Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, President of IUCN and Managing Director of the MBZ Species Conservation Fund, shared a powerful message advocating for action on World Oceans Day:

“As IUCN president, I’m deeply honored to address you on World Oceans Day.

We are at a pivotal moment for our ocean, the Blue Economy and Finance Forum, and the third U.N. Ocean Conference serve as critical platforms for progress to advance SDG 14: Life Below Water.

Our ocean faces growing challenges: climate change, biodiversity loss and an unsustainable rate of exploitation.

But this moment also presents an extraordinary opportunity for true transformative actions.

We must mobilize the financial sector, philanthropy and public-private partnerships. And IUCN is advancing all those solutions. We set global conservation standards and unlock private investment for marine resilience. Yet our work is far from over.

We must scale successful models and empower local communities and Indigenous Peoples as key stewards of marine ecosystems. During the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, you'll have the opportunity to see the UAE's advanced research vessel Jaywun. The ship represents the UAE’s steadfast commitment to marine conservation and ocean science.

So let us commit to action not just for today, but for the generations to come.”

On World Oceans Day, we recognize the profound significance of the oceans in our global climate system and their essential role in sustaining life on Earth. Covering over 70% of our planet’s surface, oceans are pivotal in regulating the global climate and supporting biodiversity.

Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28 and President of IUCN, highlights the oceans' indelible impact in a special video message. COP28 marked a significant advancement in oceanic conservation, notably with the inaugural Oceans Ministerial—a Heads of State-level event dedicated to enhancing ocean-based solutions, which saw the introduction of the Ocean Breakthroughs.

These breakthroughs provide a clear roadmap for collective action, setting ambitious targets for 2030 aimed at achieving a healthy and productive ocean by 2050. They focus on enhancing marine conservation, promoting ocean renewable energy, optimizing shipping, developing sustainable aquatic food sources, and boosting coastal tourism. Achieving these targets can potentially reduce emissions by up to 35% by 2050.

As the world gears up for significant global milestones toward the end of 2024 like the CBD COP16, G20, and UNFCCC COP29, the Ocean Breakthroughs are poised to drive collective actions to protect and sustainably manage our oceans. Razan calls for increased alignment of government and non-state actor efforts with these targets, emphasizing that our collective future depends on a resilient and thriving ocean.

Watch Razan's full message here.

On this World Oceans Day, let’s reaffirm our commitment to harnessing our planet's blue resources responsibly and ensuring a resilient future for all.