PM Briceño Addresses United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon
On Tuesday in Lisbon, Prime Minister John Briceño addressed an assembly of world leaders during the Second Plenary Session of the United Nations Ocean Conference. Co-hosted by the governments of Kenya and Portugal, the summit comes at a critical juncture as the world is seeking to address many of the deep-rooted problems of our societies uncovered by the COVID-19 pandemic. In speaking to the gathering, P.M. Briceño also touched on the need to address carbon dioxide emissions.
Prime Minister, John Briceño
Prime Minister, John Briceño
“This conference is being convened at a critical time as nations, large and small alike, continue to face the existential threats being caused by climate change and a once-in-a-century pandemic, global inflation, disruption of the supply chains, food and energy insecurity and now the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Today we must recognize the need for more definitive collective actions and solutions if we are to ensure the health and functionality of our oceans and economic recovery and survival of our people. Now, more than ever, we must preserve our oceans through targeted protection like over-fishing, marine pollution and the destruction of marine habitats. Already, ocean warming is contributing to an unprecedented loss of marine biodiversity. This threatens these highly-unique ecosystems which support the billions of our people who rely on our oceans for their livelihoods. Therefore, we must together tackle the crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss, protect natural ecosystems and restore the immediate and far-reaching de-carbonization of the global economy. COP26 saw intense deliberations but resulted in watered-down decisions. While optimistic promises were made to slash emissions, governments continue to approve new extraction projects that highly contribute to CO2 emissions now referred to as carbon bombs.”
