Excellence, Distinguished Delegates,

The Group of 77 and China expresses its gratitude to the co-facilitators, Australia and Cabo Verde, for their leadership in steering these critical consultations on the outcome document of the 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. This process provides a pivotal opportunity to craft a declaration that embodies our shared commitment to safeguarding marine ecosystems while advancing sustainable development.

At the outset, we must underscore a reality that Sustainable Development Goal 14, Life Below Water, remains the least financed of all the SDGs. Despite the oceans' indispensable role in regulating our climate, preserving biodiversity, and sustaining the livelihoods of billions, the resources allocated to SDG 14 remain woefully insufficient. This persistent funding gap undermines our collective ability to reverse biodiversity loss, combat ocean acidification, and address unsustainable fishing practices, especially in developing countries.

To bridge this gap, enhanced financial support and technology transfer are paramount. Developing countries, particularly Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, whose economies and livelihoods are tied to healthy marine ecosystems, require targeted assistance. We therefore call for concrete commitments from developed countries to substantially increase financing for ocean-related initiatives through concessional finance, grants, and the mobilization of private capital. These critical priorities must be explicitly reflected in the declaration.

Co-Facilitators,

Recent multilateral achievements remind us of the power of collective action. The adoption of the BBNJ Agreement represents a historic milestone. This landmark agreement upholds the principles of equity and benefit-sharing while establishing a robust approach to conserving and sustainably using marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. To ensure its success, it is essential to prioritize effective implementation and provide developing countries with the financial and technical resources needed to fully participate in and benefit from this agreement.

We must also confront the escalating challenges posed by climate change, which continues to amplify pressures on marine ecosystems. Rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and warming waters jeopardize marine biodiversity and coastal communities alike. To address these interlinked crises, it is critical to harness synergies between ocean-related initiatives and global climate finance mechanisms, ensuring fit-for-purpose solutions that align with the evolving needs of developing countries.

Co-Facilitators,

The UNOC-3 declaration must also acknowledge and respect the mandates of other multilateral frameworks and instruments, including those under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity and its protocols, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This coherence will enhance our collective impact and ensure alignment across our global commitments.

The Group of 77 and China reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that the UN Oceans Conference Declaration reflects these urgent priorities. We call on all partners to join us in addressing the persistent financing gap for SDG 14 and establishing an equitable and inclusive pathway to protect our oceans for present and future generations.

Thank you.