First Global Conference on Oceans, Climate and Security (GCOCS), 21/05/2012 - 23/05/2012

[Douwe Cunningham, EMEC]

Forward thinkers across disciplines are raising awareness about the
effects of a changing climate on national and human security.
Specifically, a new focus is emerging on how climate change impacts
ocean systems and the oceans' subsequent vital role in exacerbating or
mitigating these impacts. Thus, understanding the inter-connectedness
between oceans, climate and security is increasingly crucial to our
collective future. For instance, ocean acidification and warming,
melting polar ice and sea level rise each pose critical threats to
human populations, natural systems and global security.

Some threats are direct such as drought impacts on global food
security, and damage to civilian and military infrastructure caused by
increasing frequency and intensity of storms and sea-level rise. Other
threats are significant but less direct such as a decrease in
agricultural productivity, forced migration of coastal populations,
and destabilizations of economies due to the ocean's reduced capacity
to regulate climate and provide for human needs.

The First Global Conference on Oceans, Climate and Security (GCOCS) is
designed to:

Raise the awareness level of the threat of climate change to our
oceans and the consequent threat to our human and national security;
Identify and prioritize the knowledge gaps in science and technology
which inhibit understanding, response and adaptation to future
threats;
Generate comprehensive human security policy and governance
recommendations reflecting the climate, ocean, and security
continuum.
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS SUBMISSION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 15, 2011

For more information see: http://www.gcocs.org/

Venue: University of Massachusetts Boston, USA