Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly
7 December 2021
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
I am honored to convene today’s plenary meeting under the agenda item on ‘Oceans and the Law of the Sea’.
The ocean spans more than 70% of our planet’s surface, providing incredible biodiversity, sustenance and resources to billions of people and organisms. It not only produces over half of the world’s oxygen but also absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere.
Yet, despite its necessity for the survival of our planet and peoples, the ocean is increasingly under threat.
Climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, invasive species and a dramatic increase in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing are amongst the major stressors.
Furthermore, ocean pollution is a complex mixture made up of mercury, plastic waste, manufactured chemicals, petroleum wastes, agricultural runoff, and harmful algal blooms. People are exposed to these toxins primarily by consuming contaminated seafood.
The consequences of climate change are particularly worrisome, with small islands – or large ocean States as they could be called – bearing the brunt of this existential threat.
The impact is not limited to humans alone. Countless species and immense ocean biodiversity are on the brink of extinction as oceans continue to warm up.
These are underlying issues and threats that we know all too well. And yet, we remain evasive or delayed when it comes to action.
My friends,
We have no choice but to respond to the needs of the ocean, and to do so through a multilateral means.
It is through multilateralism that a legal framework on the Law of the Sea has been widely developed and recognized. In fact, this General Assembly has been essential in establishing a global governance on the ocean.
The upcoming 40th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea will be a moment to reflect on multilateral achievements in protecting the ocean under international law.
It will also be a moment to further enhance cooperation, and to recognize the role of the Convention in the promotion of peace and sustainable development across our ocean and seas.
The United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea, whose latest report is being considered today, is another useful tool towards this end.
I welcome the fact that the twenty-first meeting of the ICP focused on “Sea level rise and its impacts”. This is an issue of great importance for many delegations in this room, including that of my own country, the Maldives.
Promoting ocean science, and the strengthening of the science-policy interface, is crucial for the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean and its resources.
There calls for greater international coordination and cooperation at the local, regional and international levels to tackle sea level rise and its impacts.
This calls for development of scientific, technical and technological responses, as well as forecasting and warning systems, adaptation and resilience-building, fostering capacity-building and the exchange of scientific data and technological information.
United Nations processes such as the “Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development” and the “Regular Process or Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects” are crucial to policymakers.
Distinguished delegates,
2022 is shaping up to be a super session on the environment, including for the ocean.
The forthcoming United Nations Conference on the Ocean, in Lisbon next year, is an opportunity for much-needed political commitments to advance the implementation of SDG14. I commend Portugal and Kenya for their generosity and work as co-hosts.
I further express gratitude to the Permanent Representatives of Denmark and Grenada for their work as co-facilitators of the outcome document for the Conference.
I am also glad that the issue of biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction will be addressed at the 4th Session of the Intergovernmental Conference next year.
Excellencies,
The global pandemic has echoed across all industries and sectors, including those related to the Ocean. We have seen a decline in fisheries, marine tourism, and shipping activities.
This economic decline has exacerbated the marginalization of vulnerable members of society, as food sources have become scarce, and means of incomes have been disrupted.
This serves as a reminder of how connected society is to the ocean, and why immediate and collective action is necessary.
I call upon all Member States and relevant stakeholders to recognize this, and to drive consensus, commitment, and actions that will ensure full respect of international law, including law of the sea.
And I urge us all to engage constructively in today’s debate.
I thank you.
