The oceans and marine biodiversity in the face of climate change

We thank the Chair of the Permanent Council for convening this meeting, and the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica and the Permanent Observer Mission of France for their diligent and timely efforts to make it possible.

We likewise thank the panelists for the information provided today, of which we have taken due note.

Mr. Chair,

Distinguished members of the Permanent Council, ladies and gentlemen,

It is an honor for me, as representative of the Dominican Republic, to share our perspectives on a subject of such magnitude: “The oceans and marine biodiversity in the face of climate change.”

The island we call home, Hispaniola, harbors an impressive marine biodiversity. Its warm waters are home to several species of sea turtles, dolphins, manatees and corals, and they are a migration corridor for humpback whales.

For us, therefore, the ocean is not merely an expanse of water but part of the very essence of our identity and survival.

In the Dominican Republic we are convinced that we stand at a crucial moment in our history, in which the challenges we face are as great as the opportunities before us. And it is precisely at this turning point that our hope lies.

Mr. Chair,

The subject of today's meeting calls us to action. The oceans, which make up more than 70% of the surface of our planet, are the cradle of an incalculable biodiversity and play a fundamental role in regulating the global climate. Yet the impacts of climate change, together with growing human pressure, are producing profound alterations in marine ecosystems.

In the context of climate change, sea-level rise and the need for a stronger policy for the high seas, the Dominican Republic, as an island nation, feels the urgency of these challenges acutely. But we are also convinced that, with global cooperation and the commitment of all, we can meet them.

We wish to reaffirm our commitment to a sustainable ocean. The ocean is one of our greatest riches, and we therefore have the responsibility and the obligation to protect it. The Dominican Republic is prepared to contribute everything within its reach to ensure its sustainability.

It is in that spirit that our country, only a few days ago, organized the regional conference Greater Caribbean – European Union: Turning Sargassum into Opportunity.

We call on governments, researchers, private companies and civil society to join forces. In particular, we urge the members of this Organization to work together to build new spaces for advancing the sustainable governance of the oceans. This is not an individual competition among States; it is a common challenge. Every effort counts. If we coordinate and connect them properly, we will succeed.

The immediate focus, then, must be on strengthening our policies and regulations concerning marine pollution and the overexploitation of marine resources, on promoting education and public awareness of the importance of our oceans, and on investing in science and technology for the sustainable management of the ocean.

This means, distinguished colleagues, that we must act with urgency.

The climate crisis does not wait.

Every day that passes without decisive action is a day lost for our oceans and for our planet. The oceans and marine biodiversity in the face of climate change is one of the greatest challenges confronting humanity. But it is also an opportunity to demonstrate our capacity for cooperation and solidarity, and to take a leap forward in our evolution as a species.

Before concluding, allow me one further reflection: we believe that greater investment in scientific research is indispensable for understanding and anticipating the impacts of climate change on the oceans. And, above all, we need to mobilize society as a whole, from political leaders to ordinary citizens, in the cause of protecting the oceans.

To close: since the Dominican Republic is a country where the Atlantic and the Caribbean reach out to each other in embrace, it is not only our duty but our destiny to protect and preserve our oceans and their biodiversity in the face of climate change.

Like the oceans, we are all part of a global ecosystem.

As representatives of our nations, we have the opportunity and the duty to act collectively for the good of that ecosystem.

We hope that this forum will be not only a space for dialogue ahead of the coming conference. It can also be an engine of concrete initiatives in response to immediate challenges.

We trust that our joint efforts will secure the future for our oceans and their biodiversity and, ultimately, for all of us.

Thank you very much.