Minister of Maritime Affairs calls for urgent action against climate threat Ricardo Serrão Santos spoke at the 4th World Sea Forum opening session, in Bizerte, Tunisia

"In the last 18 months of the Covid-19 pandemic, the world came to a stop, but the planet and the environmental threats have continued to grow. There is no vaccine against the climate threat, which is much greater than the pandemic threat itself" said the Minister of Maritime Affairs Ricardo Serrão Santos at the opening session of the 4th World Sea Forum held in Bizerte, Tunisia, calling for an effective response that combines scientific capabilities, politics and a social commitment.

"The message from the latest UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is unmistakable and the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, rated it as a "red card for mankind". This existential threat on our planet and lives requires vigorous and aligned action by the States and Nations, just as we did for the pandemic", the Minister added.

The opening session of the forum was attended by the Prince of Monaco Albert II, the French Minister of Maritime Affairs, Annick Girardin, the Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, Nasser Kamel, the Tunisian Minister of Facilities, Housing and Infrastructure, Kemel Doukh, and Marius Vascega, Chief of Cabinet of the European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevicius.

At this high-level meeting, Portugal endorsed the Action Plan "The Mediterranean - A Model Sea by 2030" (PAMEx), which aims to reverse the alarming loss of biodiversity in this sea. The Mediterranean is one of the richest seas in the world in terms of biodiversity, but 40% of the marine species are considered to be in decline.

The Minister of Maritime Affairs underlined the "importance of referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and respect for international law" in the new plan and stated the need for a sustainable blue economy for the Mediterranean that can "enhance the quality of life and well-being of the communities that inhabit it, promoting social inclusion while also preserving marine and coastal ecosystems, and biodiversity".

Ricardo Serrão Santos also noted the EU's commitment to the oceans through Mission Starfish and the upcoming occasions to undertake new commitments, from COP26 on Climate Change (November 2021) up to the One Ocean Summit (January 2022).

These meetings may offer major inputs for the UN Ocean Conference from 27 June to 1 July 22, held in Lisbon, co-hosted by Portugal and Kenya.

Alongside the Forum, the Portuguese Minister of Maritime Affairs met up with his French counterpart, Annick Girardin, to discuss the France-Portugal crossover time under the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union (first half of 2022), the Sargasso Sea Commission and the UN Ocean Conference, among other matters.