Excellencies,Distinguished Guests,Ladies and gentlemen
I am honoured to address the opening of the Ocean Conference.
Oceans, seas and coastal areas form an integrated and essential part of the Earth’s ecosystem.
Without oceans and seas there would be no life on our Planet.
Yet, the world’s Ocean, as an interlinked ecosystem, is not healthy. It is grappling with a variety of threats, including:
climate changemarine pollutionunsustainable extraction of marine resources, and erosion and destruction of marine and coastal habitats.
The convening of this Conference, to rally action, cannot be more timely.
I am honored and humbled to be designated Secretary-General of the Conference.
Excellencies,
In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Member States responded to the ocean crisis. They committed to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources under SDG 14 and its associated targets.
This Conference aims to advance implementation of SDG 14 and the 2030 Agenda.
I applaud the Governments of Fiji and Sweden for assuming the responsibility as Co-Presidents of the Conference. I applaud the leadership of the President of the General Assembly in rallying global action to save the Ocean.
I appreciate the endeavor of the President of ECOSOC to link this Conference with the review of SDG14 at the upcoming High-level Political Forum.
I am deeply grateful for the profound support from every one of you, for your commitment and initiatives.
I thank my colleague Legal Counsel Miguel de Serpa Soares for his wisdom and support.
The urgent message in the Call for Action is crystal clear.
The time to act is now!
We thank Ambassador Alvaro Mendonca e Moura of Portugal and Ambassador Burhan Gafoor of Singapore for ably facilitating the consultations on the Call for Action.
The list of 22 specific actions promises to galvanize global commitments and partnerships for our Ocean.
The number of voluntary commitments is growing every day. Importantly, these commitments cover all targets of SDG14 and its linkages with other SDGs.
I thank major groups and other stakeholders for the hundreds of voluntary commitments you have undertaken.
In the next few days, we have a great opportunity to further rally support at all levels.
The Conference is a platform for Governments, UN agencies, major groups and all relevant actors, to collectively identify ways and means to:
support implementation of SDG 14build on existing successful partnerships, and stimulate innovative and concrete new partnerships.
Special attention should also be given to the need for means of implementation, including capacity-building and enhanced financing. This is critical for small island developing States, least developed countries and other developing countries.
Excellencies,
No SDG can be achieved by working in silos, and this is true of SDG 14.
I am confident that with the broad support and enthusiasm from Member States and all other stakeholders, with commitment from all of you, the Ocean Conference will bring about solutions and concrete actions in saving our Ocean, and in advancing the implementation of SDG 14.
Thank you.
I am honoured to address the opening of the Ocean Conference.
Oceans, seas and coastal areas form an integrated and essential part of the Earth’s ecosystem.
Without oceans and seas there would be no life on our Planet.
Yet, the world’s Ocean, as an interlinked ecosystem, is not healthy. It is grappling with a variety of threats, including:
climate changemarine pollutionunsustainable extraction of marine resources, and erosion and destruction of marine and coastal habitats.
The convening of this Conference, to rally action, cannot be more timely.
I am honored and humbled to be designated Secretary-General of the Conference.
Excellencies,
In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Member States responded to the ocean crisis. They committed to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources under SDG 14 and its associated targets.
This Conference aims to advance implementation of SDG 14 and the 2030 Agenda.
I applaud the Governments of Fiji and Sweden for assuming the responsibility as Co-Presidents of the Conference. I applaud the leadership of the President of the General Assembly in rallying global action to save the Ocean.
I appreciate the endeavor of the President of ECOSOC to link this Conference with the review of SDG14 at the upcoming High-level Political Forum.
I am deeply grateful for the profound support from every one of you, for your commitment and initiatives.
I thank my colleague Legal Counsel Miguel de Serpa Soares for his wisdom and support.
The urgent message in the Call for Action is crystal clear.
The time to act is now!
We thank Ambassador Alvaro Mendonca e Moura of Portugal and Ambassador Burhan Gafoor of Singapore for ably facilitating the consultations on the Call for Action.
The list of 22 specific actions promises to galvanize global commitments and partnerships for our Ocean.
The number of voluntary commitments is growing every day. Importantly, these commitments cover all targets of SDG14 and its linkages with other SDGs.
I thank major groups and other stakeholders for the hundreds of voluntary commitments you have undertaken.
In the next few days, we have a great opportunity to further rally support at all levels.
The Conference is a platform for Governments, UN agencies, major groups and all relevant actors, to collectively identify ways and means to:
support implementation of SDG 14build on existing successful partnerships, and stimulate innovative and concrete new partnerships.
Special attention should also be given to the need for means of implementation, including capacity-building and enhanced financing. This is critical for small island developing States, least developed countries and other developing countries.
Excellencies,
No SDG can be achieved by working in silos, and this is true of SDG 14.
I am confident that with the broad support and enthusiasm from Member States and all other stakeholders, with commitment from all of you, the Ocean Conference will bring about solutions and concrete actions in saving our Ocean, and in advancing the implementation of SDG 14.
Thank you.
File date:
Monday, June 5, 2017