UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan emphasized the urgent need to address the challenges facing the world’s oceans, highlighting that climate change is causing significant disruptions. Ambassador Usman Jadoon, Pakistan’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, made these remarks at a meeting of the parties to the U.N. Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS) on Wednesday.
Jadoon pointed out that marine biodiversity is under severe threat due to over-exploitation and ocean acidification, with over a third of fish stocks being harvested unsustainably. He also noted that coastal waters are increasingly polluted with chemicals, plastics, and other waste, exacerbating the environmental crisis.
Furthermore, Jadoon underscored that climate change is warming the oceans, disrupting weather patterns and currents, and altering marine ecosystems. He stressed that these changes are having profound impacts on the health and stability of marine environments.
The 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, Jadoon explained, provides a comprehensive legal framework for the use and protection of the sea, including the seabed, subsoil, and marine environment. This includes both natural and cultural resources. He emphasized the importance of the work conducted by UNCLOS’s three main bodies: the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), and the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
Ambassador Jadoon praised ITLOS for its advisory opinion on climate change and international law, which emphasizes the obligations of States Parties under UNCLOS to mitigate marine pollution from greenhouse gas emissions. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to UNCLOS and its 1994 Implementing Agreement, especially on the 30th anniversary of its entry into force.
Jadoon also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda, specifically to Sustainable Development Goal 14, which is all about protecting and responsibly using the oceans. He emphasized the critical need for international cooperation and concerted efforts to protect marine biodiversity and ensure the health of the world’s oceans for future generations.
Jadoon’s statements underscore Pakistan’s dedication to addressing global environmental challenges and highlight the importance of international legal frameworks in protecting the world’s oceans from ongoing threats.
