Group of 77 and China
Statement by H.E. Mrs. Marra Fernanda Espinosa, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of the
Republic of Ecuador, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, at the United Nations Conference to Support
the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas
and marine resources for sustainable development
Excellencies,
Distinguished representatives,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
(New York, 6 June 2017)
*************************
(Original version)
I have the pleasure and honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
At the outset, let me congratulate the Republic of Fiji and the Kingdom of Sweden for their appointment as
Presidents of the Conference. We pledge to you our full support to achieve a meaningful outcome of this
Conference and to fulfill its main objective to constitute a tipping point for reversing the decline in the health
of our Ocean for the sake of benefit of our people and planet and their prosperity. The Group of 77 and China
would also like to express its appreciation for the warm and meaningful opening ceremony and for the
cultural event shared with us.
Distinguished Excellencies,
The Ocean is an important part of our cultural and natural heritage, it is an interconnected body of water that
covers over 70% of our planet, that supports the well-being and livelihoods of humans and animals by
providing water and oxygen, food security, employment, protection from natural disasters, other benefits
fundamental to us. We must take ambitious actions to sustain and conserve the Ocean for future
generations, preventing its exploitation, contamination and other harmful activities that impair its
irreplaceable role in the Planet.
Today, we gather with the single purpose to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal
14 (SDG 14). This represents our common endeavor to take appropriate actions to heal our Ocean.
The Group of 77 and China believe~ that for a successful implementation of SDG 14, it is necessary to take
into account the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as the overarching framework of the goal; while
underscoring the integrated, indivisible and universal nature of the SDGs, specially SDG 14, restating the
importance of its linkages, and balancing the three dimensions of sustainable development, which is essential
to live in harmony with nature. Accordingly, it is imperative that the actions taken for the conservation and
sustainable use of the Ocean are guided by the Agenda, especially by the principles reaffirmed therein.
The wide economic and development differences between states in order to address the conservation and
sustainable use of the Ocean must be taken into account; and we ought to recognize that we have common
but differentiated responsibilities with the world and in relation with global environmental issues. Developed
countries must take the lead in addressing the challenges of the Ocean and in providing support by enhancing
the capabilities of countries that are unable to engage in the implementation of SDG 14, bridging the gap of
available resources that constrains the actions that needed to be taken.
In order to ensure that all countries are able to implement the goal and its targets, we need to consolidate a
revitalized global partnership. The role of international cooperation for development to foster mobilization of
domestic resources is crucial to ensure that no one is left behind and that all countries are able to work
together for the lasting protection of the planet, the Ocean and its natural resources. Partnership would also
provide the necessary means of implementation, like predictable and adequate financial resources, the
transfer of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favorable terms, including on
concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, capacity building and the sharing of knowledge to
States that lack the means to fully address the state of the Ocean. The Group reiterates the importance of
and the need for these tools, to ensure that we are all on the same track and adequately capable and
equipped to protect the Ocean from degradation.
Distinguished Excellencies,
The Group of 77 and China acknowledges that the Ocean is closely linked with the atmosphere, with both
influencing the other; that Ocean is the primary regulator of the global climate and an important sink for
greenhouse gases, since absorbing one quarter of all carbon dioxide released by human activity.
By now, we all know that the adverse effects of climate change on oceans are likely to have profound and
unpredictable dire consequences for marine organisms and ecosystems, with huge costs in the long run for
humanity if we do not take immediate actions. The preservation of the Ocean depends solely on our actions
and on the reduction of emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, as it impairs the role and health of
the Ocean and exacerbates the effects of climate change. The long-term protection and sustainable
management of the Ocean's health is critical to build the resilience of Ocean ecosystems. In this regard, the
effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, under the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC), is instrumental, recognizing that the UNFCCC is, and should remain, the primary
international, intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change.
Distinguished Excellencies,
The "Call for Action" to be adopted at the end of this conference, raises awareness of the commitments
needed to achieve the targets of Goal 14 within the timelines, and the need to sustain action over the long
term to address the causes that impair the irreplaceable role and the health of the Ocean. The commitments
to be adopted in the document are just one step and· one way forward to conserve and sustain the use of our
Ocean.
It is essential to. embark collectively in building commitments and in taking actions beyond those mentioned
in the Call for Action, either by establishing voluntary commitments or by fostering measures in our daily life
activities, that would allow us to contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of the Ocean and to
ensure that it supports the needs of present and future generations. We sincerely hope that all the
commitments adopted in this Conference and the ones formulated beyond are immediately put into practice
with the participation and involvement of all the citizens of the world, starting with us, as representatives of
States, advocate for the well being and common good of humanity and the planet.
I thank you.
Republic of Ecuador, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, at the United Nations Conference to Support
the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas
and marine resources for sustainable development
Excellencies,
Distinguished representatives,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
(New York, 6 June 2017)
*************************
(Original version)
I have the pleasure and honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
At the outset, let me congratulate the Republic of Fiji and the Kingdom of Sweden for their appointment as
Presidents of the Conference. We pledge to you our full support to achieve a meaningful outcome of this
Conference and to fulfill its main objective to constitute a tipping point for reversing the decline in the health
of our Ocean for the sake of benefit of our people and planet and their prosperity. The Group of 77 and China
would also like to express its appreciation for the warm and meaningful opening ceremony and for the
cultural event shared with us.
Distinguished Excellencies,
The Ocean is an important part of our cultural and natural heritage, it is an interconnected body of water that
covers over 70% of our planet, that supports the well-being and livelihoods of humans and animals by
providing water and oxygen, food security, employment, protection from natural disasters, other benefits
fundamental to us. We must take ambitious actions to sustain and conserve the Ocean for future
generations, preventing its exploitation, contamination and other harmful activities that impair its
irreplaceable role in the Planet.
Today, we gather with the single purpose to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal
14 (SDG 14). This represents our common endeavor to take appropriate actions to heal our Ocean.
The Group of 77 and China believe~ that for a successful implementation of SDG 14, it is necessary to take
into account the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as the overarching framework of the goal; while
underscoring the integrated, indivisible and universal nature of the SDGs, specially SDG 14, restating the
importance of its linkages, and balancing the three dimensions of sustainable development, which is essential
to live in harmony with nature. Accordingly, it is imperative that the actions taken for the conservation and
sustainable use of the Ocean are guided by the Agenda, especially by the principles reaffirmed therein.
The wide economic and development differences between states in order to address the conservation and
sustainable use of the Ocean must be taken into account; and we ought to recognize that we have common
but differentiated responsibilities with the world and in relation with global environmental issues. Developed
countries must take the lead in addressing the challenges of the Ocean and in providing support by enhancing
the capabilities of countries that are unable to engage in the implementation of SDG 14, bridging the gap of
available resources that constrains the actions that needed to be taken.
In order to ensure that all countries are able to implement the goal and its targets, we need to consolidate a
revitalized global partnership. The role of international cooperation for development to foster mobilization of
domestic resources is crucial to ensure that no one is left behind and that all countries are able to work
together for the lasting protection of the planet, the Ocean and its natural resources. Partnership would also
provide the necessary means of implementation, like predictable and adequate financial resources, the
transfer of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favorable terms, including on
concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, capacity building and the sharing of knowledge to
States that lack the means to fully address the state of the Ocean. The Group reiterates the importance of
and the need for these tools, to ensure that we are all on the same track and adequately capable and
equipped to protect the Ocean from degradation.
Distinguished Excellencies,
The Group of 77 and China acknowledges that the Ocean is closely linked with the atmosphere, with both
influencing the other; that Ocean is the primary regulator of the global climate and an important sink for
greenhouse gases, since absorbing one quarter of all carbon dioxide released by human activity.
By now, we all know that the adverse effects of climate change on oceans are likely to have profound and
unpredictable dire consequences for marine organisms and ecosystems, with huge costs in the long run for
humanity if we do not take immediate actions. The preservation of the Ocean depends solely on our actions
and on the reduction of emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, as it impairs the role and health of
the Ocean and exacerbates the effects of climate change. The long-term protection and sustainable
management of the Ocean's health is critical to build the resilience of Ocean ecosystems. In this regard, the
effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, under the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC), is instrumental, recognizing that the UNFCCC is, and should remain, the primary
international, intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change.
Distinguished Excellencies,
The "Call for Action" to be adopted at the end of this conference, raises awareness of the commitments
needed to achieve the targets of Goal 14 within the timelines, and the need to sustain action over the long
term to address the causes that impair the irreplaceable role and the health of the Ocean. The commitments
to be adopted in the document are just one step and· one way forward to conserve and sustain the use of our
Ocean.
It is essential to. embark collectively in building commitments and in taking actions beyond those mentioned
in the Call for Action, either by establishing voluntary commitments or by fostering measures in our daily life
activities, that would allow us to contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of the Ocean and to
ensure that it supports the needs of present and future generations. We sincerely hope that all the
commitments adopted in this Conference and the ones formulated beyond are immediately put into practice
with the participation and involvement of all the citizens of the world, starting with us, as representatives of
States, advocate for the well being and common good of humanity and the planet.
I thank you.
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