Ocean Policy & Governance

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid more than $38 billion in claims since 1978. It was meant to be a self-supporting system, but currently costs American taxpayers $200 million per year. In this episode of World Ocean Radio, host Peter Neill will outline some of the reasons why this program is not working, especially as extreme weather becomes more prevalent, increasing levels of destruction.

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There are many organizations, conferences and commissions dedicated to ocean policy, research and education, yet public perceptions of ocean issues have not changed much in the last ten years, nor has there been encouraging progress on ocean-related issues. In this episode of World Ocean Radio, host Peter Neill will introduce yet another ocean advocate--the Global Ocean Commission--convened by a panel of figures from around the world intent on finding solutions to the crises facing the world ocean.

We are failing to manage successful response to climate challenges on land, along the coast and deep in the ocean; we are failing to manage within the structures that are already in place that might enable solutions. In this episode of World Ocean Radio, host Peter Neill will assert that we must embrace best management practices now and use new management tools to renovate and build for the future—not by resisting change but by embracing it for the better with renewed certainty and enthusiasm.

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The reports on Rio+20 are in, and they are not good for the ocean. Many experts and activists from around the globe worked hard to formulate serious policy recommendations and priorities, and went to Rio to advocate for inclusion of ocean sustainability in the final report. Many  of these hard working individuals and groups left Rio disappointed.

For the UN Rio+20 Conference in June, ocean leaders published a declaration intended to inform delegates and to advocate for ocean issues to be included in the conference outcome and the global development agenda for the next two decades. In this episode of World Ocean Radio, host Peter Neill will outline the seven action items of the declaration in order to share the scope and limits of the concerns being addressed by experts and agencies working on these issues every day.