The second UN Ocean Conference drew to a close on Friday, with delegates adopting a Political Declaration titled, “Our Ocean, Our Future, Our Responsibility.”
In the morning, delegates convened in the last of eight interactive dialogues scheduled for the week, coming together to discuss leveraging interlinkages between Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) and other Goals towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In their discussions, delegates clarified the indivisibility of the SDGs, with many making linkages between the attainment of SDG 14, on the ocean, and goals related to clean water and sanitation, poverty, food security, health, women, decent work, climate action, cities, terrestrial ecosystems, and partnerships.
In the closing plenary, delegates heard summary reports from each of the interactive dialogues, as well as from representatives from the special events held on the sidelines of the conference during the week.
Delegates spent a longer time than usual addressing credentials. Palau, supported by the US, the Marshall Islands, and others, expressed disappointment that delegates from Taiwan had been barred from the Conference. China, supported by Pakistan, reminded delegations of the One-China policy. Delegations did eventually adopt the credentials report.
Keisha McGuire, Permanent Representative of Grenada to the UN, and Martin Bille Hermann, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the UN, then spoke on the work to arrive at the Conference’s Political Declaration, “Our Ocean, Our Future, Our Responsibility.” Delegates adopted the Political Declaration by acclamation.
In his closing remarks, speaking for Conference Co-President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Keriako Tobiko, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Environment, underlined the need to keep the “Glasgow spirit” on climate finance alive, conclude negotiations on a high-seas treaty, and seriously consider the calls for a moratorium on deep seabed mining until we are clear on the science.
Conference Co-President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal, stressed that the Political Declaration signifies the UN spirit, underlined the need to accord the youth the attention they deserve in decision making on the ocean, and gaveled the Conference to a close at 6:00 pm.
All ENB photos are free to use with attribution. For the 2022 UN Ocean Conference, please use: Photo by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth.
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Interactive Dialogue: Leveraging Interlinkages between SDG 14 and other Goals Towards the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda
Delegates gather for the interactive dialogue leveraging interlinkages between SDG Goal 14 and other goals towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda
Co-Chair Molwyn Joseph, Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment, Antigua and Barbuda
Co-Chair Borislav Sandov, Deputy Prime Minister for Climate Policies, and Minister of Environment and Waters, Bulgaria
Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
James Leape, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, US
Claire Jolly, Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Charles Fox, Executive Director, Oceans 5
Tapiwa Roy Rupende, Zimbabwe
Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
Abraão Vicente, Minister of the Sea, Cabo Verde
Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, Minister of Planning and Development, Trinidad and Tobago
Stefania Romano, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
Marie Bourrel-McKinnon, International Seabed Authority (ISA)
Patricia Furtado de Mendonça, Acqua Mater
Jose Luis Acero, Vice Minister of Water and Sanitation, Colombia
Delegates listen to the deliberations
A delegate takes a photo
Closing Plenary
Delegates gather for the closing plenary
Keriako Tobiko, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Kenya
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal
Luísa Salgueiro, Mayor of Matosinhos, Portugal, reporting on the special session Localizing Action for the Ocean: Local and Regional Governments
Abbas Mahmoud, Kenya, reporting on the special session Youth and Innovation Forum
Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy for the Ocean, reporting on the special session Sustainable Blue Economy Investment Forum
Duarte Cordeiro, Minister for Environment and Climate Action, Portugal, reporting on the special event High-Level Symposium on Water – Bridging SDG 6 and SDG 14
Ilana Seid, Permanent Representative of Palau to the UN
Guan Jian, China
Munir Akram, Pakistan
A delegate listens to the deliberations
Keisha McGuire, Permanent Representative of Grenada to the UN
Martin Bille Hermann, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the UN
Miguel de Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel
Rapporteur-General Maria de Jesus dos Reis Ferreira, Angola
Delegates applaud the adoption of the Political Declaration Our Ocean, Our Future, Our Responsibility
Dignitaries on the dais applaud the work done during the conference
Kayamba Africa closes the conference with a musical and dance performance
Around the Venue
The IISD ENB team covering the UN Ocean Conference: Teya Penniman, US; Nancy Williams, US; Tallash Kantai, Kenya; Jose Felix Pinto-Bazurco, Peru/the Netherlands; and Kiara Worth, South Africa. Joining virtually: Tasha Goldberg, US
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal, takes a selfie with delegates
Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean, takes a selfie with delegates
Delegates from the Cook Islands
Dignitaries from Angola
Family photo of delegates from the South Pacific
Delegates from Bahrain
Delegates speak informally
