Guterres on World Oceans Day: 30 of  UN agencies are ending the use of single-use plastic

The UN Secretary General " António Guterres" has issued a statement on the World Oceans Day, stating that the oceans make our blue planet unique in our solar system -- and not just visually. "They help regulate the global climate and are the ultimate source of the water that sustains all life on Earth, from coral reefs to snow-covered mountains, from tropical rain forests to mighty rivers, and even deserts", he explained. Guterres raised concerns on the safety of the oceans, assuming that their ability to provide their essential services is being threatened by climate change, pollution and unsustainable use.

In his statement, he highlighted the problem of plastic pollution. He expalined that 80% of all pollution in the sea comes from land, including some 8 million tons of plastic waste each year.  It chokes waterways, harms communities that depend on fishing and tourism, kills turtles and birds, whales and dolphins, and finds its way to the most remote areas of the planet and throughout the food chain on which we ultimately rely.  Unless we change course, plastic waste could soon outweigh all the fish in the oceans, he added.

He called upon all those invloved to work inpidually and collectively to stop this preventable tragedy and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, including plastic. He added that "Action starts at home", and announced that the 30 of the UN agencies have now begun working to end the use of single-use plastic.