the Pacific (RSC) under the auspices of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Program Phase VIII (IHP-VIII, 2014-2021). It follows the 2020 publication of the Catalogue of Hydrologic Analysis (CHA) Volume 1. The objectives of the publication of the Catalogue of Hydrologic Analysis are: • To promote mutual understanding of hydrology and water resources of the region and of the neighboring countries. • To promote information exchange among different organizations in each country. • To share information on water-related issues such as disaster preparedness, water environment conservation, and water resources management in Asia and the Pacific. In Asia and the Pacific, various hydrologic analysis methods have been applied for designing hydraulic structures and river improvement works for rainfall-runoff predictions, flood inundation mapping and other purposes. These hydrologic analysis methods and experiences have different characteristics in terms of climate, topography, and development history of the catchments in which they are applied. Developing a platform to share these experiences and hydrologic analysis methods strengthen risk estimation and water-related hazard damage reduction; especially for researchers and engineers in the region who have limited knowledge of and experiences with them. To improve this situation and enhance risk estimation ability in research and engineering communities, meetings of the IHP Regional Steering Committee for Asia and the Pacific (RSC-AP) discussed the formation of a research team and the development of a hydro-informatics platform for Asia and the Pacific with the objective of realizing a hydro-hazard resilient region. With the objective enhancing regional capacity for evaluating water-related disaster risks, the RSC-AP decided to develop a Catalogue of Hydrologic Analysis (CHA) as a collaboration among researchers and engineers in Asia and the Pacific. The Catalogue collects documents including experiences and hydrologic analysis methods from practical use to advanced studies for short-term rainfall prediction, rainfall-runoff prediction, flood inundation mapping, hydrologic frequency analysis, eco-hydrology, and more. In this volume, we focus on dam reservoir operation in Asia and the Pacific. Since ancient times, dam reservoirs have aimed at securing water resources for living and agricultural production. Since then, industrial use and hydroelectric power generation were added – and most recently, securing the water environment and mitigating damage caused by floods. Dam operation methods are being studied and operated in each country to meet different objectives and to reduce the impact of flow control on the natural environment. This report summarizes the operation and water resource management of dams in China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, and Viet Nam. By developing and sharing knowledge through CHA, RSC-AP provides a platform to improve the ability for evaluating water-related disaster risks, which in turn will strengthen cooperation among researchers, governmental agencies and private sectors; serve to reduce the damage of water-related disasters; and stand as a regional contribution to achieve the targets of SDGs, UNESCO IHP-VIII (2014-2021) and UNESCO IHP-IX (2022-2029).

Description: The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan, which provides funds to support UNESCO IHP activities in Asia and the Pacific

Description: From the People of Japan

Description: OPENASFA INPUT

Description: Published

Description: Not Known

Description: The Tenth Meeting of the Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea-Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG-X) was held in Paris, France, on 23-24 February 2017 under the Chairmanship of Mr Alexander Postnov (IOC Vice-Chair). The meeting evaluated progress in actions and decisions taken by the Governing Bodies through IOC-XXVIII/Dec. 8.2 and IOC EC-XLIX/3.4. The Group reviewed reports by the IOC Intergovernmental Coordination Groups as well as its own Task Teams on Disaster Management and Preparedness and Watch Operations. The Group noted with satisfaction the progress made during the intersessional period, including: - Three exercises carried out (CARIBEWave 2016, IOWAVE 2016, PACWAVE 2017) and regular communication tests - Accreditation of four Tsunami Service Providers in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (NEAMTWS) - With regards to Tsunami Evacuation Mapping: a) The PTWS successfully completed a Pilot Tsunami Evacuation Maps, Plans and Procedures (TEMPP) over two years in Honduras with regional participation b) The ITIC, CTWP & IOC-UNESCO programme CARIBE EWS built experience with regards to implementation of the TEMPP and are ready to provide guidance to countries that want to implement similar projects c) The Project identified and references existing best practice evacuation mapping guidelines that countries have developed d) The PTWS will finalise project documentation and make it available to ICGs, noting the interest of IOTWMS and CARIBE-EWS  Tsunami Ready Community based performance recognition program achieved in St. Kitts & Nevis and Cedeño (Honduras)  The progress made by DBCP in developing an educational strategy to address buoy vandalism and endorse the development of the strategy and recommend that each ICG review the strategy The Group recommended the Assembly to encourage Member States to - sustain and increase technical and financial support of the tsunami warning systems in their respective regions - further promote tsunami awareness in communities and among authorities through communication and tsunami wave exercises, training, information, and community preparedness and recognition programmes - share Tsunami source scenario data as well sea level data relevant to tsunami detection and alerts - densify sea level networks particularly nearby tsunamigenic sources - extend exercises to community level and include critical infrastructure in exercises (e.g. hospitals, fire stations, police stations, electric power plants, airports, ports and harbors) The Group recommended the Assembly to instruct ICGs - to consider piloting the CARIBE EWS Tsunami Ready guidelines and report back to the TOWS-XI with a view to develop harmonized consistent global guidelines - to advocate the UN designated World Tsunami Awareness Day (5 November) among member states and advise them of the availability of material from the UNISDR in this regard, and share activities and materials with UNISDR and TICs - to recommend TSPs and NTWCs to also use the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) to facilitate warning messages to be consistently disseminated simultaneously over many warning communication systems to many applications - to recommend TSPs and NTWCs register with international register of alerting authorities through WMO National Permanent Representative - to consider contributing any education or outreach materials related to data buoy vandalism to the DBCP for inclusion in a tool kit of regionally relevant materials to counter vandalism - the ICG/PTWS, in line with the IOC XXVII Assembly decision 8.2, to continue its work on the Key Performance Indicators to cover all aspects of the Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Systems, aligning as closely as possible with the Sendai Framework, and share it to the other ICGs for consideration by the Member States, and report back to TOWS XI with a view to establish global KPIs - to encourage NTWCs disseminate tsunami bulletins to ports, harbours and other maritime authorities within their countries - to share the results of Tsunami exercises and communication tests with WMO to facilitate improved performance of WMO related communication systems The Group recommended the Assembly to take the following actions - to conduct a symposium in early 2018 in Paris on enhancing existing TSP and NTWC operational tsunami forecasting to further develop warning products and enhancing timely, accurate, reliable and effective decision-making and community response, involving experts from monitoring networks, seismology, tsunami forecast modelling and warning centres, maritime authorities, and national and local emergency management authorities with advice on product requirements - to extend the tenure of TOWS and its Task Teams on (i) Disaster Management and Preparedness and (ii) Tsunami Watch Operations, with ToRs as given in IOC Resolution XXIV-4 [for TOWS-WG] and IOC/TOWS-WG-VI/3 [Annex II; for TTDMP] and ToRs for TTTWO to reflect work related to enhancements to the accuracy and effectiveness of tsunami forecast information for users The Group accepted the reports from the Task Teams on Disaster Management and Preparedness and Watch Operations and instructed the Task Team on Watch Operations - to develop in consultation with WWNWS-SC specific tsunami threat messages for vessels at sea - to consider tsunamis generated by non-seismic sources for integration into Tsunami watch operation The Group noted the information presented by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on the new developments on the WMO Information System and its use for dissemination of Tsunami alerts as well as WIS performance monitoring of messages and particular types of messages. The Group recommended WMO to explore rendering assistance to CARIBE-EWS concerning usage of GTS and WIS for dissemination of tsunami alerts in the Caribbean region. The Group recognized that the current financial situation strongly limits the implementation of the tasks of the Group, ICGs and Inter-ICG Task Teams and recommended that the Member States to increase their extra-budgetary contributions to the IOC to provide the needed resources for the priorities identified by TOWS-WG and ICGs.

Description: Published

Description: Non Refereed

Description: Dr Nasser Hadjizadeh Zaker, Director of the Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science (INIOAS) and Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS) sub-regional working group for the North West Indian Ocean (WG-NWIO) welcomed all the participants to the meeting. He mentioned that it is very important to pay attention to the risk of tsunami to the countries of the NWIO from the Makran subduction zone. He acknowledged the contribution of the IOC-UNESCO ICG/IOTWMS in reducing tsunami risk in the region and reminded the Terms of Reference of the WG-NWIO. He wished all the participants a very successful meeting and an enjoyable stay in Iran. Dr Juma Al Maskari, Chair of the ICG/IOTWMS WG-NWIO thanked Dr Zaker and the Iranian government for hosting this meeting in Iran, the ICG/IOTWMS Secretariat for making preparations and all the participants for participating this meeting. He recalled that the WG-NWIO has been set up in the ICG/IOTWMS-X session in March 2015. Dr Al Maskari mentioned that this meeting offers a good opportunity to take stock of the progress made in the inter-sessional period and plan future activities. He concluded by welcoming all participants to the meeting. Dr Srinivasa Kumar Tummala, Head of the ICG/IOTWMS Secretariat welcomed all the participants to the meeting. He recalled that the WG-NWIO was established in the ICG/IOTWMS-X session with initial membership comprising India, Iran, Oman, Pakistan and Yemen to enhance tsunami warning system in the Makran region. He mentioned that the recent earthquake and minor tsunami events in September 2013 and February 2017 in Pakistan serve as a strong reminder that we need to closely study the Makran subduction zone to enhance the technical aspects of tsunami warning as well as awareness and preparedness. He listed the progress made in the inter-sessional period and also informed that this meeting offers a great opportunity to identify priorities in the region and develop a funding proposal for submission to United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). Dr. Tummala thanked Dr. Zaker and the government of Iran for hosting this important meeting. Dr Mahin Ghazani, Director of Science Department of the Iranian National Commission to UNESCO and Secretary of the Iranian National Committee for Oceanography welcomed all of the participants to the meeting. She informed that the IOC-UNESCO has an overall mandate for ocean science and capacity development in support of the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development. With strong regional presence, links to other regional bodies and expertise, IOC-UNESCO is rightly placed to support ocean related activities of the 148 Member States. She mentioned that IOC developed strong outreach to support national policy in ocean observations, monitoring ocean health, ocean hazards and emerging ocean issues. Dr. Ghazani listed the contribution of IOC to implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN) Agenda 2030. She thanked Dr. Zaker for hosting this important event in Iran and wished the meeting a success.

Description: OpenASFA input

Description: Published

Description: Non Refereed

Description: The coast forms a dynamic, interface zone where the land and sea realms meet and is characterised by some of the world’s most sensitive ecosystems, such as mangroves, wetlands, coral reefs, dunes and beaches. Unlike watersheds, coastal areas have no natural, clear nor precise boundaries. They are subjected continuously to the natural processes of weathering, coastal erosion, coastal flooding and sea-level rise. The impacts of these processes and events vary from one coastal zone to another depending on the geology and geomorphology of the coast and its exposure to natural processes. As the interface between land and sea, coastal areas perform many essential functions like natural protection against storms, regulation of water exchange between land and sea, regulation of the chemical composition of sediments and water, storage and recycling of nutrients and maintenance of biological and genetic diversity. From socio-economic perspectives, coastal zones are important settlement areas which play a critical role in the wealth creation of many nations as they offer access to fisheries and commerce, proximity to rich agricultural lowlands, aesthetic landscapes as well as cultural and recreational opportunities.

Description: OpenASFA input

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: • Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) result from noxious and/or toxic algae that cause direct and indirect negative impacts to aquatic ecosystems, coastal resources, and human health. • HABs are present in nearly all aquatic environments (freshwater, brackish and marine), as naturally occurring phenomena. • Many HABs are increasing in severity and frequency, and biogeographical range. Causes are complex, but in some cases can be attributed to climate change and human impacts, including eutrophication, habitat modification, and human- mediated introduction of exogenous species. • There is no plan, and nor realistic possibility, to eliminate HABs and/or their depend-ent consequences. Decades of research and monitoring have, however, improved our understanding of HAB events, leading to better monitoring and prediction strate-gies. • HABs are a worldwide phenomenon requiring an international understanding leading ultimately to local and regional solutions. Continued progress in research, management, mitigation, and prediction of HABs benefits from international coordination. In this spirit, the international community has developed programmes sponsored by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) to coordinate international HAB research, framework activities, and capacity building. • HABs are recognized as one facet of complex ecosystem interactions with human society. HAB research, monitoring, and management must be closely integrated with policy decisions that affect our global oceans. • New initiatives, such as GlobalHAB sponsored by IOC and SCOR, will continue to provide the mechanisms to further understand, predict, and mitigate HABs. Research, management, and mitigation efforts directed towards HABs must be coordinated with other local, national, and international efforts focused on food and water security, human and ecosystem health, ocean observing systems, and climate change.

Description: OPENASFA INPUT For bibliographic purposes this document should be cited as: R.M. Kudela et al. 2015. Harmful Algal Blooms. A Scientific Summary for Policy Makers. IOC/UNESCO, Paris (IOC/INF-1320).

Description: Published

Description: Non Refereed

Description: World Oceans Day is celebrated every year on 8 June to acknowledge the importance of the oceans in the global environment. This international day observed by the United Nations serves as an occasion to raise awareness on the protection of the oceans and on the sustainable use of its resources, as well as to discuss ways to further develop and share scientific knowledge on ocean related issues. This year, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, together with the Ocean and Climate Platform, dedicates this special day to the key role played by the ocean in maintaining a healthy environment. Held under the theme “Healthy Ocean, Healthy Planet”, World Oceans Day 2016 gives special focus on the prevention of plastic pollution.

Description: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Description: OpenASFA INPUT

Description: Published

Description: Non Refereed

Description: Climate change will affect the availability, quality and quantity of water for basic human needs, threatening the effective enjoyment of the human rights to water and sanitation for potentially billions of people. The hydrological changes induced by climate change will add challenges to the sustainable management of water resources, which are already under severe pressure in many regions of the world. Food security, human health, urban and rural settlements, energy production, industrial development, economic growth, and ecosystems are all water-dependent and thus vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Climate change adaptation and mitigation through water management is therefore critical to sustainable development, and essential to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Description: OpenASFA input

Description: Published

Description: Not Known

Description: Our planet Earth is changing. Marine and freshwater ecosystems are experiencing intense natural and anthropogenic pressures that will generate unforeseen changes in their struc-ture and functioning. The drivers of climate change have already altered the dynamics and interactions of the biotic and abiotic components in these ecosystems, and these changes are anticipated to accelerate in the future. Embedded within natural aquatic ecosystems are Harm-ful Algal Blooms (HABs) that are noxious to aquatic organisms as well as human health and wellbeing. There is concern that climate-driven changes will exacerbate HABs at a time when humans are increasingly reliant on aquatic systems for food and drinking water, livelihoods, mariculture and recreational resources. But there are many unknowns. What trends are evident in HAB distribution, frequency and severity? Might the drivers of climate change alter ecological out-comes to promote HABs? How might HABs and other planktonic species adapt to a changing environment? And, how can we prevent or mitigate future HABs impacts? These are only some of the important questions for which the scientific community should seek answers. The need to support this process forms the basis of the GlobalHAB Programme, launched by IOC UNESCO and SCOR, with the aim of promoting international and multidisciplinary coordina-tion of the research on HABs (www.globalhab.info). HAB science today is founded on studies dealing with a great diversity of topics and harmful organisms, using a variety of continuously evolving experimental methods and approaches. The rich insights obtained to date have been key to supporting research on the potential impacts of climate change on HABs. But more quantitative intercomparisons are now needed amongst studies as well as global comparisons of generated data, which is hampered by the diversity of methods and approaches that have brought us so far. The challenge to achieving greater harmonization of our experimental and observational practices is substantial, although it is acknowledged that this is not necessarily the case in all situations. The major aim of these guidelines is to communicate standardized strategies, tools, and protocols to assist researchers studying how climate change drivers may increase or decrease future HAB prevalence in aquatic ecosystems. These guidelines represent a first step that will help inform HAB scientists, students, and researchers entering the field, as well as scientists seeking to incorporate HAB studies into existing and developing ocean and freshwater observing systems.

Description: Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) provided by the U.S. National Science Foundation (Grants OCE-OCE- 1546580 and OCE-1840868)

Description: National SCOR committees

Description: OPENASFA INPUT This publication should be cited as follows: GlobalHAB. 2021. Guidelines for the Study of Climate Change Effects on HABs. Paris, UNESCO-IOC/SCOR. M. Wells et al. (eds.) (IOC Manuals and Guides no 88)

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: The southern coast of Dominican Republic is a very populated region, withseveral important cities including Santo Domingo, its capital. Important activities are rooted in the southern coast including tourism, industry, commercial ports, and, energy facilities, amongothers. According to historical reports, it has been impacted by big earthquakes accompanied by tsunamis as in Azua in 1751 and recently Pedernales in 2010, but their sources are not clearly identified.With partial support of the European Union funded project "Life-Saving Actions: Disaster preparedness and seismic and tsunami risk reduction in the south coast of San Cristóbal province, Dominican Republic» implemented by UNDP, UNESCO and the Assembly of Cooperation for Peace in Dominican Republic (ACPP),UNESCO together with the Seismological Institute of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo,organized the meeting of experts "Sources of tsunamis in the Caribbean with possibility to impact the southern coast of the Dominican Republic", on 6 and 7 May 2016, with invited experts and specialists ofDominican Republic, France, Haiti, Spainand theUnited States.The invited experts analysedin a closed meeting three groups of tsunami sources(tectonic sources, landslides and volcanic eruptions)of which they identified two groups of crediblesources of tsunamis in the Caribbean that could impact the southern coast of the Dominican Republic(tectonic sources and submarine landslides):I. Tectonic Sources: A.Near-field tectonic sources(less than 500 km from impact zone):-Western Muertos Trough (WMT) –Mw 8.0:-Small Muertos Trough 1 (SMT1) –Mw 7.6-Small Muertos Trough 2 (SMT2) –Mw 7.6-Muertos Trough Mega-splay (MS)–Mw 7.7B.Far-field tectonic sources:1. Southern Caribbean:-Northern Panama Deformed Belt (NPDB)–Mw 8.5-West branch of the South Caribbean Deformed Belt (WSCDB)–Mw 8.6-Full South Caribbean Deformed Belt (FSCDB)2. Northeastern Caribbean: Although thefollowing sources are at less than500 km of the impact zone, experts classified them as far-field given its expectedlower impact:-Puerto Rico Trench (PRT) –Mw 8.6-Mona Extension Fault (MEF) –Mw 7.6II. Submarine landslides: Within the different sourcesdiscussed only one was consideredasa potential threat, a potential landslide located ~100 km off the coast of Santo Domingo, denominated Complutense Slump (CS)by Granja et al. (2014).Volume of slump: 224km3.

Description: OpenASFA input

Description: Published

Description: Non Refereed

Description: Mr Renato Solidum, Director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology PHIVOLCS delivered the welcome speech on behalf of the Government of Philippines. He recalled that Philippines is a country that is exposed to several natural hazards. He indicated that PHIVOLCS is happy to host the 5th meeting of the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (PTWS) South China Sea Region Working Group (SCS-WG), and emphasized the importance of monitoring real time data from regional and global seismic networks in order to detect and rapidly locate, size, and characterize the source of tsunami, forecast coastal impacts and assess potential hazards. He officially opened the meeting.

Description: OpenASFA input

Description: Published

Description: Non Refereed

Description: This manual seeks to assist countries participating in the IOC-coordinated regional Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Systems in strengthening their existing tsunami warning and emergency responses through the development of Tsunami Warning and Emergency Response Plans and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). It relates to tsunami warning authorities (referred to as National Tsunami Warning Centres - NTWCs) and to tsunami emergency management authorities (referred to as Emergency Management Agencies - EMAs), promoting alignment, interoperability and consistency among all stakeholders in the end-to-end tsunami warning system. The Tsunami Warning System (TWS) An end-to-end Tsunami Warning System (TWS) includes the following components: - Knowledge of the hazards and risks to coastal communities from tsunamis and planning for their potential impact - Access to information from the ICG Tsunami Service Providers and/or National Tsunami Warning Centres on the earthquake characteristics, a tsunami assessment and forecast, and tsunami observations - Capability to evaluate the information received in order to determine the threat to their communities - Ability to quickly disseminate and communicate clear, understandable, and actionable warnings to prepared coastal communities in advance of the oncoming tsunami; and - Capacities at national, local and community levels for effective tsunami emergency response. A TWS is best defined in an end-to-end National Tsunami Warning and Emergency Response Plan, with a minimum requirement being the existence of such a document approved at the national level. The main purpose of this guideline is to describe the collective components of the TWS and the allocation (and description) of responsibilities and actions for each component, then designating relevant authorities for each action. The plan may also contain the concepts, thresholds, target times, systems, procedures, and templates used in the tsunami warning chain and a concise description of the tsunami threat for the country (or reference to the relevant documents). In some countries this Plan may need to be split into two plans, a National Tsunami Warning Plan and a Tsunami Emergency Response (TER) Plan, to recognise different functions and responsibilities. In either respect, the overall content and end-to-end processes should be complementary. This guideline describes the TWS and its supporting documents, with a specific focus on tsunami warning plans and SOPs for tsunami warning authorities and emergency response plans and SOPs for key responding agencies. Tsunami warning The NTWC provides warnings of potentially dangerous tsunamis to EMAs and in many cases direct to the communities of the sovereign nation in which it resides and which it serves. It operates on a 24/7 basis to receive earthquake and tsunami information from ICG Tsunami Service Providers (TSPs) of its choice, evaluates the information in terms of the tsunami threat to the country’s coastal communities, and issues warnings about threats. Each country formally nominates a Tsunami Warning Focal Point (TWFP) to the IOC for receipt and national management of tsunami threat information received from TSPs. Some countries have established their own NTWC as the national tsunami warning authority, which have the independent capacity to continuously monitor seismicity in real-time using local and global seismographic networks to locate and determine the magnitude of potentially tsunamigenic earthquakes. This capacity allows them to assess the threat of a tsunami empirically (based mainly on the earthquake magnitude) or through tsunami modelling in the same manner as done by a TSP. Such national assessments may be shared with the TSPs and the NTWCs of other countries. Whether a NTWC has its own in-house seismic processing facility and tsunami monitoring and assessment capability, or whether it relies on the seismic and tsunami threat information contained in notifications from TSPs (and other NTWCs), the next steps are common to all NTWCs. These are the formulation and dissemination of official national warnings to the EMA and other recipients in accordance with the National Tsunami Warning and Emergency Response Plan. A NTWC must respond quickly, be as accurate as possible, and be reliable in order to be effective. In order to achieve this, an NTWC should have regularly exercised and tested SOPs in place for efficiently receiving the earthquake and tsunami information from TSPs (and other NTWCs), or generated by themselves, evaluate and assess the threat to their country before issuing clearly understood threat alerts to national authorities responsible for emergency management and public safety. In some cases NTWCs may issue warnings directly to the public and media, but still in consultation with EMA. This guideline describes the essential functions of a NTWC and the relationship of an NTWC to ICG Tsunami Service Providers (TSPs) and other NTWCs. It is supported by Annexes containing more detail and examples. Tsunami emergency response In association with other authorities, government agencies, and community groups, EMAs must establish and maintain preparedness for an effective tsunami response through hazard risk assessment and the establishment of emergency response plans and accompanying procedures that focus on public awareness, public alerting, and evacuations. These plans and procedures must acknowledge that notifications from a NTWC may provide little response time – a tsunami generated by a local earthquake may impact within minutes, and they can occur at any time of the day or night. In such cases, natural warning signs (e.g. unexpected sudden drop in sea level indicating the pending arrival of the tsunami crest, although not always the case) may be able to provide much more timely warnings than waiting for the seismic information to feasibly reach the sensors, be analysed and tsunami forecasts and warnings generated and issued. During tsunami events EMAs must immediately interpret the warnings issued by the NTWC, and then decide on the appropriate response actions. Accordingly, they must also operate on a 24/7 basis in order to disseminate warnings (if required), instructions and other safety information to agencies at all applicable levels of government, threatened communities, and the media, in accordance with the National Tsunami Warning and Emergency Response Plan. They are also responsible for informing the public of the “All Clear” when the threat is over. Through the activation of Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) at the respective levels of government, EMAs must coordinate an appropriate emergency response amongst all participating agencies. This guideline covers the linkage between the NTWC and the EMA with a description of the procedures to be adopted by the latter as recipients or potential recipients of warnings from their NTWC, and their subsequent response actions. It is supported by Annexes containing more detail and examples.

Description: OpenASFA input

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: The present report, prepared pursuant to document 39 C/46, 39 C/Resolution 15 and 209 EX/Decision 5.I.B, provides a summary of a recent evaluation, namely the Evaluation of the UNESCO Strategy for Action on Climate Change (2018-2021).

Description: Item 8 of the Provisional Agenda of the 212th Session of the Executive Board of UNESCO (212 EX/8). OPENASFA INPUT

Description: Published

Description: Not Known

Description: In December 2004, 227,899 people lost their lives and around US$10 billion were estimated as overall economic losses in the 14 countries affected by the 9.1-magnitude Indian Ocean earthquake. In response to the devastation caused by the earthquake and consecutive tsunami, the international community reinforced and expanded its initiatives to reduce the tsunami-related risk of coastal communities worldwide. In response, the Tsunami Unit of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (UNESCO/IOC) was established. It aims to prevent the loss of lives and livelihoods that are caused by tsunamis, offering its support to IOC Member States in assessing tsunami risk, implementing Tsunami Early Warning Systems (EWS) and educating communities at risk about preparedness measures. Since 2015, the UNESCO/IOC has been promoting the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme as an international performance-based community recognition pilot consisting of key actions that help to reduce tsunami-related risks to individuals and communities. Through the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme, communities become aware of the risks they face from tsunamis and take steps to address them. To support current and future pilots, UNESCO/IOC commissioned the review and analysis of the Tsunami Ready Guidelines, which were initially established in the Caribbean, with the purpose of expanding the implementation of the programme globally. To this end, a desk-based review of all key documents and literature was conducted to assess the existing frameworks, documents and additional literature about the implementation of the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme in different regions Figure 1. Recognition sign delivered and countries. Likewise, interviews with to St Kitts & Nevis, in 2021. experts on the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme, as well as an online survey among relevant and experienced users, were conducted with the purpose of having a better understanding of the areas to be reinforced. This document presents the Standard Guidelines for the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme based on the review process undertaken. After this introduction, the second section of this manual includes the framework and background information; the third section identifies key issues concerning the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme and its methodological references; the fourth section presents the indicators to achieve the Tsunami Ready recognition, as well as the templates for requesting recognition; and finally, the fifth section contains the glossary of terms and a list of available tools and references to facilitate its implementation.

Description: OPENASFA INPUT

Description: Published

Description: Not Known