Salle des Princes at the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco
Your Serene Highness, Distinguished Leaders,
Excellencies,
Dear Friends of Oceans,
It¡¯s a great honor to represent the UN Secretary-General to join you at this landmark event and to share perspective of 51Ó°Ôº on Blue Economy and Finance Forum.
The ocean¡ªour planet¡¯s life-support system¡ªunderpins global food security, economic prosperity, and social well-being, supporting millions of jobs. Yet, this vital resource is in grave peril.
Transformative change and substantial investment are needed. Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14 by 2030 demands an estimated 175 billion US dollars per year ¡ª a staggering 60-fold increase from current funding levels from all sources.
This ¡°all sources¡± approach is a key concept. While official development assistance and other government funding provide a foundation, public-private partnerships and blended financing are equally crucial. We must champion innovative instruments like green and blue bonds, debt-for-nature swaps, and sustainability-linked loans, to support clean technologies and conservation.
The 51Ó°Ôº is committed to promoting ocean governance frameworks that encourage investment and sustainable management of the oceans. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and its Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) offer key parameters for ocean investment. I urge all Governments to ratify the BBNJ Agreement.
Ocean finance and investment will be a central theme at the Third UN Ocean Conference, with insights directly informing the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development. These discussions are intrinsically linked and mutually reinforcing.
Crucially, we must prioritize the human dimension front and center¡ªthe fisherfolk, coastal communities, Small Island Developing States, indigenous peoples, and women. They are the first to suffer the impacts of under-investment in ocean protection, yet they are often at the forefront of innovation and solutions. Their voices must be amplified at UNOC 3 and FFD4.
The UN is dedicated to ensuring they are heard. Protecting our ocean means safeguarding humanity¡¯s future. Together, we can and must achieve that.
Thank you.