Kenya and Portugal to Co-Host UN Ocean Conference from 2-6 June 2020 in Lisbon
New York, 9th May 2019
The United Nations General Assembly, this morning (May 9, 2019), adopted resolution A/73/L.82 entitled “The 2020 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”. The Conference will be Co-hosted by Kenya and Portugal in Lisbon, from 2-6, June 2020.
The resolution was introduced to the United Nations Member States at the General Assembly Hall by the Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations, Amb. Lazarus O. Amayo, on behalf of the two countries and on behalf of the Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations, Amb. Francisco Duarte Lopes. The resolution was co-sponsored by 97 countries.
In his statement, Amb. Amayo noted that the 2017 Ocean Conference was a huge success and it raised awareness of the state of the Ocean and seas and the numerous challenges they face. The Conference also encouraged tangible, significant commitments by Member States and other stakeholders and inspired sub-regional and global conferences like the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi, to support the implementation of Goal 14. He further noted that the 2017 Conference stimulated new and strong partnerships with Ocean health and sustainability at the core of the discussions.
Furthermore, Amb. Amayo observed that we “cannot afford to rest on our laurels” but must continue to maintain the momentum that has been created. From his statement, he pointed out that Sustainable Development Goal 14 still faces a number of obstacles and more efforts are necessary to reverse the current cycle of decline in our oceans and marine resources.
The draft resolution echoes the importance of our Oceans, Seas and marine resources for sustainable development as they provide livelihoods for millions of people, enable food security and maritime trade, regulate the climate and are an important source of renewable energy.
The draft resolution also reaffirms the commitment made by Kenya and Portugal to follow up on the 2017 Conference which was successfully organized by Sweden and Fiji. More importantly, it marks a renewed mobilization of efforts to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 – “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
In this respect, Amb. Amayo highlighted the universality and indivisibility of the 2030 Agenda, which provides us with a clear roadmap of what needs to be done to ensure that future generations benefit from the wealth of the Ocean.
In his concluding remarks, he noted that the 2020 UN Ocean Conference “accords us an opportunity to bring about a new generation of concrete, ambitious commitments and help us to forge new, inclusive and effective partnerships to support the implementation of Goal 14”, and called on the international community to keep the Oceans and the Seas high on the global agenda. Statemen: thttps://www.un.int/kenya/statements_speeches/ocean-2020-conference-introduction-draft-resolution-a73l82-un-general-assembly