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.”