United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for urgent global action to protect the world's oceans, warning that climate change, overfishing, biodiversity loss, and marine pollution are pushing marine ecosystems beyond their limits.
In a message marking World Oceans Day, observed annually on June 8, Guterres highlighted the vital role oceans play in regulating the climate, sustaining ecosystems and economies, and providing food for billions of people worldwide.
“In these turbulent times, the ocean reminds us that we are bound together,” the UN chief said, emphasizing that humanity’s future remains closely linked to the health of marine environments.
His remarks coincided with the launch of the Third World Ocean Assessment, a major UN report documenting what he described as a worsening global ocean crisis. The assessment outlines the growing impacts of climate change, declining fish stocks, pollution, and the loss of marine biodiversity.
Guterres stressed that the international community can no longer treat the ocean as an unlimited resource and called for a new relationship with the seas based on scientific evidence, international law, and shared responsibility among nations, industries, and future generations.
The Secretary-General pointed to recent achievements in global ocean governance, including the success of the Third UN Ocean Conference last year and the entry into force of the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction earlier this year. He said these developments demonstrate that multilateral cooperation remains both possible and essential.
Calling for greater ambition and commitment, Guterres urged governments and stakeholders to accelerate efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and safeguard the ocean for future generations.
“On World Oceans Day, let us act with the ambition and resolve this moment demands,” he said.
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