It is such a great honor for me to be here and I would like wholeheartedly to thank Wilson Centre for this kind invitation. It is a unique opportunity to be among distinguished people and distinguished friends. But also, to be on the same panel with John Kerry, who has been the heart of global efforts as President Biden's Special Envoy for Climate in order to preserve what is the most valuable asset that we have on earth. Something that does not belong to us, that belongs to the future generations.
It is also a great pleasure because, dear Secretary, I am promoting the 9th “Our Ocean Conference” that we will host in Athens on the 16th and 17th of April. It is a major event and I think the timing is of particular significance, because it comes right after COP 28 and the tangible results that have been produced. And I think it is of utmost importance to actually try and keep up a positive momentum. Not only among state actors but also among private entities, NGOs, enterprises, and obviously among think tanks and scientists.
In Greece, with an extended coastline of more than 20,000 kilometers, including numerous small islands, almost 30,000 small islands and islets, and because of its inextricably historical, cultural, and economic link with the sea, we as Greeks have a firm commitment to protect the marine environment. It has been ten years since the first “Our Ocean Conference” was organized after Secretary Kerry’s initial idea. An idea that proved to be inspirational for the international community as a whole and that created a new results-oriented model, which should be the basis of any action against climate change.
By hosting the 9th “Our Ocean Conference” we entitled “An Ocean of Potential,” Greece would like to continue and further your precious efforts, Mr. Secretary, in the same direction. The past few months have been extremely dense as we started and are still carrying on an intense campaign about this event. A campaign to raise awareness and communicate the main messages of the Conference to the highest possible level, as well as to facilitate the participation of leaders from small island developing states.
However, nothing can be achieved without the active engagement of the future of our planet, our youth. The Youth Leadership Summit of the “Our Ocean Conference” will be held on April 15th, the day prior to the inauguration of our conference. By involving young voices, that is the future of the planet, the conference aims to harness fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, but also to be inclusive in terms of the participants. Because it is, after all, about the youth and the future generations.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Greece, through the Athens conference, aspires to reaffirm its commitment to transition to a blue economy and to utilize the advantages of a new balance between economic growth, social cohesion, and sustainability. We envision a future where the oceans thrive as resilient and vibrant ecosystems, ensuring their well-being for generations to come. And through shared global action, we aspire to achieve an outcome that will meet the level of ocean ambition the world needs today. Our goal is to mobilize concrete action and to announce tangible commitments globally and regionally.
During the latest “Our Ocean Conference” in Panama in 2023, it became widely known that since its beginning in 2014, the Conference has mobilized more than 2,160 commitments worth more than 130 billion US Dollars.
Next April, Greece is looking forward to further expanding these commitments and to promoting new and more ambitious actions. Greece, in its efforts to enrich the Conference's agenda, will seek to place emphasis on four cross-cutting aspects across six areas of action of this Conference.
The first is sustainable tourism in coastal areas and islands to ensure an optimal balance between tourism and development - this is of particular concern for us Greeks, because of the touristic nature of our economy - marine environment conservation and overall sustainability of host communities and a core driver to build resilience.
Secondly, green shipping, which encompasses a range of actions to enforce emission control, promote decarbonization and move towards a more sustainable shipping management with the aim of minimizing the overall impact of the marine environment. You all know that Greece has been a very strong maritime nation and it is of utmost importance for us to develop that type of green shipping.
Thirdly, reduction of marine plastic and microplastic pollution. This is an imperative task since this type of pollution affects negatively marine ecosystems and may also harm human health through seafood consumption.
Fourthly, the green transition in the Mediterranean, a sea connecting three continents and serving as crossroad of several cultures, people and civilizations. It is a key challenge which can deliver significant benefits for marine ecosystems. We all know that the Mediterranean basin has been the environmental hotspot of the last decade. We need to take some immediate action.
Ladies and gentlemen,
the ocean is the foundation of life on Earth and the heartbeat of our planet. The ocean forms an important part of our natural and cultural heritage and plays an essential role in a sustainable development that could eradicate poverty.
We are therefore deeply alarmed by the global emergency the oceans are facing. Sea levels are rising, coastal erosion is worsening and the oceans become warmer and more acidic. Moreover, marine pollution is increasing at an alarming rate. A third of fish stocks are overexploited. Marine biodiversity continues to decrease, while alien invasive species pose a significant threat to marine ecosystems and resources.
We must act promptly and move towards a new development model, a new blue economy. We need to respond swiftly and decisively to the world's climate and environmental challenges. In Greece, we are currently implementing a green transformation of our economy, which is a very ambitious task that we have set in our government. We are seeking solutions towards improving policy, governance, technology and finance through accelerated action for a clean and healthy ocean, where protection and sustainable use go hand-to-hand.
With respect to nature conservation, Greece is dedicated to protect 30% of its land and sea by 2030, to reduce overfishing and to promote sustainable fishing management.
Regarding pollution prevention, Greece is working constantly towards the promotion of sustainable materials and the reduction of plastic litter, microplastics and single use plastic products.
In the field of climate action. Mr. Secretary, Greece is working towards our national climate law. Greece has been one of the few states in Europe that has introduced a climate law. And we have set very ambitious targets: at least 50% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 80% by 2030. And eventually we aspire to reach climate neutrality by 2050. The green transition can be the mainspring of economic growth, job creation and sustainable development for local communities.
Therefore, we have launched another strategic project for the future, which we entitled GR-eco Islands. It aims to transform Greek islands into innovation hubs and models of energy autonomy via green energy, energy efficiency, storage, immobility and circular economy. There are three small islands that have already been incorporated into the project of GR-eco islands. And we have a small island in the Dodecanese, Tilos, which is now self-sufficient in terms of energy consumption. And it may benefit from exporting the surplus of energy that it produces.
Ladies and gentlemen,
being a contracting party to all major international environmental conventions, treaties and protocols, Greece has set the climate peace and security nexus as a priority for our candidacy for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for 2025-2026. It is also noteworthy that the 9th “Our Ocean Conference” will be the first that will convene after the adoption of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond Natural Jurisdiction under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the BBNJ Treaty, covering more than two-thirds of the oceans. It will be a suitable event to discuss the means of implementation of the goals of the agreement.
Furthermore, the 9th “Our Ocean Conference” aims to keep the ocean issues on the top of the global political agenda - something that the Secretary has done very successfully in the last ten years - and is expected to make a considerable direct contribution to the upcoming oceans-related High-Level events at the UN, which are to be held in Costa Rica in June 2024 and in Nice, France in June 2025.
Ladies and gentlemen,
in Greek mythology, Oceanus was the son of Uranus and Gaia - Uranus the sky and Gaia the earth. He was a Titan, which was the strongest group of gods in ancient mythology. And Oceanus was considered to be the begetter of the gods. This is the value that ancient Greeks attributed to oceans. And this is a good opportunity to actually revisit our stance towards seas and oceans.
The oceans offer enormous opportunities and untapped potential. We must find real and sustainable solutions to all challenges.
Because after all, as we say, oceans and seas connect us all.
Thank you so much.
February 9, 2024