Statement by Iceland on the Oceans and the Law of the Sea
Statement delivered by H.E. Anna Jóhannsdóttir,
Permanent Representative of Iceland to the UN
General Assembly 79th session, 12 December 2024
Mr. President.
Last month marked the 30th anniversary of the entry into force of UNCLOS, our constitution of the ocean, which sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. This milestone is a cause for celebration.
The Convention is a true testament to multilateralism, which has stood the test of time, globally applied, and ever attracting more States Parties, moving us closer to universal participation. Its contribution to the peace, security, and the rules based legal order of our ocean cannot be overstated.
Mr President.
Another important step towards better ocean governance was last year’s adoption of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, commonly referred to as the BBNJ Agreement. Once in force, the Agreement will provide important additions to the regulatory framework of our ocean and provide us with necessary tools to achieve our common objectives.
We welcome the adoption of GA resolution 78/272 and the establishment of the Preparatory Commission tasked with facilitating the entry into force and the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties. The first substantive meeting of the Preparatory Commission will be held in April next year, and we look forward to engaging with colleagues to ensure that when the BBNJ Agreement enters into force, we are able to hit the ground running.
The sustainable use of the ocean remains a cornerstone of Iceland’s prosperity. A healthy and bountiful ocean, with long-term sustainability at the core of all management decisions is for the benefit of all. In international discourse, conservation and sustainable use are often portrayed as separate or even conflicting notions, but in reality, these are two sides of the same coin.
Mr. President.
In June this year, the UN Member States came together for a week under the auspices of the Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and Law of the Sea, and discussed a topic of the Ocean as a Source of Sustainable Food. We believe this topic is especially important, as the FAO confirms that the world has been set back 15 years in its fight against hunger and food insecurity, with levels of undernourishment comparable to those in 2008-2009.
A healthy ocean is an important source of nutrition for billions of people. Moreover, blue food systems support livelihoods around the world. The FAO estimates that 800 million livelihoods are supported by blue food systems.
The importance of this is reflected in Iceland’s international development policy. The policy mandates that Icelandic authorities shall contribute towards improving the livelihoods and resilience of impoverished societies that rely on fisheries by building capabilities and knowledge for fishing and fish processing.
Sustainably harvested, nutritious food from the ocean is also of particular importance due to its low carbon intensity. The ocean holds great potential and faces significant challenges for a planet hungry for sustainable sources of food. We are convinced that we can overcome these challenges and together realise the ocean’s potential.
Mr. President.
The ocean and climate change are intrinsically interlinked. We must recognize that connection and act accordingly. Ocean acidification is a challenge different from climate change, but the root cause is the same.
In this regard, the landmark advisory opinion of ITLOS, given to the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law, is of great value. The opinion highlights the nature of UNLCOS as a living instrument and the constant interplay between law and ever-increasing scientific knowledge. In our mind this is one of the core characteristics of the Law of the Sea.
Climate change, the science tells us, is taking place and is changing the world as we know it. How drastic the changes will be, depends on how much climate action we take. Iceland strongly supports the guidance of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which is specifically referred to in the Advisory Opinion of ITLOS, and the goal of limiting temperature increase to 1,5°C. We support the phasing out of fossil fuels and ending fossil fuels subsidies.
This is an important backdrop for discussing the threats of sea-level rise. Addressing the threats brought by rising sea levels is the joint responsibility of all States. Iceland remains supportive of the International Law Commission’s work on this topic, which comes down to the very existence of States. Importantly, all activities to address the threat of sea-level rise must be carried out consistent with the legal framework of UNCLOS.
Mr President.
Strengthening multilateral ocean governance, whether at the global or regional level, remains an ongoing task.
States must cooperate on addressing harmful fisheries subsidies, which are a key factor in the widespread depletion of the world’s fish stocks, including due to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies was a major achievement in this field. Negotiations continue on Additional Provisions on subsidies leading to overcapacity and overfishing, under the leadership of Iceland. We count on States to join the ongoing push and make every effort possible to conclude these negotiations as soon as possible. What is needed now is the political will to show flexibility and find convergence on the draft text that has been presented in Geneva.
Likewise, we count on States to conclude negotiations on an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution.
Mr. President.
Iceland is very much looking forward to the UN Ocean Conference in Nice next year, under the able leadership of Costa Rica and France. We thank them for their efforts, and we are sure that the Conference will help bring increased focus on our joint ocean and accelerate much-needed action.
I thank you.