Latest news with #AntnioGuterres
Scoop
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Guterres Calls For An End To Ocean ‘Plunder' As UN Summit Opens In France
With the Mediterranean glittering in the background, UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres opened the Third United Nations Ocean Conference on Monday, delivering a blunt indictment of humanitys fractured relationship with the sea. ' The ocean is the ultimate shared resource,' he told delegates gathered at the port of Nice. 'But we are failing it.' Oceans, he warned, are absorbing 90 per cent of the excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions and buckling under the strain: overfishing, rising temperatures, plastic pollution, acidification. Coral reefs are dying. Fish stocks are collapsing. Rising seas, he said, could soon 'submerge deltas, destroy crops, and swallow coastlines — threatening many islands' survival.' Call for stewardship More than 50 Heads of State and Government took part in the opening ceremony, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen — a show of political force underscoring the summit's weight. In total, over 120 countries are participating in the five-day gathering, known by the shorthand UNOC3, signaling a growing recognition that ocean health is inseparable from climate stability, food security, and global equity. French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country is co-hosting the summit alongside Costa Rica, followed with a forceful appeal for science, law, and multilateral resolve. 'The abyss is not for sale, any more than Greenland is for sale, any more than Antarctica or the high seas are for sale,' he declared. 'If the Earth is warming, the ocean is boiling.' He insisted the fate of the seas could not be left to markets or opinion. 'The first response is therefore multilateralism,' Mr. Macron said. 'The climate, like biodiversity, is not a matter of opinion; it is a matter of scientifically established facts.' Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles took the podium next, thanking Mr. Guterres for elevating the ocean on the global agenda, then shifting to a stark warning. 'The ocean is speaking to us — with bleached coral reefs, with storms, with wounded mangroves,' he said. 'There's no time left for rhetoric. Now is the time to act.' Condemning decades of treating the ocean as an 'infinite pantry and global waste dump,' Mr. Chaves urged a shift from exploitation to stewardship. 'Costa Rica is a small country, but this change has started,' he said. 'We are now declaring peace with the ocean.' Most notably, the Costa Rican leader called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining in international waters until science can adequately assess the risks — a position already backed by 33 countries, he noted. A treaty within reach One of the summit's core objectives is to help bring into force the landmark High Seas Treaty — known as the BBNJ accord — adopted in 2023 to safeguard life in international waters. Sixty ratifications are required for the treaty to become binding international law. Emmanuel Macron announced that this milestone is now within reach. 'In addition to the 50 or so ratifications already submitted here in the last few hours, 15 countries have formally committed to joining them,' he said. 'This means that the political agreement has been reached, which allows us to say that this [Treaty] will be properly implemented.' Whether the legal threshold is crossed this week or shortly after, the French President added, 'it's a win.' High-stakes negotiations in the 'Blue Zone' The tone set by the opening speeches made clear that Nice will be the stage for high-stakes negotiations — on finalising a global treaty on plastic pollution, scaling up ocean finance, and navigating conflicting opinions surrounding seabed mining. Hundreds of new pledges are expected to be announced, building on more than 2,000 voluntary commitments made since the first UN Ocean Conference in 2017. The week-long talks will culminate in the adoption of a political declaration and the unveiling of the Nice Ocean Action Plan, a blueprint aligned with the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a 2022 agreement to protect 30 per cent of marine and terrestrial ecosystems by 2030. 'The deep sea cannot become the Wild West,' António Guterres warned. The summit is being held in a purpose-built venue overlooking Port Lympia, Nice's historic marina, now transformed into the secured diplomatic 'Blue Zone.' On Sunday, a symbolic ceremony led by Li Junhua, head of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and Secretary-General of the conference, saw the French and UN flags raised above the harbor. 'This ceremony marks not only the formal transfer of this historic port into the hands of the United Nations, but also the beginning of a week of shared commitment, responsibility, and hope,' said Mr. Li. Culture, science, and collective memory Before the negotiations began in earnest, Monday's opening turned to ritual and reflection. Polynesian climate activist Ludovic Burns Tuki marked the start of the summit by blowing a pu, a traditional conch shell. 'It's a way to call everyone,' he told UN News after the ceremony. 'I blow with the support of our ancestors.' In Polynesian navigation, the conch is sounded upon arrival at a new island to signal peaceful intent. Mr. Tuki, born in Tahiti to parents from the Tuamotu and Easter Islands, sees the ocean as both boundary and bond. 'We are not only countries,' he said. 'We need to think like a collective system, because this is one ocean, one people, a future for all.' The cultural segment also included a blessing by Tahitian historian Hinano Murphy, a martial arts performance by French taekwondo master Olivier Sicard, a scientific reflection by deep-sea explorer Antje Boetius, and a poetic testimony by Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako, accompanied by kora musician Wassa Kouyaté. What was lost can return The goals of the Conference are ambitious but clear: to advance the ' 30 by 30 ' pledge, promote sustainable fisheries, decarbonise maritime transport, and unlock new streams of 'blue finance,' including ocean bonds and debt-for-nature swaps to support vulnerable coastal states. In addition to plenary sessions, Monday will feature two high-level action panels: one on conserving and restoring marine ecosystems — including deep-sea habitats — and another on strengthening scientific cooperation, technology exchange, and education to bridge the gap between science and policy. In his opening statement, António Guterres stressed that Sustainable Development Goal 14, on 'Life Below Water', remains the least funded of the 17 UN global goals. 'This must change,' he said. 'We need bold models to unlock private capital.' 'What was lost in a generation,' he concluded, 'can return in a generation. The ocean of our ancestors — teeming with life and diversity — can be more than legend. It can be our legacy.'
Scoop
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Guterres Calls For An End To Ocean ‘Plunder' As UN Summit Opens In France
With the Mediterranean glittering in the background, UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres opened the Third United Nations Ocean Conference on Monday, delivering a blunt indictment of humanitys fractured relationship with the sea. ' The ocean is the ultimate shared resource,' he told delegates gathered at the port of Nice. 'But we are failing it.' Oceans, he warned, are absorbing 90 per cent of the excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions and buckling under the strain: overfishing, rising temperatures, plastic pollution, acidification. Coral reefs are dying. Fish stocks are collapsing. Rising seas, he said, could soon 'submerge deltas, destroy crops, and swallow coastlines — threatening many islands' survival.' Call for stewardship More than 50 Heads of State and Government took part in the opening ceremony, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen — a show of political force underscoring the summit's weight. In total, over 120 countries are participating in the five-day gathering, known by the shorthand UNOC3, signaling a growing recognition that ocean health is inseparable from climate stability, food security, and global equity. French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country is co-hosting the summit alongside Costa Rica, followed with a forceful appeal for science, law, and multilateral resolve. 'The abyss is not for sale, any more than Greenland is for sale, any more than Antarctica or the high seas are for sale,' he declared. 'If the Earth is warming, the ocean is boiling.' He insisted the fate of the seas could not be left to markets or opinion. 'The first response is therefore multilateralism,' Mr. Macron said. 'The climate, like biodiversity, is not a matter of opinion; it is a matter of scientifically established facts.' Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles took the podium next, thanking Mr. Guterres for elevating the ocean on the global agenda, then shifting to a stark warning. 'The ocean is speaking to us — with bleached coral reefs, with storms, with wounded mangroves,' he said. 'There's no time left for rhetoric. Now is the time to act.' Condemning decades of treating the ocean as an 'infinite pantry and global waste dump,' Mr. Chaves urged a shift from exploitation to stewardship. 'Costa Rica is a small country, but this change has started,' he said. 'We are now declaring peace with the ocean.' Most notably, the Costa Rican leader called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining in international waters until science can adequately assess the risks — a position already backed by 33 countries, he noted. A treaty within reach One of the summit's core objectives is to help bring into force the landmark High Seas Treaty — known as the BBNJ accord — adopted in 2023 to safeguard life in international waters. Sixty ratifications are required for the treaty to become binding international law. Emmanuel Macron announced that this milestone is now within reach. 'In addition to the 50 or so ratifications already submitted here in the last few hours, 15 countries have formally committed to joining them,' he said. 'This means that the political agreement has been reached, which allows us to say that this [Treaty] will be properly implemented.' Whether the legal threshold is crossed this week or shortly after, the French President added, 'it's a win.' High-stakes negotiations in the 'Blue Zone' The tone set by the opening speeches made clear that Nice will be the stage for high-stakes negotiations — on finalising a global treaty on plastic pollution, scaling up ocean finance, and navigating conflicting opinions surrounding seabed mining. Hundreds of new pledges are expected to be announced, building on more than 2,000 voluntary commitments made since the first UN Ocean Conference in 2017. The week-long talks will culminate in the adoption of a political declaration and the unveiling of the Nice Ocean Action Plan, a blueprint aligned with the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a 2022 agreement to protect 30 per cent of marine and terrestrial ecosystems by 2030. 'The deep sea cannot become the Wild West,' António Guterres warned. The summit is being held in a purpose-built venue overlooking Port Lympia, Nice's historic marina, now transformed into the secured diplomatic 'Blue Zone.' On Sunday, a symbolic ceremony led by Li Junhua, head of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and Secretary-General of the conference, saw the French and UN flags raised above the harbor. 'This ceremony marks not only the formal transfer of this historic port into the hands of the United Nations, but also the beginning of a week of shared commitment, responsibility, and hope,' said Mr. Li. Culture, science, and collective memory Before the negotiations began in earnest, Monday's opening turned to ritual and reflection. Polynesian climate activist Ludovic Burns Tuki marked the start of the summit by blowing a pu, a traditional conch shell. 'It's a way to call everyone,' he told UN News after the ceremony. 'I blow with the support of our ancestors.' In Polynesian navigation, the conch is sounded upon arrival at a new island to signal peaceful intent. Mr. Tuki, born in Tahiti to parents from the Tuamotu and Easter Islands, sees the ocean as both boundary and bond. 'We are not only countries,' he said. 'We need to think like a collective system, because this is one ocean, one people, a future for all.' The cultural segment also included a blessing by Tahitian historian Hinano Murphy, a martial arts performance by French taekwondo master Olivier Sicard, a scientific reflection by deep-sea explorer Antje Boetius, and a poetic testimony by Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako, accompanied by kora musician Wassa Kouyaté. What was lost can return The goals of the Conference are ambitious but clear: to advance the ' 30 by 30 ' pledge, promote sustainable fisheries, decarbonise maritime transport, and unlock new streams of 'blue finance,' including ocean bonds and debt-for-nature swaps to support vulnerable coastal states. In addition to plenary sessions, Monday will feature two high-level action panels: one on conserving and restoring marine ecosystems — including deep-sea habitats — and another on strengthening scientific cooperation, technology exchange, and education to bridge the gap between science and policy. In his opening statement, António Guterres stressed that Sustainable Development Goal 14, on 'Life Below Water', remains the least funded of the 17 UN global goals. 'This must change,' he said. 'We need bold models to unlock private capital.' 'What was lost in a generation,' he concluded, 'can return in a generation. The ocean of our ancestors — teeming with life and diversity — can be more than legend. It can be our legacy.'
Scoop
22-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Biodiversity Loss Demands Urgent Global Action, Says UN Chief
UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres has called on countries to radically rethink their relationship with nature, warning that biodiversity loss is a global crisis no nation can ignore. In a message marking Thursday's International Day for Biological Diversity, the UN chief raised alarm over the 'lightning pace' of degradation of the natural world. 'Biodiversity is the bedrock of life and a cornerstone of sustainable development,' Mr. Guterres said. 'Yet humanity is destroying biodiversity at lightening pace, the result of pollution, climate crisis, ecosystem destruction and – ultimately – short-term interests fuelling the unsustainable use of our natural world.' He stressed that no country, 'however rich or powerful,' can address the crisis in isolation, nor thrive without the ecological richness that defines life on Earth. Alarm bells ringing The International Day comes amid stark concern for the future: one million species are at risk of extinction, 75 per cent of land ecosystems and two-thirds of marine environments have been significantly altered by human activity. Furthermore, if current trends continue, progress towards eight of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) could be jeopardized. Mr. Guterres called for urgent implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the landmark agreement adopted to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. This includes delivering on national biodiversity action plans, scaling finance for conservation, shifting harmful subsidies, and supporting local communities, Indigenous Peoples, women and youth. Live in harmony with nature Biological diversity underpins food security, livelihoods, health and climate resilience. Roughly three billion people eat fish for 20 a per cent of their animal protein intake, and 80 per cent of rural populations in developing countries rely on plant-based medicine. Yet the destruction of natural habitats is also increasing the risk of zoonotic disease transmission, making biodiversity preservation a key factor in global health. 'Living in harmony with nature and sustainable development is humanity's path to a better world for all,' Mr. Guterres said, echoing this year's theme. 'Together, let us take it.' The International Day The UN officially designated 22 May as the International Day for Biological Diversity in 2000 to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. The date marks the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992.
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Business Standard
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
India makes significant pledges at UN peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin
India, which is among the largest troop contributing countries to UN peacekeeping, has made key pledges at a peacekeeping ministerial meeting, including a quick reaction force company and one women-led formed police unit (FPU). India pledged a Quick Reaction Force company, an armed police or mixed armed police unit, one women-led Formed Police Unit and a counter-improvised explosive devices/ explosive ordnance disposal unit as well as a K-9 unit and a SWAT police unit, the UN Department of Peace Operations said in a post on X. "Thank you India for your support", UN peacekeeping said. The United Nations peacekeeping ministerial 2025 concluded in Berlin, Germany Wednesday. More than 130 member states and international partners over a thousand participants in total came together to reaffirm their support for UN peacekeeping and to announce concrete pledges aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and adaptability of peace operations in the face of evolving global challenges. A total of 74 member states made pledges. In troubled spots around the world, Blue Helmets can mean the difference between life and death. Now more than ever, the world needs the United Nations. And the United Nations needs peacekeeping that is fully equipped for today's realities and tomorrow's challenges, United Nations Secretary-General Antnio Guterres said in his opening remarks at the ministerial meeting on Future of Peacekeeping'. Guterres said that the international community owes it to peacekeepers and the populations they protect to continue strengthening their ability to answer the call to peace and to do so in the face of daunting challenges, such as complex, intertwined and frequently borderless conflicts; growing polarisation and division around the globe; terrorism and transnational crime, which find fertile ground in instability and the ongoing climate crisis that is exacerbating conflict while leaving more of the planet uninhabitable. Guterres underscored the need for shaping peacekeeping operations that are fit for the future and making peacekeeping operations more adaptable and flexible. Hosted by the Government of Germany, the two-day high-level meeting marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to strengthen Member State support and help shape the future of UN peacekeeping. The Ministerial focused on the Future of Peacekeeping, reflecting the need for innovative approaches to address complex conflicts, leverage emerging technologies, and address threats such as mis- and disinformation, a press release by UN Peacekeeping said. Guterres welcomed member states' political statements of support for peacekeeping as well as their pledges of military and police capabilities, new partnerships and technological support. This meeting is also about something more fundamental: the future of peacekeeping itself, Guterres added. German minister of Foreign Affairs Johann Wadephul said in the statement released by UN Peacekeeping that in an interconnected world, no nation can achieve peace and security for its citizens on its own. We all agree that setting up strong and effective peacekeeping missions is our joint responsibility. We want to tailor future missions to the exact needs of the host countries and increase their acceptance and effectiveness. This is the way forward in a world in which peacekeeping is more important now than ever before, but where the challenges are greater than at any time in the past, he said. Key outcomes of the peacekeeping ministerial included 53 member states pledging uniformed capabilities, including 88 military and police units, as well as various critical capabilities, airlift, individual experts, staff officers and individual police officers. Fifty-nine member states pledged specialised training on critical issues such as peacekeeping-intelligence, protection of civilians, gender and the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse; 18 member states made pledges related to technological advancements and data-driven approaches to improve mission effectiveness. Thirty-eight member states made pledges to further implement the Women, Peace and Security agenda, including gender-responsive peacekeeping and women in peacekeeping. Sixteen member states pledged capabilities and projects to enhance the safety and security of peacekeepers. Eleven member states made pledges related to the conduct and accountability of peacekeepers and UN peacekeeping's fight against sexual exploitation and abuse. "This response includes targeted contributions to the Trust Fund for victims and eight member states made pledges to support the UN's strategic communications efforts and contribute resources to strengthen information integrity. India ranks among the top contributors to UN peacekeeping missions with 5,384 personnel, including 153 women, across 10 missions as of September 2024. Nearly 180 Indian peacekeepers have been killed in action, the highest number by far from any troop-contributing country. India deployed the first all-female FPU to Liberia in 2007. The Berlin Ministerial is part of a series of high-level meetings aimed at galvanising political support and generating tangible commitments to improve UN peacekeeping. It follows previous Ministerial meetings held in Accra (2023), Seoul (2021), New York (2019) Vancouver (2017) and London (2016). The 2025 Ministerial also coincides with the 80th anniversary of the UN and the 10-year anniversary of the Leaders' Summit on Peacekeeping.
Canada Standard
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Canada Standard
In Berlin, broad backing for UN peacekeeping as global threats mount
More than 130 countries and international partners threw their weight behind UN peacekeeping at a high-level ministerial summit in Berlin on Wednesday, pledging military, tech and political support. The future of peacekeeping took centre stage on Tuesday in Berlin as UN chief Antnio Guterres urged Member States to do more to support the global bodys 'blue helmets' and stave off the worst impacts of deep funding cuts. UNSecretary-General Antnio Guterresmeanwhile warned that peace operations are under growing strain and must adapt to meet todays rising threats. The two-day conference on peacekeeping, hosted by the Government of Germany, brought together over 1,000 participants including defence and foreign ministers to reaffirm commitment to the UNs flagship tool for maintaining peace and stability. It concluded on Wednesday with a wide array of pledges, including 88 military and police units, specialized training, and investments in emerging technologies and strategic communications. Difference between life and death In trouble spots around the world, blue helmets can mean the difference between life and death, Mr. Guterres said in his opening remarks. Now more than ever, the world needs the United Nations. And the United Nations needs peacekeeping that is fully equipped for todays realities and tomorrows challenges. Germany, which currently contributes troops to UN missions in South Sudan, Lebanon, and Western Sahara, announced82 million (around $91.7 million) in funding, along with commitments in training, renewable energy solutions and drone technology. Germany continues to be a steadfast supporter of UN peacekeeping, said Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. Broad and diverse commitments A total of74 UN Member States made specific pledges, ranging from uniformed personnel to training and strategic support. This includes pledges which will bolster military and police units, including airlift and rapid deployment capabilities (53 national contributions), specialized training (59), technological enhancements (18), advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda (38) and safety and protection (16). Eleven countries also committed to improving accountability and conduct, including support to the trust fund for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse, and eight nations supporting the UNs efforts to counter mis- and disinformation through strategic communications. Mounting pressures At a press conference following the meeting, Secretary-General Guterres acknowledged that peacekeepers operate in an increasingly complex and dangerous environment, citing a record number of global conflicts, the targeting of peacekeepers by drones and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and the rising threat from disinformation campaigns. We need to ask some tough questions about the mandates guiding these operations,and what the outcomes and solutions should look like, he said, speaking alongside German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Defence Minister Pistorius. Every context is different, and missions must be adapted accordingly. The UN chief also stressed the importance of sustained financial backing, highlighting that many missions continue to struggle with cash flow shortages due to delayed payments from Member States. It is absolutely essential that all Member States respect their financial obligations,paying their contributions in full and on time, he said. Crucial reforms The Berlin meeting feeds into the UNs broader reform efforts, including an ongoing Review of Peace Operations announced in last years Pact for the Future, aimed at making peacekeeping and peace enforcement more flexible, cost-effective, and aligned with real-world needs. This years Ministerial also coincides with the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the 10-year anniversary of the 2015 New York Summit on Peacekeeping. It follows similar high-level meetings in Accra, Seoul, Vancouver and London. Peacekeeping remains one of the UNs most visible activities, with over 61,000 uniformed personnel from 119 countries currently deployed across 11 missions, supported by more than 7,000 civilian staff.
