Pointing out that theme for this year’s day is "Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean”, Lim says that “oceans absorb about 30% of carbon dioxide produced by humans, buffering the impacts of global warming,” They also support the world's marine and coastal resources and industries – with an estimated value of $3 trillion per year, or about 5% of global GDP, he adds, meaning “the future of the oceans and our future are inseparable.”
2020 was set to be a "super year for the oceans", Lim continues, with the conclusion of a new treaty to protect biodiversity on the high seas, and the second UN Ocean Conference to advance work on Sustainable Development Goal 14 (‘Life Below Water’), before these processes were “slowed down due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
IMO remains committed to protecting the oceans, however, secretary-general Lim concludes, and invites everybody to learn more about the various conservation issues underway and to “celebrate the majesty, beauty and sheer wonder of our oceans and the ships that ply their trade on them."
Separately, the World Ocean Council has today released its Sustainable Ocean Summit 2019 Report on “Investing in Ocean Futures: Finance and Innovation for the Blue Economy”, the executive summary of which can be accessed at this link.
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