Minister of Foreign Relations Roberto Alvarez spoke at the Immersed in Change conference held in Costa Rica from 7 to 8 June 2024. The high-level event on ocean action sought to mobilize global efforts for the protection and sustainable use of the ocean. Speaking during the event, Álvarez urged the international community to take decisive action to combat ocean pollution and climate change, emphasizing that these issues exacerbate existing global inequalities.
“As Small Island Developing States (SIDS), our economies, our food security, our identity, our culture, and, in short, our very existence are inextricably linked to the ocean, making us particularly vulnerable to the aggravated effects of climate change,” he stated.
Speaking at the High-Level Dialogue of the “High-Level Event on Ocean Action: Immersed in Change” held in San Jose, Costa Rica, in preparation for the Third United Nations Conference on the Ocean (UNOC), the official advocated for increased financing to address climate change; equitable access for developing countries to deep-sea resources; an ambitious but fair text to end plastic pollution; and effective implementation of the Agreement on Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).
“We join the call for all countries to present concrete voluntary commitments that contribute to the health and sustainability of our ocean as soon as possible. Only through global cooperation and a renewed commitment can we ensure a prosperous and sustainable environment for present and future generations,” he said.
The diplomat noted that the country’s presence at the forum underscored the Dominican government’s commitment to marine conservation, as provided for in Sustainable Development Goal 14. In this regard, he recalled that the Dominican Republic reached the target of declaring 30% of its marine territory as protected areas in April, a commitment made in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Finally, he reiterated the call for the Sargassum seaweed crisis to be brought to the attention of the United Nations General Assembly to achieve coordinated global action to resolve it.
The official congratulated Costa Rica for the hospitality and the organization of this event, and at the same time recognized the efforts of that country, together with France, to make the Third United Nations Conference on the Ocean, to be held in Nice, France, in 2025, a success.
Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Arnoldo André hosted the event with the participation of sectors interested in promoting actions to address the ocean environmental crisis and motivate actions to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. Best practices and successful experiences on ocean government were addressed
Also attending the conference for the Dominican Republic were Environment Minister of Environment Miguel Ceara Hatton; Dominican Ambassador to Costa Rica, Josué Fiallo; the Vice Minister of Coastal and Marine Resources, José Ramón Reyes; the head of Oceanography and Marine Resources of Anamar, Omar Reynoso; the director of Environment, Science and Technology at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Claudia Taboada; and the member of the Inter-American Legal Committee, Julio José Rojas.
In the Dominican Republic, the Dominican Foundation of Marine Studies (Fundemar) and the Ministry of Environment are carrying out the Monitorea program with funding from the government of France (EUR525,000) to promote the safeguarding of coastal marine ecosystems given their vulnerability.
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Presidency
Diario Libre
11 June 2024