Secretary-General Briefs Press During UN Ocean Conference

Secretary-General António Guterres briefs reporters during the UN Ocean Conference.

"The ocean is the lifeblood of our planet. It produces half of the oxygen we breathe, nourishes billions of people, supports hundreds of millions of jobs, and underpins global trade. For many, the ocean is more than a source of food and livelihood. It shapes cultures…anchors identities… and feeds the soul," said the Secretary-General, and continued: "We are facing a hard battle, against a clear enemy. Its name is greed. Greed that sows doubt… denies science… distorts truth… rewards corruption… and destroys life for profit. We cannot let greed dictate the fate of our planet. That is why we are here this week: to stand in solidarity against those forces and reclaim what belongs to us all."

The Secretary-General is attending the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France (9 June - 13 June). The 2025 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 has the overarching theme "Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean".