Mr. Guterres’ stark assessment came during a press conference on the second day of the UN ocean summit, known as UNOC3, where hundreds of government leaders, scientists and civil society groups are gathered on France’s Côte D’Azur. Their mission: to confront the escalating emergency facing the world’s oceans.
Greed is a ‘clear enemy’
“We are in Nice on a mission – save the ocean, to save our future,” the Secretary-General said, and warned that a tipping point is fast-approaching “beyond which recovery may become impossible.”
The “clear enemy” that is pushing our oceans towards the brink is greed.
According to the UN chief, greed sows doubt, denies science, distorts truth, rewards corruption and destroys life for profit. “We cannot let greed dictate the fate of our planet,” he insisted.
Calling on all stakeholders to assume their responsibility in pushing back against these profit-hungry forces, the Secretary-General said: “That is why we are here this week: to stand in solidarity against those forces and reclaim what belongs to us all.”
He cited four priorities for governments, business leaders, fishers and scientists, saying “everyone has a responsibility and a vital role to play”:
- Transform ocean harvesting – It’s not just about fishing, it’s about how we fish. We must meet the globally agreed “30 by 30” goal to conserve 30 per cent of oceans by 2030.
- Tackle plastic pollution: Phase out single-use plastics and improve recycling; and finalize a global treaty to end plastic pollution this year.
- Fight climate change at sea: Countries must submit bold climate plans ahead of COP30 in Brazil. Plans must align with the 1.5°C target and cover all emissions.
- Enforce the High Seas Treaty: Ratify and implement the new treaty, known by the shorthand, BBNJ treaty, to protect marine biodiversity, and urge all nations to join and bring the agreement into force.
Calling for a grand global coalition of governments, business leaders, fishers, scientists, the Secretary-General urged everyone to step forward with decisive commitments and tangible funding.
“The ocean has given us so much. It is time we returned the favour.”
Don’t let the deep sea become the ‘Wild West’
Responding to questions at the press conference, Mr. Guterres emphasized another critical issue: the fight against deep-sea mining.
Reiterating his warning from the opening day of the conference that the deep ocean must not become a “Wild West” of unregulated exploitation, he voiced strong backing for the ongoing work of the International Seabed Authority in addressing this growing concern.
After his press conference, the Secretary-General went Nice’s picturesque Port Lympia and boarded the Santa Maria Manuela, a Portuguese four-masted schooner, where he met members of the Oceano Azul Foundation, a Lisbon-based organization promoting efforts to reverse the destruction of ocean environments around the world.
More to follow.
