The Secretary General of the United Nations Organization (UN), António Guterres, defended this Monday, in Cape Verde, a “massive support” to developing countries as one of the four measures to end the current “ocean emergency “.
“Ending the ocean emergency means providing massive support to developing countries living with the first and worst impacts of the degradation of our climate and oceans. Developing countries are victims of a morally bankrupt global financial system designed by rich countries to benefit rich countries,” she said. António Guterres, speaking at the opening of the Ocean Race Summit, this Monday, in the city of Mindelo, Cape Verde.
The Ocean Race Summit is part of the first trip to Cape Verde of the Ocean Race, the largest and oldest regatta in the world, and this morning in Mindelo, São Vicente Island, brings together politicians, government officials, specialists and other personalities to address the future of the oceans.
In the keynote speech, António Guterres accused the richest countries of “denying developing countries, and in particular” middle-income countries and small island developing states particularly vulnerable [SIDS, na sigla em inglês]like Cape Verde”, concessional financing and debt “relief”, which they “need”.
“I will continue to urge leaders and international financial institutions to join forces and develop creative ways to ensure that developing countries can access debt relief and concessional financing when they need it most. This should include the reallocation of Rights Spin Specials [DES] unused, according to the needs of developing countries,” he said.
“I will continue to push for an SDR stimulus package to help governments in the South invest in systems that support development and resilience and will always stand by developing countries as they protect and restore their ecosystems after decades and centuries of degradation. and loss,” added António Guterres. .
He also stressed that “ending the ocean emergency requires sustainable maritime industries”, which “means smart and sustainable fishing practices”, including aquaculture, “to ensure a strong industry” of the sea in the future.
“It means carefully managing and regulating development and resource extraction, with precaution, protection and conservation at the center of all activities. It means reducing and preventing marine pollution from land-based and marine sources, and it means public and private partners invest together in the restoration and conservation of coastal ecosystems”, he pointed out.
“In this regard, countries can emulate Cape Verde, whose marine conservation and protection ambitions are firmly embedded in its national sustainable development strategy, ‘Ambition 2030,'” he said.
For the UN Secretary General, ending the ocean emergency also means “winning the race against climate change”.
“This is another race humanity is losing. At a time when we must reduce greenhouse gas emissions to secure our future on this planet, we are about to pass the 1.5 degree threshold required for a habitable future. Now is the time to take real action.” climate action”.
“Delivery on the establishment of the damage fund that the world committed to in Sharm El-Sheikh, deliver on the $100 billion pledge, deliver on the promise to double adaptation finance, deliver on emissions reductions , phasing out coal and accelerating the renewable energy revolution,” he urged.
“Together with international financial institutions and the private sector, developed countries must provide financial and technical assistance to help the main emerging economies in the transition towards renewable energy,” he insisted, citing the Ocean Race as an “example,” limiting their respective carbon footprints.
“For example, the shipping sector must commit to net zero emissions by 2050 and present credible plans to implement this commitment,” he defended.
The fourth pillar of intervention advocated by António Guterres to end the ocean emergency is to “deploy science, technology and innovation on an unprecedented scale”.
“We are now in the third year of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Sciences. By 2030, we should have achieved our goal of mapping 80% of the seafloor. We should see new partnerships between researchers, governments and the private sector to support to the oceans. Research and planning and sustainable ocean management. We should see investment in state-of-the-art, climate-resilient coastal infrastructure, from cities and towns to port facilities,” he said.
“And to protect coastal communities and maritime workers from natural disasters, we must invest massively in technologies and capabilities to achieve our goal of ensuring universal coverage of the global early warning system over the next five years,” he added.
“Ending the ocean emergency is a race we must win. And working together is a race we can win,” she insisted.
Source: TSF
