UN Chief Urges Collective Action To Ensure Worlds Oceans Are Healthy, Productive

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored the necessity for a “collective responsibility” to make sure a wholesome and productive ocean that serves the entire planet, whereas talking at a celebratory occasion marking World Oceans Day on Wednesday

UNITED NATIONS, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – eighth Jun, 2022 ) :UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored the necessity for a “collective responsibility” to make sure a wholesome and productive ocean that serves the entire planet, whereas talking at a celebratory occasion marking World Oceans Day on Wednesday.

In his message, the UN chief recalled that the triple crises of local weather change, biodiversity loss and air pollution, are threatening the well being of the ocean, “on which we all ultimately depend”.

“Last month, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) revealed that four key climate indicators broke new records in 2021: sea level rise, ocean heat, ocean acidification, and greenhouse gas concentrations,” he said.

The ocean produces greater than 50 per cent of the planet’s oxygen, is the principle supply of sustenance for greater than a billion individuals, and gives work by way of its industries for some 40 million workers.

“Yet, ocean resources and biodiversity are being undermined by human activities”, he warned.

He reminded that a couple of third of the world’s fish shares are harvested at biologically unsustainable ranges, a big proportion of coral reefs have been destroyed, and coastal lifeless zones from land-based air pollution are rising.

“Plastic pollution has reached the remotest islands and deepest ocean trenches,” Mr. Guterres mentioned.

To obtain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the targets of the Paris Agreement on local weather change, he flagged that “we urgently need collective action to revitalize the ocean.

” “That means finding a new balance in our relationship with the marine environment working together with nature, not against it, and building inclusive and diverse partnerships across regions, sectors, and communities to collaborate creatively on ocean solutions.” Fortunately, he added, momentum all over the world is rising in that path.

Guterres recalled that final November, the UN local weather convention in Glasgow (COP26) acknowledged the position of marine ecosystems in attaining the world’s local weather targets.

In March, nations agreed to work collectively on a brand new treaty to finish the plastic air pollution that’s threatening the marine surroundings.

Meanwhile later this month, he mentioned that the UN Ocean Conference in Portugal will give attention to scaling up motion, based mostly on science and innovation to attain Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14), on life beneath the water.

Discussions in Lisbon will proceed on a brand new settlement focussing on the conservation and sustainable use of marine organic variety in areas past nationwide jurisdiction.

“On this World Oceans Day, I urge all those with a stake in ocean health to come together to revitalize our seas and oceans,” Guterres mentioned in conclusion.