Conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources crucial for sustainable development

The United Nations (UN) System in Georgetown and the French Diplomatic Office in Guyana co-organized an edition of ‘Blue Talks’, a multi-stakeholder discussion and debate intended to support preparations for the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), co-hosted by France and Costa Rica in June 2025 in the city of Nice.

In his opening remarks, delivered ahead of World Oceans Day (8th June), Hon. Vickram Bharrat, Minister of Natural Resources highlighted Guyana’s commitment to “balance economic development and preservation of the environment.” Acknowledging that the 2025 Oceans Conference will be held under the theme ‘Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean’, Minister Bharrat welcomed the statements from a group of more than fifty participants, whilst highlighting Guyana’s global climate leadership. 

These ‘Blue Talks’, which follow similar events planned by France and Costa Rica, socialized subjects directly relevant to Guyana’s coastal and oceanic ecosystems. Speakers from national government authorities, the private sector, the UN System, civil society, and non-governmental organizations spoke of issues regarding sustainable fisheries and aquaculture; financing sustainable ocean management, the diversification of the blue economy; the criticality of science, data, analytics and innovation in oceans management as well as efforts to reduce all forms of marine pollution.

Yeşim Oruç, UN Resident Coordinator declared to the participants that the 2025 Ocean Conference will seek to accelerate ‘Life Below Water’, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. She highlighted that UN General Assembly resolution 78/128 “states a global emergency in our oceans: sea level rise, ocean heating, ocean acidification, and deoxygenation,” and calls on all stakeholders to urgently promote integrated, multi-stakeholder responses to promote sustainable use of the world’s oceans. She welcomed the practical, action-oriented advice of participants.

This edition of the ‘Blue Talks’ is an initiative of the Chargé d’Affaires a.i., of the French Diplomatic Office in Guyana. Mr. Jean-Jacques Forté stated that, “Guyana, as a coastal nation rich in vast oceanic resources, faces challenges that require a multidimensional and collaborative approach, urgent attention, and concerted action.” He encouraged all stakeholders to continue contributing to further policy discussions and the formulation of nationally-agreed messages that will be taken to the 2025 Oceans Conference, whilst reaffirming France’s steadfast support for climate action and ocean sustainability.