Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/70/235 182. Encourages States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004, 81 thereby facilitating its early entry into force; 183. Encourages States, directly or through competent international organizations, to consider the further development and application, as appropriate and consistent with international law, including the Convention, of environmental impact assessment processes covering planned activities under their jurisdiction or control that may cause substantial pollution of or significant and harmful changes to the marine environment, and also encourages the communication of the reports of the results of such assessments to the competent international organizations in accordance with the Convention; 184. Encourages States that have not done so to become parties to regional seas conventions addressing the protection and preservation of the marine environment; 185. Encourages States, in accordance with international law, including the Convention and other relevant instruments, either bilaterally or regionally, to jointly develop and promote contingency plans for responding to pollution incidents, as well as other incidents that are likely to have significant adverse effects on the marine environment and biodiversity; 186. Recognizes the importance of improving understanding of the impact of climate change on oceans and seas, and recalls that in “The future we want”, States noted that sea-level rise and coastal erosion are serious threats for many coastal regions and islands, particularly in developing countries and, in this regard, called upon the international community to enhance its efforts to address these challenges; 187. Notes with concern the severe impacts on coastal communities of extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones and associated storm surges, and encourages cooperative actions by relevant United Nations bodies and organizations, including the World Meteorological Organization, to assist States in improving forecasting of such events and its application in multi -hazard early warning systems and risk management; 188. Also notes with concern that the health of the oceans and marine biodiversity are negatively affected by marine debris, especially plastic, from land based and marine sources, and invites States to implement resolution 1/6 on marine plastic debris and microplastics, adopted by the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme at its first session, held in Nairobi from 23 to 27 June 2014; 82 189. Recognizes the need for better understanding of the sources, amounts, pathways, distribution, trends, nature and impacts of marine debris, especially plastic, and to examine possible measures and best available techniques and environmental practices to prevent its accumulation and minimize its levels in the marine environment, and welcomes in this regard the work conducted under the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection, led by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and its report entitled “Sources, fate and effects of microplastics in the marine environment – a global assessment”; _______________ 81 82 International Maritime Organization, document BWM/CONF/36, annex. See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/69/25), annex. 33/53