UN 
UNITED NATIONS – Bünyamin Sürmeli – Oceans are one of the most important life-sustaining resources on Earth, and the problems they face are largely man-made, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on World Oceans Day.
“Climate change is causing sea levels to rise, threatening the very existence of small island states and coastal communities,” Guterres said. He also stressed that ocean acidification is destroying coral reefs and sea temperatures are reaching record highs, leading to extreme weather events. Overfishing and other human activities are also destroying marine ecosystems.
Speaking at the event, General Assembly President Dennis Francis expressed similar concerns about the current state of the oceans. “There is much to learn about the oceans, and more importantly, we must take action to reverse the damage to our precious source of life,” he said. Noting that the oceans are our strongest ally against climate change, Francis added that “it is our collective responsibility to ensure the future availability of the ocean’s precious resources.”
The Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly called for reflection and action on ways to restore and protect the oceans as the Summit of the Future in September 2024 and the UN Oceans Conference in 2025 approach.
State of the Ocean Report
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) released its State of the Ocean report earlier this week, encouraging policymakers to think about “the ocean we need for the future we want”. The report details the threats to the oceans and the drivers of change.
It highlighted that the rate of ocean warming has doubled in the last 20 years and that coastal species are at risk due to declining oxygen levels. It also found that ocean literacy practices and research are strategic allies in optimizing resources, accelerating behavior change, and strengthening ocean conservation programs.
Calls to action
Speaking at UN Headquarters on Friday, marine biologist and oceanographer Sylvia Earle said that educating the world about the importance of protecting our oceans could lead to critical action to protect coastal wildlife.
“Now is the time for governments, businesses, investors, scientists and communities to come together to defend our ocean,” said UN Secretary-General Guterres. General Assembly President Francis issued a similar call to action, saying that “to support and advance ocean action, we must redouble our efforts, promote innovative financing solutions and build the capacity to drive change.”
