Nice, France
Good morning, everyone.
And thank you, Astrid, for organizing this timely breakfast. Hosting us on a research vessel is a brilliant and powerful reminder of what is at stake. Being on the water connects us directly to our shared mission of safeguarding the ocean.
Let me start by commending the Secretariat of CBD, under your leadership, Astrid, for the remarkable outcome of COP16 in Cali. The launch of the Cali Fund marked a turning point in mobilizing resources for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). That is a significant achievement, and it provides a powerful current for our efforts on the ocean front.
Tomorrow, we will channel that momentum when we adopt the Political Declaration of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference. This Declaration contains strong references to the Framework.
- It reaffirms the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Protocols, as well as the Framework—including its ocean-related goals and targets, and its mission to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
- The Declaration also commits to conserving, restoring, and sustainably using ocean and marine resources.
- It further solidifies our shared commitment to ensuring that at least 30 per cent of marine and coastal areas are effectively conserved and managed by 2030.
- There is also strong language on restoring degraded ecosystems and ensuring equitable benefit-sharing from genetic resources, with full recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples, in line with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
This represents a significant alignment between ocean action and the global biodiversity agenda.
The concept note for our Ocean Action Panel on ocean-biodiversity-climate also highlights these interlinkages. It clearly recognizes the synergies between SDG14 and the Framework, and how our success depends on breaking down silos between institutions, sectors, and communities.
Moving forward, we have a clear opportunity to deepen our collaboration. I propose that we take three concrete steps together:
First, producing a joint policy brief that examines how SDG14 and the Framework can be implemented towards the “30 by 30” goal for marine and coastal areas. This will provide practical guidance and tools for countries, particularly SIDS, translating our shared goal into actionable national strategies.
Second, co-developing a major capacity building programme for conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity. We can leverage DESA’s Voluntary Commitments global database – managed by DESA – to drive tangible progress on both SDG 14 and SDG 15, ensuring countries have the support they need to succeed.
Third, aligning implementation and monitoring between the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) and the Global Biodiversity Framework. This will amplify our impact, reduce duplication, strengthen national capacity, and ensure that biodiversity-related actions in SIDS are fully visible and supported under both agendas.
Astrid, thank you again to you and the CBD Secretariat for bringing us together. I look forward to exploring these ideas further and to building stronger bridges between our communities and commitments.
Let’s ensure that the ocean is not just the setting for this breakfast, but the center of our collective, decisive action.
Thank you.