– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Tijjani Muhammad Bande, President of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
21 May 2020
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I thank the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), UN Global Compact and the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service for convening today’s online discussion on the critical issue of ocean action.
At the outset, I extend my condolences to those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19. I wish those suffering from the effects of the virus a full recovery. I thank all healthcare and frontline workers, as well as innovative private sector partners, for their tireless work.
In 2015 we recognized the indivisible link between life on land and life under water and promised to take action in order to build a better world for all. We cannot renege on that pledge in this time of crisis.
In addressing the COVID-19 pandemic we must not relent upon our efforts for ocean action. As economies and societies suffer, we must turn to innovative methods of building back better.
In both our rapid response to COVID-19, and our long-term planning, we must address the root causes of systemic shocks which increase the risk of disease emergence and spread among people, animals and other living species.
We must take urgent action to combat the acidification and pollution of oceans, biodiversity loss on land and under water, deforestation, and ecosystem change which contribute to climate change. Furthermore, sea levels are rising and Small Island Developing States are facing the existential threat of being submerged. We must act now to prevent the displacement of hundreds of millions of peoples living in coastal areas.
In 2015 we recognized the indivisible link between life on land and life under water and promised to take action in order to build a better world for all. We cannot renege on that pledge in this time of crisis.
Excellencies,
Ocean action has the capacity to assist global recovery efforts in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The UN Commission on Trade and Development estimates that global trade may fall by a record 27% in 2020 due to the pandemic as almost 90% goods travels by sea.
The private sector has a unique role to play in our recovery with the ability to generate 100 million jobs around the world by 2050 by investing in green and blue economies. This would increase global GDP by 2.4%, amounting to a cumulative gain of $98 trillion by 2050.
The worldwide ocean economy is valued at $1.5 trillion annually. Indeed, aquaculture is the fastest growing food sector, and 350 million jobs world-wide are linked to fisheries with approximately 3 billion people rely on seafood as a primary source of protein.
We need to build a sustainable blue economy which is based upon traceable and sustainable seafood; zero emissions ocean transport and supply chains; scaling-up renewable ocean-based energy; ocean mapping; and ending plastic pollution in our oceans.
This will require a comprehensive approach which aligns all incentives and subsidies in pursuit of a just transition towards the green and blue economies.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 United Nations Ocean Conference has been postponed, however we will continue to mobilise and engage stakeholders in the substantive preparations for the Conference.
I call on governments, businesses and civil society to recommit to the Paris Climate Agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. We have a shared responsibility to humanity to take urgent action to secure a healthy ocean.
I thank you.
