ensure cohesion in marine science and development). The active involvement of end
users of scientific information, including resource managers, policy-makers, and
individual citizens, will enhance the impact and value of our research initiatives and
findings. For that, we need to understand, maintain, and extend our relationships to
relevant UN agencies, international councils, global programs, and NGOs and
participate in alliances and international agreements related, for instance, to ocean
governance for a safer, more equitable, cleaner, and prosperous ocean for all.
In summary, to be influential and shape action, we must strengthen the interface
between society, policy, and science. Considering that the challenges for society are
formidable and will require substantial information, knowledge, wisdom, and energy
from the scientific community (Lubchenco 1998), the ability to make marine science
understandable to those who make decisions about our future is critical; it should be
made clear that the sustainability of tomorrow depends on what we do today.
24.2 International Framework for Sustainability
and Maritime Governance in the Alboran Sea
24.2.1 The Balance Between Environmental Research
and Decision-Making
Democratic societies have led to a consensus and political commitment toward an
environmental sustainability and practices respectful with the environment. The
currently happening changes are so vast, so pervasive, and so important that they
require our immediate attention (Lubchenco 1998). In consequence, environmental
policies have evolved from being much targeted to being more holistic, which
implies more knowledge demands, in particular to characterize the added complexities and uncertainties of integrated issues having long-term consequences.
These commitments are embodied in the numerous international conventions
which set targets for improving environmental quality supported by specific monitoring programs. Among others, we can mention the Barcelona Convention, International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), the
IMO regulation and management of ballast water in ocean vessels, the EU Marine
Strategy Framework Directive, and many others (major detail in Chap. 2 of this
volume).
In addition to the conventions, there are also several international instruments and
science-policy interfaces that have been agreed by the member states represented at
the United Nations, such as the UN World Ocean Assessment (WOA), the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
(IPBES), and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). These
science-policy processes must ensure that updated and accurate science is appropriately reflected in high-level policy discussions (e.g., Conferences of Parties of the
802
L. Valdés et al.
users of scientific information, including resource managers, policy-makers, and
individual citizens, will enhance the impact and value of our research initiatives and
findings. For that, we need to understand, maintain, and extend our relationships to
relevant UN agencies, international councils, global programs, and NGOs and
participate in alliances and international agreements related, for instance, to ocean
governance for a safer, more equitable, cleaner, and prosperous ocean for all.
In summary, to be influential and shape action, we must strengthen the interface
between society, policy, and science. Considering that the challenges for society are
formidable and will require substantial information, knowledge, wisdom, and energy
from the scientific community (Lubchenco 1998), the ability to make marine science
understandable to those who make decisions about our future is critical; it should be
made clear that the sustainability of tomorrow depends on what we do today.
24.2 International Framework for Sustainability
and Maritime Governance in the Alboran Sea
24.2.1 The Balance Between Environmental Research
and Decision-Making
Democratic societies have led to a consensus and political commitment toward an
environmental sustainability and practices respectful with the environment. The
currently happening changes are so vast, so pervasive, and so important that they
require our immediate attention (Lubchenco 1998). In consequence, environmental
policies have evolved from being much targeted to being more holistic, which
implies more knowledge demands, in particular to characterize the added complexities and uncertainties of integrated issues having long-term consequences.
These commitments are embodied in the numerous international conventions
which set targets for improving environmental quality supported by specific monitoring programs. Among others, we can mention the Barcelona Convention, International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), the
IMO regulation and management of ballast water in ocean vessels, the EU Marine
Strategy Framework Directive, and many others (major detail in Chap. 2 of this
volume).
In addition to the conventions, there are also several international instruments and
science-policy interfaces that have been agreed by the member states represented at
the United Nations, such as the UN World Ocean Assessment (WOA), the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
(IPBES), and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). These
science-policy processes must ensure that updated and accurate science is appropriately reflected in high-level policy discussions (e.g., Conferences of Parties of the
802
L. Valdés et al.