Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has called on global leaders to take decisive action to address the growing threat of marine pollution and climate change affecting the world’s oceans.
She made the appeal during the opening of the Commonwealth Ocean Ministers Roundtable at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, where policymakers, experts, and stakeholders gathered to discuss sustainable ocean governance and environmental protection.
Mrs. Botchwey stressed that the deteriorating health of the oceans must be addressed urgently and collectively, noting that while the Commonwealth has introduced several initiatives to support ocean conservation, stronger and more coordinated action is still required from all member states.
Citing global data, she highlighted that a significant share of ocean pollution originates from land-based sources, with millions of tons of plastic waste already present in marine environments. She warned that if current trends continue, plastic could outweigh fish in the oceans by 2050.
She further noted that plastic pollution accounts for the majority of marine debris and contributes to the deaths of thousands of marine mammals annually.
While acknowledging initiatives such as the Commonwealth Ocean Incubator and the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration—which aims to protect 30 percent of the world’s oceans—she emphasized that these efforts must be strengthened to achieve meaningful impact.
Kenya’s Minister for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Ali Hassan Joho, also urged participants to move beyond commitments and focus on implementing practical solutions that benefit communities and marine ecosystems.
Former US Secretary of State John Kerry, a key advocate for the Our Ocean Conference, highlighted the importance of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14, which focuses on conserving and sustainably using oceans and marine resources. He stressed the need for greater urgency, particularly in protecting future generations.
The three-day conference, hosted by the Government of Kenya and the Commonwealth Secretariat, is being held under the theme “Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future” and focuses on marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, climate-ocean links, maritime security, and the development of a sustainable blue economy.
Source: gbcghanaonline.com
