During this briefing, the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Oceans, Mr. Peter Thomson provided updates on the progress of the SDG#14 – protecting our oceans. Recommendations to achieve this goal include ending harmful trade subsidies that result in 23 billion dollars of illegal catches annually. He also recommended management of fish docks, extending the agreement of Port State Measures, and better management of marine ecosystems. Finally, he suggested that the World Bank should fund sewage systems in developing nations.
Next, the Special Envoy highlighted the achievement of the past Ocean Conference and attributed it to the inclusion of the private sector, civil society with the government. He also stressed the significance of reaching the goal of implementing SDG#14 by demonstrating the progress in 2020 to call for actions. To fulfil SDG#14 as stated in the 2030 Agenda for SDGs, at least 4 out of 10 indicators under SDG#14 should be realised before 2020.
The UN DESA representative updated states mentioning that 9 multi-stakeholder communities launched to pursue and follow up on SDG#14. There was a call to action by Palau representative to involve the private sector and take more actions that show numerical proven results.
The Special Convoy for the Ocean concluded the meeting that we should have the utmost respect for our oceans. We should also take initiatives to restore our relationship with our mother nature.
Meeting: Briefing by the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, on Ocean action and follow-up activities from the UN Ocean Conference in support of SDG#14
Date/Location: Thursday, June 7, 2018; 15:30-18:00; Economic and Social Council Chamber, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY.
Speaker(s): Mr. Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean
Written By: WIT Representatives Vivian Wang, Mariam Elasker, Lau Chun Ki
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