Background
Climate change is already impacting and threatening coastal communities and indigenous peoples in both developed and developing countries as well as small island developing States (SIDS). The continuous and increasing emissions of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have serious consequences on oceans. Increases in acidity, warming, altered circulation patterns and sea level rise that oceans are actually experiencing are a result of excessive CO2 emissions. The oceans play a central role in climate--generating oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide and regulating climate and temperature. But, the oceans' ability to provide these life-sustaining services is now at risk. And, the more than 50% of the human population that lives in 183 coastal countries, including 44 small island nations, are at the frontline of climate change and will suffer disproportionate impacts from ocean warming, sea level rise, extreme weather events, and ocean acidification.
The Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts in association with the Secretaries of Environment and Natural Resources of the Mexican States of Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatan, and the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry (SEMARNAT), Mexico, will bring together Parties and Observer States, intergovernmental organizations, NGOs, science, industry and members of civil society during a day especially dedicated to oceans - December 4, 2010--at the Sixteenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP16) to be held from November 29 to December 10, 2010 in Cancun, Mexico.
