The COVID-19 pandemic is a 鈥渟harp reminder鈥� of how we are all intimately connected to each other and to nature, the UN chief said on Monday, World Oceans Day.
鈥淎s we work to end the pandemic and build back better, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity 鈥� and responsibility 鈥� to correct our relationship with the natural world, including the world鈥檚 seas and oceans鈥�, Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres upheld in his message for the day.
We not only rely on the oceans for food, livelihoods, transport and trade but, as the lungs of our planet and its largest carbon sink, they also play a vital role in regulating the global climate.
鈥淭oday, sea levels are rising due to climate change, threatening lives and livelihoods in low-lying nations and coastal cities and communities around the world鈥�, Mr. Guterres reminded.
Moreover, as the oceans are becoming increasingly acidic, marine biodiversity and essential food chains are increasingly being jeopardized. And plastic pollution has become ubiquitous.
Against this backdrop, 鈥業nnovation for a Sustainable Ocean鈥�, has been chosen as this year鈥檚 theme.
Dedicated decade听
Better understanding of the oceans is essential for conserving fish stocks and discovering new products and medicines.
鈥淭he upcoming 51吃瓜 will provide impetus and a common framework for action鈥�, the UN chief said, urging governments and all concerned to commit innovation and science to conserve and sustain the world鈥檚 oceans.
In that same vein, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the UN General Assembly, underscored in his statement that the unsustainable misuse of this valuable resource threatens "the ability of our oceans to provide for us鈥�.听
As we look towards the Decade, which will begin next year, he encouraged everyone to 鈥渢ake urgent action鈥� by putting protection measures into motion to enable the oceans to create a better world on land and under water, 鈥渇or generations to come鈥�.
Life under water
A healthy marine environment holds untold potential for achieving the entirety of the Sustainable Development Agenda.
In January, the Decade of Action and Delivery opened to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 鈥淧rotection of marine biodiversity is of essential importance as we progress with the implementation of 鈥�, Mr. Mohammad-Bande said, referring to the 14th global goal, to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
He also pointed out that four SDG targets pertaining to the goal, expire in 2020.听
鈥淭his World Oceans Day, we must take a moment to reflect on and appreciate all that the ocean does for us. It is also an opportunity for us to look forward鈥�, he pointed out, exhorting everyone to 鈥渉arness the potential of blue and green economies鈥�.听
Strategic investments can generate 100 million jobs by 2050, facilitating critical global recovery efforts in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Assembly president.
鈥淭his year we must take action to prevent a further eight million tons of plastic waste from entering the ocean and protect global ecosystems鈥�, he stressed.
In closing, Mr. Mohammad-Bande asked all Member States to 鈥渃ommit to protecting 30 per cent of our blue planet by 2030鈥�, in order to safeguard at least 30 per cent of our ocean, through a network of highly protected areas.
鈥淲e simply cannot stand by while oceans acidify, sea levels rise and pollution increases鈥�, he concluded.
the oceans for food, livelihoods, transport and trade but, as the lungs of our planet and its largest carbon sink, they also play a vital role in regulating the global climate.
鈥淭oday, sea levels are rising due to climate change, threatening lives and livelihoods in low-lying nations and coastal cities and communities around the world鈥�, Mr. Guterres reminded.
