UN head pleads for action on oceans

PARIS－United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on the world to "change track" in protecting the ocean from climate crisis.

Global warming, biodiversity loss and pollution are a triple crisis facing the planet, Guterres said on Friday at the One Ocean Summit in France, warning that the ocean "shoulders a great deal of the burden".

World leaders met on the country's Atlantic coast last week to discuss protecting the planet's oceans from threats such as overfishing and plastic pollution, and finding fairer ways of managing the seas.

The summit in the port city of Brest brought together heads of state and government, leaders of multilateral institutions, shipping companies and civil society policymakers to unite in supporting the "Brest Commitments for the Oceans".

French President Emmanuel Macron initiated the summit with the support of the United Nations.

During the summit, panels were held on various commitments to marine protection and tackling climate change.

Oceans cover more than 70 percent of the planet's surface. Scientists estimate that 50 percent to 80 percent of all life on Earth is found under the ocean surface and at least 50 percent of the oxygen on the planet comes from the oceans, most being produced by plankton.

Green initiatives

Countries taking part in the summit said they would respect the 13 Brest Commitments for Oceans, which include protecting biodiversity and ocean resources.

Some 84 countries are aiming to ensure the protection of 30 percent of the world's land and sea biodiversity by 2030.

Leaders of shipping companies committed to the new Green Marine Europe label, but called on politicians to consider the cost of renewable energy.

To reduce pollution, Mediterranean countries and the EU have committed to asking the International Marine Organization to create a low sulfur emissions zone across the Mediterranean, starting on Jan 1, 2025.

The Brest summit was meant to prepare for upcoming international events, including the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon in June. Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa called it a success because it showed participants have the will to take action.

Xinhua - Agencies