Addressing the Our Ocean Conference in Palau on Thursday, the President of the UN General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, urged the international community to expand protective areas of the ocean, support the scientific community and tackle plastic pollution.
This year, the Conference, which is hosted for the first time by one of the countries of the small island developing States group, focus on the theme Our Ocean, Our People, Our Prosperity.
The two-day event is a key moment for countries, civil society, and industry to commit to concrete and significant actions to protect the ocean.
“There is no way to protect the ocean without wading together with all relevant stakeholders”, Mr. Shahid told an audience that included the two co-hosts – Palau President Surangel Whipps, Jr. and John Kerry, the United States’ Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.
Speaking at the 7th Our Ocean Conference, the Assembly President, who hails from the Maldives, said he was heartened that the event was taking place on one of the frontline island nations most at risk from climate change-induced rising sea levels, driving home the importance of the issue.