The UN chief also called for more protection of the oceans and of the people whose lives and livelihoods depend on them, by addressing climate change and investing in climate-resilient coastal infrastructure.Movie star and ocean activist Jason Momoa was designated the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Advocate for Life Below Water on Monday, at the UN Ocean Conference on Monday.
“I invite all to join the goal of mapping 80 per cent of the seabed by 2030. I encourage the private sector to join partnerships that support ocean research and sustainable management. And I urge governments to raise their level of ambition for the recovery of ocean health”.
Mr. Guterres urged stakeholders to invest in sustainable ocean economies for food, renewable energy, and livelihoods, through long-term funding, reminding them that out of all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Goal number 14 had received the least support of any of the SDGs.
Ocean emergency
Inviting all Member States to joint the initiative recently launched to achieve the goal of full early warning system coverage in the next five years, Mr. Guterres said that this would help to reach coastal communities and those whose livelihoods depend on early warning protection measures at sea.
Co-hosted by Portugal and Kenya, the event will be a platform to address the challenges that the world’s oceans, seas and marine resources face.
Healthy seas vital to shared future
As a Maldivian, the President said, “I am a child of the Ocean (…) but beyond those of us who look to the blue horizon each day, the entirety of humanity relies upon the ocean for half of the oxygen we take. That’s why we are here this week, to stand for a resource that has carried us through our entire existence”.
Addressing the audience in Lisbon, President of the UN General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, said that the ocean connects us all, and that the Conference would be the place to demonstrate the global commitments.
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Invest in sustainable ocean economies
This would entail scaling-up effective area-based conservation measures and integrated coastal zone management.
“But let’s have no illusions. Much more needs to be done by all of us together”, Mr. Guterres stressed, before outlining four key recommendations:
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Replicate ocean success
Second, he continued, “the ocean must become a model on how we can manage the global commons for our greater good; and this means preventing and reducing marine pollution of all kinds, both from land and sea-based sources”.
Among them, the UN chief underscored the urgent need to invest sustainably in economies that depend on the sea.
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Protect the people
“Our failure to care for the ocean will have ripple effects across the entire 2030 Agenda,” Mr. Guterres said.
Actor and ocean advocate Jason Momoa (left) and UN Oceans Envoy Peter Thomson (right) on Carcavelos Beach in Lisbon, Portugal, for the nature baton moment at the UN Ocean Summit.
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More science and innovation
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at the UN Ocean Conference’s Youth and Innovation Forum in Lisbon, Portugal.
Addressing the plenary, President Rebelo de Sousa said that Lisbon was the right place for the Ocean Conference because the ocean had been essential in transforming Portugal to what it was today.
Lastly, Mr. Guterres underlined the need for more science and innovation to propel us into what he called a “new chapter of global ocean action”.
Turn to the Ocean
During the week, UN News will bring you daily coverage on the Conference as well as interviews, podcasts and features, which you can access here.
The Aquaman actor, who has worked with Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii and rePurpose Global, described how humbled he felt to be entrusted with the responsibility to promote ocean health: “With this designation, I hope to continue my own journey to protect and conserve the ocean and all living things on our beautiful blue planet, for our generation and the generations to come.”
Kenya and Portugal co-host
Mr. Momoa made remarks ahead of the Youth and Innovation Forum, where he received the “Nature Baton” from the UN Special Envoy for the Ocean, Peter Thomson. The Aquaman star then handed the baton to youth representatives before they, in turn, passed it to the UN Secretary-General.
The UN Ocean Conference in Altice Arena, Lisbon, Portugal
Presiding over the Conference, which runs until 1 July, are Kenyan President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
‘Aquaman’ Momoa, new UNEP champion
The declaration entitled “Our ocean, our future: call for action” is expected to be adopted on Friday.
Speaking at the high-level opening of the Conference, Mr. Guterres outlined four recommendations to ensure that the tide is reversed.
Concluding with a Swahili proverb: “Bahari itatufikisha popote”, which means “the ocean leads us anywhere”, Mr. Guterres called on all people to pledge on ocean action.
“The shipping sector should commit to net zero emissions by 2050, and present credible plans to implement these commitments. And we should invest more in restoring and conserving coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves, wetlands, and coral reefs.”, Mr. Guterres stressed.
