Guterres urges world to ‘turn the tide’ amid ocean emergency

Lisbon, Jun 27 (EFE).- The world is facing an ocean emergency and we must turn the tide, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday.

“Sadly we have taken the ocean for granted and today we face what I would call an ocean emergency,” Gutteres said in an opening speech at the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon.

“We must turn the tide,” he urged.

Guterres said that some 8 million tons of plastic waste enter the ocean every year.

“Without drastic action, this plastic could overweight all the fish in the oceans by 2050,” the UN chief warned.

“We cannot have a healthy planet without a healthy ocean.

“Our failure to care for the ocean will have a ripple effect across the entire world,” he added.

While progress has been made since the last UN Ocean Conference in 2017, Guterres called for more action from private investors and governments.

“Much more needs to be done by all of us together.”

Greater investment could help oceans produce almost 6 times more food and multiply renewable energy generation, according to Guterres, while more funding is needed to reduce pollution, improve costly infrastructure and boost scientific research.

“Together let us do our part to make a difference for the ocean and for ourselves,” Guterres concluded.

Over 7,000 people are participating in the Lisbon conference with delegations from nearly 150 countries.

It will be held until July 1 with the aim to gather proposals to halt the deterioration of the oceans.EFE

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