Report By Humayun Kabir from Lisbon, Portugal, on July 1, 2022, The five-day-long UN Ocean Conference ended through a closing press briefing with more than 150 countries collectively agreeing to scale up science-based and innovative actions to address the ocean emergency. This agreement, together with bold commitments from all sectors of society — youth, civil society, businesses, and the scientific community—clearly demonstrates the centrality of a safe, healthy and productive ocean to food security, livelihoods, and a safe planet.
As speakers Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal – Mr. João Gomes Cravinho, Representative of the Republic of Kenya, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel, Special Advisor to the Presidents of the Conference (Kenya & Portugal) – Miguel de Serpa Soares were present at the closing Press conference of the UN Ocean conference 2022.
“The Conference has been an enormous success,” stated Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel Miguel de Serpa Soares in his closing remarks. “It has given us the opportunity to highlight critical issues and generates new ideas and commitments. But it has also shed light on the work that remains, and the need to scale this up and raise ambition for the recovery of our ocean.”
More than 6,000 participants, including 24 Heads of State and Government, and over 2,000 representatives of civil society attended the Conference, advocating for urgent and concrete actions to tackle the ocean crisis. From rising sea levels and marine pollution to ocean acidification and habitat loss, the planet’s largest biodiversity reservoirs are in jeopardy, threatening to derail progress on Sustainable Development Goal 14, the key roadmap for global action on life below water. Additionally, cumulative human impacts on the ocean — the lungs of our planet — if not curtailed, will exacerbate the climate emergency, and hinder the aspirations of the Paris Agreement. Ocean-based economies have also been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and there were many setbacks in ocean management, monitoring, and science. The multidimensional food, energy, and financial crisis is further aggravating the fallout and weakening people’s ability to cope.
In addition, the Conference succeeded in translating ideas into action with a host of new commitments made by many countries and stakeholders(see snapshot below). Close to 700 commitments were registered, adding to the substantial commitments made at the 2017 UN Ocean Conference. These commitments showcase the critical need for innovation and science to revitalize the ocean.
Replying to three questions done by Humayun Kabir from Bangladesh and correspondent of Today’s World News 24, Portugal. The speakers at the closing conference of the UN ocean have severally said,
2022 has also become a super year for the ocean with a number of key breakthroughs with the Ocean Conference introducing a new chapter on ocean action. The UN Environment Assembly in Marchconsensually agreed to begin negotiations for a binding global treaty to end plastic pollution. While last month, the World Trade Organization succeeded in reaching general consensus on banning harmful fisheries subsidies. This year’s Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction could also lead to strengthening the governance of the high seas. Later this year, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15) is an opportunity to achieve a new target to protect 30 percent of the planet’s lands and seas by 2030. UNFCCC COP 27, to take place in November, will see a focus on climate adaptation measures and financing required to build ocean resilience.
The conference also saw the unanimous adoption of the Lisbon Declaration, a suite of science-based and innovative actions, taking into account the capacity challenges facing developing countries, in particular, Small Island Developing States and Least Developing Countries, at the frontline of the devastating impacts of the ocean emergency.
Countries agreed on actions ranging from strengthening data collection, and recognizing the role of indigenous people in sharing innovation and practices to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from international maritime transportation, especially shipping. They also agreed to promote innovative financing solutions to achieve sustainable ocean-based economies and encourage women and girls to meaningful participate in the ocean-based economy.
They have added that “Going forward, it will be important that we renew our focus on ocean action. We need to do this by focusing on improving the scientific basis for our decisions, improving the science-policy interface, and engaging in scientific partnerships that build capacity through mutual learning.
The deliberations at the Conference saw the meaningful engagement of all segments of society. Civil society representatives together with corporate leaders, scientists, and other partners spotlighted challenges, shared initiatives, and recommendations across a myriad of areas including marine pollution, ocean acidification, and preservation of coastal and marine systems.
The Protecting Our Planet Challenge will invest at least USD 1 billion to support the creation, expansion, and management of the marine protected area and Indigenous and locally governed marine and coastal areas by 2030.
The European Investment Bank will extend an additional EUR 150 million across the Caribbean Region as part of the Clean Oceans Initiative to improve climate resilience, water management, and solid waste management. The Global Environment Facility approved a $25 million grant for Colombia’s marine protected areas. The Development Bank of Latin America announced a voluntary commitment of USD 1.2 billion to support projects to benefit the ocean in the region. Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance announced a multimillion-dollar global search for the next generation of projects to build the resilience of coastal communities and finance through finance and insurance products.
Replying to the question Foreign Minister said, Portugal is committed to ensuring that 100% of the marine area under Portuguese sovereignty or jurisdiction is assessed as being in a Good Environmental State and classify 30% of the national marine areas by 2030. Kenya is currently developing a national blue economy strategic plan, inclusive and multi-stakeholder-oriented. Kenya also committed to developing a national action plan on sea-based marine plastic litter. India committed to a Coastal Clean Seas Campaign and will work toward a ban on single-use plastics, beginning with plastic bags.
Sweden will support enhanced scientific cooperation, including by providing USD 400,000 in 2022 to IOC UNESCO for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development in support of work on SDG 14 target 3. The Alliance of Small Island Developing States launched the Declaration for the Enhancement of Marine Scientific Knowledge, Research Capacity, and Transfer of Marine Technology to Small Island Developing States.USA and Norway announced a Green Shipping Challenge for COP 27. Singapore is also championing green shipping, encouraging carbon accounting by shipping companies, and research on low-carbon maritime fuels. Chile is working with specialized centers to develop a network of green corridors for maritime transport in order to achieve zero-carbon shipping.
Photography by: Md.Aslam Sarker
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