Africa-Press – Cape verde. At the end of his visit to Cape Verde, the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, called for a “super-action” in favor of the oceans. According to him, island states like Cape Verde have been the most affected and calls for more action from developed countries to combat pollution.
Guterres marked the end of his presence in Cape Verde, this Monday, the 23rd, highlighting the country’s leading position in the fight against climate change on several fronts.
This official warned that “a senseless and self-destructive war against nature” is being waged. In this reality, he cited the fragility of Small Island Developing States, such as Cape Verde.
Guterres points out that to combat the oceanic emergency, it is necessary to maintain the maritime industry, one of the largest in the world, in a sustainable manner. Developing countries, as he says, face the first and worst impacts of climate and ocean degradation.
Guterres calls for more action
The Secretary General of the United Nations calls for more action to win the race against climate change, which humanity is currently losing.
For this, it recommends reducing greenhouse gas emissions to guarantee the future of the planet, which is about to exceed the 1.5 degree limit required for a habitable future.
At the end of the visit, the secretary general met with the president of Cape Verde, José Maria Neves, and the prime minister, Ulisses Correia e Silva.
“My deep gratitude for the extraordinary hospitality of the government and people of Cape Verde that made this stage of the Ocean Race possible. And also above all, thank you for your commitment and the commitment of your country, Cape Verde, both with the conservation and sustainable enhancement of the oceans, and with climate action, with particular emphasis on your leadership in the set of Small States Islands, or for the protection of biodiversity”, he said.
“Race is far from over”
Guterres highlighted the goal of protecting the ocean and emphasized the benefits of conserving air, food, cultures and identities defining humanity, jobs and prosperity, weather and climate regulation, and home to billions of animals , plants and microorganisms.
The speech distinguishes the role of the ocean as a source of life and means of subsistence, but emphasizes that it is having problems in a “race is far from over”.
Guterres pointed out that 2023 must become a year of “super-action”. The aim would be to end the ocean emergency once and for all.
Financing need
He recalled that there are legal and political instruments related to the ocean that must be better implemented, such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and, still to be concluded, the agreement on marine biological diversity in areas outside national jurisdiction, covering more two-thirds of the seas.
António Guterres also highlighted the need for concessional financing and debt relief for developing nations.
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