Ambassador Shava,President of the General Assembly Peter Thomson,Ambassador Olof Skoog,Ambassador Luke Daunivalu,Under-Secretary-General and Legal Counsel Miguel Soares,Distinguished Delegates,Ladies and Gentlemen,
As Secretary-General of the Ocean Conference, I am honoured to introduce the outcomes of the Ocean Conference and to brief on the follow-up of the voluntary commitments.
The Ocean Conference was a historic event, with thousands of participants from Member States, the UN system and other intergovernmental organizations. We also saw the full participation of civil society, the scientific community, the business sector and all other relevant actors.
The Conference resulted in an inter-governmentally agreed political declaration “Our ocean, our future: call for action”, anchored on 22 forward-looking actions.
The Conference featured seven productive partnership dialogues, and nearly 1,400 voluntary commitments from governments and stakeholders – individually and in partnership.
These voluntary commitments represent a breakthrough in the intergovernmental process.
They aim to provide effective solutions to our ocean crisis, and advance the implementation of SDG 14, covering all targets of SDG 14 and their links with other SDGs.
The Conference also featured a successful special event commemorating the World Oceans Day. There were 150 well-attended side events and 30 inspiring exhibitions.
The Conference raised global consciousness on the importance of our ocean and the challenges it is facing, including the worsening situation of marine pollution, the plastics pollution, over-fishing, and ocean acidification.
It laid out a roadmap and ambitious work plan and should be seen as the starting point of our mission to Save the Ocean.
The outcomes of the Ocean Conference are valuable inputs to the HLPF. They showcase the interlinkages of SDG 14 with other SDGs, and the Ocean’s contribution to poverty eradication, food security, climate action, and our well-being and livelihoods.
The HLPF, as the central platform for the global review of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, provides the venue to discuss effective follow up of the Ocean Conference in an integrated manner.
Excellencies,
For the Ocean Conference to have a durable impact, it is imperative that we take strong and tangible follow-up actions.
We must seize the momentum, answer the Call for Action, and implement the voluntary commitments.
From the Secretariat side, we are starting with the basics.
First, we have prepared a preliminary analysis of the voluntary commitments. It addresses, in broad terms, the measures and actions identified in the voluntary commitments, types of resources committed, links with other SDGs, and relation to the Call for Action. The document is available on the Conference website.
Second, we are in the process of building a database of actors who have made voluntary commitments. This will help facilitate online discussion and timely exchange of information on the status of voluntary commitments, consideration of further ways and means of implementation, and mobilization of potential partners.
Third, we are striving to identify synergies between voluntary commitments and existing partnerships emanating from the Rio+20 process, the Samoa Conference on small island developing States and the high-level political forum.
Excellencies,Ladies and gentlemen,
The Ocean Conference was a game changer. It has broken new ground and set a new benchmark for multilateral solutions. It did so in the spirit of partnering and working together.
I am confident that the momentum will not slow down, given your commitment, passion and endeavours.
We, in the Secretariat, stand ready to provide any support that you need to move forward. Let us, together, build on the legacy of the Ocean Conference and ensure a healthy ocean for current and future generations.
Thank you.
As Secretary-General of the Ocean Conference, I am honoured to introduce the outcomes of the Ocean Conference and to brief on the follow-up of the voluntary commitments.
The Ocean Conference was a historic event, with thousands of participants from Member States, the UN system and other intergovernmental organizations. We also saw the full participation of civil society, the scientific community, the business sector and all other relevant actors.
The Conference resulted in an inter-governmentally agreed political declaration “Our ocean, our future: call for action”, anchored on 22 forward-looking actions.
The Conference featured seven productive partnership dialogues, and nearly 1,400 voluntary commitments from governments and stakeholders – individually and in partnership.
These voluntary commitments represent a breakthrough in the intergovernmental process.
They aim to provide effective solutions to our ocean crisis, and advance the implementation of SDG 14, covering all targets of SDG 14 and their links with other SDGs.
The Conference also featured a successful special event commemorating the World Oceans Day. There were 150 well-attended side events and 30 inspiring exhibitions.
The Conference raised global consciousness on the importance of our ocean and the challenges it is facing, including the worsening situation of marine pollution, the plastics pollution, over-fishing, and ocean acidification.
It laid out a roadmap and ambitious work plan and should be seen as the starting point of our mission to Save the Ocean.
The outcomes of the Ocean Conference are valuable inputs to the HLPF. They showcase the interlinkages of SDG 14 with other SDGs, and the Ocean’s contribution to poverty eradication, food security, climate action, and our well-being and livelihoods.
The HLPF, as the central platform for the global review of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, provides the venue to discuss effective follow up of the Ocean Conference in an integrated manner.
Excellencies,
For the Ocean Conference to have a durable impact, it is imperative that we take strong and tangible follow-up actions.
We must seize the momentum, answer the Call for Action, and implement the voluntary commitments.
From the Secretariat side, we are starting with the basics.
First, we have prepared a preliminary analysis of the voluntary commitments. It addresses, in broad terms, the measures and actions identified in the voluntary commitments, types of resources committed, links with other SDGs, and relation to the Call for Action. The document is available on the Conference website.
Second, we are in the process of building a database of actors who have made voluntary commitments. This will help facilitate online discussion and timely exchange of information on the status of voluntary commitments, consideration of further ways and means of implementation, and mobilization of potential partners.
Third, we are striving to identify synergies between voluntary commitments and existing partnerships emanating from the Rio+20 process, the Samoa Conference on small island developing States and the high-level political forum.
Excellencies,Ladies and gentlemen,
The Ocean Conference was a game changer. It has broken new ground and set a new benchmark for multilateral solutions. It did so in the spirit of partnering and working together.
I am confident that the momentum will not slow down, given your commitment, passion and endeavours.
We, in the Secretariat, stand ready to provide any support that you need to move forward. Let us, together, build on the legacy of the Ocean Conference and ensure a healthy ocean for current and future generations.
Thank you.
File date:
Thursday, July 13, 2017