Remarks by the President of the General Assembly
H.E. Dennis Francis
At the high-level event, ¡®Rising Ocean¡¯, at COP28
Dubai, UAE
2 December 2023
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Excellencies,
Honourable Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
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At the outset, let me thank the Governments of France and Costa Rica, co-hosts of the UN Ocean Conference 2025, along with the UN System and other partners, for organising this event.
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The growing recognition of the ocean as a source of solutions ¨C spanning all our environmental endeavours ¨C is a welcome development.
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COP28 is yet another critical steppingstone to build upon this momentum and to deliver on the various aspects of the ocean ¨C from addressing the impacts of sea-level rise, to realizing the potential of the sustainable ocean economy, and the relevance of investing in ocean science.
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As President of the UN General Assembly, I have been clear in prioritizing the challenges of the climate crisis, with particular emphasis on the existential threats of sea-level rise. Here, at COP28, I am affirming the same message.
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The reason for this is clear: even if we are successful at limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees, the impacts on small island developing states and low-lying coastal states are, in many instances, irreversible.
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The 2023 synthesis report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change only reaffirms that, indeed, global mean sea level increased to 3.7 mm per year between 2006 and 2018.
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The safety and survival of small island states and vulnerable coastal communities therefore hinge upon our ability to decisively tackle the threats of climate change and sea level rise.
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We need to embrace adaptation and resilience ¨C while recognizing that uncomfortable conversations around sovereignty, displacement, and climate mobility, are becoming the new ¡®elephant in the room¡¯.
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These are discussions that we simply can no longer avoid.
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We owe it to all affected communities to ensure predictability, sustainability, and security amidst the climate crisis.
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And I am committed to working with all Member States to do something impactful about it ¨C to move the discussion beyond the prevailing uncertainty towards transformative solutions that can save lives.
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Excellencies, Honourable Ministers,
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The ocean is a source of livelihood for billions of people, and the economic heart of small island states.
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Home to immense biodiversity and diverse ecosystems, it serves as the world¡¯s single largest carbon sink.
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It is imperative therefore that we prioritize ocean health ¨C and back up our commitment with effective science and urgent implementation.
This means addressing marine pollution and adopting a comprehensive and international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution.
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It means employing an integrated approach ¨C anchored in science and the engagement of all stakeholders across all sectors.
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And it means addressing the finance and resource constraints holding back ocean protection and conservation.
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Excellencies, Honourable Ministers,
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We have a year and a half until the Third Ocean Conference.
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Let us use this time ¨C and discussions such as these ¨C to address the concerns and elevate the political will to implement the needed solutions.
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Those communities on the frontlines of climate change are looking to us to find just and equitable solutions.
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I look forward to hearing your ideas.
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I thank you.