“The ocean sustains and enhances all life on Earth,” the Secretary-General stated. “But our ocean is in trouble. And we only have ourselves to blame.”
New York, June 8, 2024 – In a compelling address on the occasion of UN World Oceans Day, Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the critical state of the world’s oceans and urged immediate, collective action to protect and restore marine ecosystems. Emphasizing the ocean’s role in sustaining life on Earth, he warned of the dire consequences of climate change, ocean acidification, unsustainable coastal development, overfishing, deep-sea mining, pollution, and plastic waste.
“The ocean sustains and enhances all life on Earth,” the Secretary-General stated. “But our ocean is in trouble. And we only have ourselves to blame.”
Rising sea levels and record sea temperatures are causing extreme weather events and threatening the existence of small island developing states and coastal populations. Ocean acidification is destroying coral reefs, disrupting food chains, and endangering tourism and local economies.
Despite these challenges, the Secretary-General pointed to recent positive developments. Last year, the UN General Assembly adopted the historic Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, marking the most significant new treaty on ocean governance in decades. Additionally, the ongoing process to develop a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution offers another opportunity to protect our ocean.
The Secretary-General also highlighted the recent opinion by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, which calls on nations to reduce, control, and prevent marine pollution caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
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Looking ahead, the Secretary-General underscored the importance of this year’s Summit of the Future and next year’s UN Oceans Conference in France as critical opportunities to commit to actions that can restore and protect marine and coastal ecosystems.
“Now is the time for governments, businesses, investors, scientists, and communities to come together in defense of our ocean,” he urged.
On World Oceans Day, the Secretary-General called for a collective effort to “awaken new depths of action for our ocean,” echoing this year’s theme and inspiring global cooperation to ensure the health and sustainability of our oceans for future generations.
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