05 Dec 2023
Mr President,
1 The annual resolution on oceans and the law of the sea remains one of the most important resolutions that the General Assembly adopts annually. Known as the oceans omnibus resolution, it covers a broad spectrum of issues, developments and activities pertaining to ocean affairs and the law of the sea. It is a resolution that is founded on international law – in particular, the constitution for the oceans, which is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Every year, this omnibus resolution which we are about to adopt reaffirms the status of the UNCLOS as setting out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.
2 Singapore had the great honour to serve as the coordinator for the informal consultations on draft resolution A/78/L.15, and I am pleased to introduce the draft resolution on behalf of my colleague who was the coordinator, Ms. Natalie Morris-Sharma.
Mr President,
3 More than half of the resolution, which has over 400 paragraphs, both preambular and operative, has been updated and adjusted. Like previous years, the informal consultations were convened in September and November. This year, the informal consultations were preceded by a series of virtual informal dialogues on the specific matter of streamlining the text. This year’s resolution is shorter and has been reorganised to improve its readability. Particular effort was undertaken to address duplication. And looking ahead to next year, delegations have expressed commitment towards further streamlining the resolution, including through intersessional work. An additional day will be dedicated to the informal consultations. All these demonstrate the continuing strong interest of Member States in this resolution.
Mr President,
4 The following are some of the key matters addressed in this year’s resolution, in the order that they appear in the text of the draft.
(a) First, the resolution reaffirms the universal and unified character of UNCLOS and recognises the importance of assisting developing States in implementing UNCLOS through capacity-building. It welcomes the reports of this year’s Meeting of States Parties to UNCLOS; it pays tribute to the roles of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the International Court of Justice in the peaceful settlement of disputes concerning the law of the sea; and it welcomes and notes the progress of the work of the International Seabed Authority and the work of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.
(b) Second, on maritime safety and security, the crucial role of international cooperation is underlined, including in respect of submarine cables and pipelines and other critical infrastructure. While the resolution welcomes the decline in incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in some regions, it also indicates that this remains an issue of concern.
(c) Third, in relation to the marine environment and marine resources, the resolution notes with concern the impacts of climate change on the ocean, including extreme sea level events and sea-level rise. It acknowledges the work of the International Law Commission’s Study Group on “Sea-level rise in relation to international law” and recalls the General Assembly’s decision to request the ICJ to render an advisory opinion on the obligations of States in respect of climate change.
(d) Fourth, on marine biodiversity, the resolution underscores that the BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference finalised its work on the BBNJ Agreement as reflected in General Assembly resolution 77/321 and invites States and regional economic integration organisations to consider this and its implications for the ocean. Amongst others, the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is welcomed.
(e) Finally, the resolution recalls the crucial importance of the Regular Process and its possible inputs for ongoing ocean-related intergovernmental processes; it welcomes the report on the work of the Informal Consultative Process at its twenty-third meeting on the theme of “New maritime technologies: challenges and opportunities”; and the text also invites States and international organisations to enhance their cooperation, including to better protect the marine environment.
5 On behalf of the coordinator, I wish to express deep gratitude for the active and constructive engagement of all delegations, and acknowledge the valuable contributions and hard work of the small group facilitators, and we express special appreciation for the support rendered by the Division for Oceans Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) in the preparations for and throughout this year’s informal consultations. Last, but not least, I thank all the co-sponsors for their very valuable support.
6 This concludes the introduction of the draft resolution. On behalf of the coordinator, I commend the draft resolution to the General Assembly for adoption.
Mr President,
7 If you would allow me kindly, I also wish to deliver some remarks in my national capacity. My delegation aligns itself with the statement that will be delivered later by Cuba on behalf of the G77 and China and Samoa on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States. We thank the Secretary-General for his reports. We note, from the latest report, that the ocean remains under significant threat from human activities. As a small island nation that has a symbiotic connection with the ocean, the state of the ocean, including the health of marine ecosystems and biodiversity, is of great importance to Singapore. In this connection, my delegation wishes to make three specific points.
8 First, the impact of climate change on the ocean continues to be one of the most serious and urgent challenges that the international community must address. According to the Secretary-General’s latest report, sea levels have reached record highs. The threat that rising sea levels pose to small island developing States, including to Singapore, cannot be underestimated. My delegation welcomes initiatives to galvanise action, such as the informal plenary meeting on sea-level rise that was convened in November this year by the President of the General Assembly, while emphasising that all efforts to address the impact of climate change on the ocean should be undertaken within the legal framework of UNCLOS.
9 Second, more needs to be done to achieve SDG 14. The Secretary-General’s latest report notes that more concerted efforts and acceleration are urgently needed. My delegation is supportive of efforts under the legal framework of UNCLOS to achieve SDG 14. We stand ready to contribute to the work of the third UN Ocean Conference in 2025, co-hosted by Costa Rica and France, which will be a major opportunity to advance actions to enhance the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources under international law as reflected in UNCLOS.
10 Third, capacity-building to assist developing countries continues to merit great attention, including with respect to climate change impacts on the ocean and SDG 14. My delegation welcomes the attention given to capacity-building in an updated paragraph of the draft resolution that calls for support and strengthening of such activities in developing countries in relation to mitigation of and adaptation to climate change impacts on the ocean, including protection of coasts against sea-level rise and through ecosystem-based approaches and nature-based solutions. Singapore will continue to support fellow developing countries through relevant and topical capacity-building courses, including those under the Singapore Cooperation Programme.
Mr President,
11 Singapore had the great honour of having one our ambassadors, Ambassador Rena Lee, preside over the BBNJ negotiations, and we also had the honour of coordinating the negotiations on and tabling resolution 77/321 that welcomed the adoption of the BBNJ Agreement. It is fitting that the adoption of the Agreement came shortly after the international community celebrated the 40th anniversary of UNCLOS. UNCLOS has been, and always will be, the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. All maritime claims must be in accordance with the relevant rules of UNCLOS, which are comprehensive, and all freedoms, rights and obligations set out in UNCLOS must be respected and adhered to. As rightly noted in the Secretary-General’s latest report, the BBNJ Agreement demonstrates the continued relevance and flexibility of UNCLOS in addressing contemporary needs and challenges. My delegation welcomes Rwanda as the 169th party to UNCLOS and calls on States that have not done so to become a party as soon as possible.
12 I thank you all very much for your attention.
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