UN chief says Russia 'contributing to pollution', should be part of UN Ocean Conference

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on Friday, stressed that Russia should not be excluded from UN Ocean Conference as exclusion of country “does not make sense.” Speaking during an interview with Portuguese news agency, Lusa, on Friday, Guterres reiterated that key climate summit is aimed at changing policies of countries worldwide, and refore exclusion of one nation would hamper climate change goals. UN Ocean Conference is scheduled to kick start on June 27 and will last till July 1. 

"Russia is contributing to pollution of oceans and influencing climate change. I believe that countries that contribute to problems should also take part in solving m," Guterres told Portuguese news agency. 

Russia a member of UN, will participate in conference: Portuguese Minister 

Portuguese Foreign Minister Joao Gomes Cravinho meanwhile confirmed Russia's participation in upcoming conference. "Russia is a member of UN and will take part in conference," he announced. UN Ocean Conference will aim at  14-point ‘Call for Action’ to conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

According to UN chief all countries of world, including Russia, must commit to climatic goals without exemption. UN is focused on efforts to achieve se climatic targets under Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has garnered 1,328 voluntary commitments toward ocean conservation.

upcoming Ocean Conference, co-hosted by Governments of Kenya and Portugal, comes at a critical time as world is seeking to tackle several issues laid bare by COVID-19 pandemic. se challenges, as per UN, will require major structural transformations and common shared solutions by nations worldwide. To mobilise action, Conference will seek to propel much-needed science-based innovative solutions aimed at starting a new chapter of global ocean action.

While countries like France welcomed support for Paris Agreement, indicated by its ratification by a majority of world, due to current war scenario, and EU emphasised universal and unified character of UNCLOS as legal framework for all ocean-related activities,  Russian Federation distanced itself from language on WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies.