Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly

29 June 2022

Excellencies, 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

As we speak, the health of our ocean is in serious jeopardy. It is getting warmer and becoming more acidic; sea-levels continues to rise; and pollution, especially plastic-pollution, continues to proliferate within its ecosystems. Cumulatively, these changes are drastically limiting the planet’s ability to sustain life not only underwater, but also on land.  

These facts should rightly alarm us, and we cannot shirk our responsibility to do much more to preserve the health of our ocean.  

At the same time, we do have cause to celebrate. This year we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. In doing so, we reaffirm our global commitment to international norms and values that bind us together with the ocean. As part of this, we have agreed to start work on an agreement to tackle plastic pollution.  

And, here we are, all gathered in Lisbon, celebrating our progress, and evaluating our future actions on SDG14 on conserving and sustainably using the ocean, seas and marine resources for sustainable development .  

Excellencies,  

Together, oceans, seas, and coastal areas, form an essential component of the earth’s ecosystem. Oceans cover 70 percent of the earth’s surface. It is the planet’s largest biosphere and home to up to 80 percent of all life in the world.  

Its sheer scale, and the innumerable resources contained within it, also means that the ocean has a profound influence on our economies and livelihoods. The annual contribution of ocean based economic activities numbers in the trillions in terms of US dollars; this in turns provides millions of people with direct or indirect employment.    

The ocean is especially vital to the economies and sustenance of SIDS, and to the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  This is evident when we consider that Small Island Developing States are perhaps more accurately described as Large Ocean States, in light of the fact that they are custodians of immense ocean areas – which are cumulatively up to 20.7 times larger than their land mass.  

Excellencies,  

Today’s event on “Leveraging South-South and triangular cooperation to advance the Blue Economy Agenda in SIDS” is both timely and relevant, as we reflect on how Small Island Developing States can best utilize resources for ocean-related opportunities.  And on how SIDS can leverage partnerships – whether they are through south-south cooperation, or triangular cooperation – to reverse the decline in ocean health.  

The event will define key areas of science-led ocean action, driving governments and other key decision-makers to do more and deliver on their commitments. And we will also discuss how these actions can be better facilitated, to deliver practical, realistic, cost effective, and scalable solutions.  

Dear friends,  

In light of the special relationship between SIDS and the ocean, and especially concerning the special case of SIDS for sustainable development, they need genuine and durable partnerships.  

And these partnerships must be SMART. That is, they must be:   

  • SIDS specific,  
  • Measurable and monitorable,  
  • Achievable and accountable,  
  • Resource based and results focused, and 
  • Time-bound, in terms of implementation 

Partnerships must be developed together with, and in consultation with SIDS governments and communities, taking full use of local knowledge, while also enhancing capacities at the local level.  

These are the values on which, partnerships must be built and enhanced.  

My dear friends,  

The best solution at our disposal, is to build strategic partnerships, that harness the expertise and energy of all stakeholders. That leverages our collective knowledge and capacity. That strengthens and builds on existing   cooperation.   

Through such partnerships, and through mobilizing the required political will, we can protect and preserve our oceans. We can build blue economies. And we can build more resilient and prosperous communities.  

I commend the UN Office for South-South Cooperation for their continued assistance and partnership with SIDS.   

I am certain that it will add value to future cooperation on providing support for SIDS, especially in their efforts to advance work relevant to Sustainable Development Goal 14. 

I thank you.