OceanEye International Alliance: Stronger Together for Ocean Observation

Good morning. Hello, everyone. If I could ask you to taking your seats. I don't know if the mic is active. Can you hear me? Hello, everyone. You know why? The ocean sound. You need to cut that so I can. Let me know. Hello everyone. Good morning. Please start to take your seats. We shall begin very shortly. Thank you. Hello once again. If I could invite you to please take your seats. We would like to begin very shortly. We thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, if I could request everyone to please take your seats. We shall begin in a few minutes. Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, once again, please take your seats. We are about to begin. Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates and partners, a very warm welcome to you all. Thank you for coming together here at United Nations Headquarters in support of sustained global ocean observation and the OceanEye International Alliance for GOOS, the Global Ocean Observing System. Welcome also to everyone joining us online from around the world. This event is being webcast live on UNTV. My name is Kunta Lasantharan, Shaks for short. I am honored to be in your company. Before we begin, we do have simultaneous interpretation for you in English and French. There has been a little technical hiccup. If you want French interpretation, you will have to tune in to the Arabic channel. So we are here.

The French is available on the.

To look after the ocean, our ocean, our primary life support system here on planet Earth. We cannot survive without the ocean. And so it is in all our interest to do what we can to keep it healthy and sustainably managed, as highlighted in sustainable development goal 14. And the more information we have about the ocean, the more we can understand it, manage it, and protect it and ourselves. Central to this is GOOS, the Global Ocean Observing System, which is sponsored by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, IOC-UNESCO, and the World Meteorological Organization. GOOS is the central hub for global ocean observation data. It brings together 64 countries, 17 global observation networks, some 8,000 platforms that deliver 120,000 in-situ ocean observations every day. Ocean observation is essential for so much, the safety and security of operations at sea, competitive blue economy, weather forecasting, climate projections, ocean restoration and protection, coastal resilience, but It's fragile, it is under strain, underfunded, to sustain this critical infrastructure, we need your continued commitment and investment. As the ocean knows no borders and we are all connected, ocean observation can only succeed through strong international collaboration. And that is why we are here today. This pledging event is an opportunity for us to turn our shared commitment into action. Through new financial and in-kind pledges and strengthened partnerships, we can sustain and expand ocean observing systems broaden participation and strengthen coordination and make sure that the knowledge that this generates continues to benefit people worldwide. This is about being greater than the sum of our parts. And now, let's dive in with a quick snapshot of the Ocean Eye International Alliance, the GOOSE, and why we need it. Please, turn your attention to the screens.

Ocean observation is our window into the ocean, our key to understanding it and to protecting it. Today, we are stepping up and joining forces across the world. Because when we share science, connect knowledge, and work together, we see further. our window into the ocean we see further together the ocean eye International Alliance now has a

Pardon that interruption. So as I was saying, we now have over 20 members in the alliance and hopefully more after today as new countries continue to sign up. Today's event has been made possible thanks to the vision and shared leadership of our co-chairs who are spearheading this alliance. Please join me in welcoming President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada. Let me give the floor first to President von der Leyen.

Thank you. Thank you very much, Prime Minister Carney, dear Mark, heads of state and government, fellow leaders, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Indeed, this is a great day for the ocean, because today we are launching the Ocean Eye Alliance. And indeed, Ocean Eye has a special mission that is to protect ocean observation. And I'm delighted that 30 countries have already pledged their support. We all know that humanity has been awed by the sea since the dawn of time. But understanding the ocean has never been as important as today. Because the ocean is changing. and its transformation impacts our nature, our economies, and of course, our communities. The ocean is telling us a lot. It is giving us vital information. And let me give you one example. Last year, Ireland was hit by a quite destructive hurricane with winds above 150 kilometers per hour. The storm caused serious damage. But the data captured by ocean sensors gave Ireland almost a full week to prepare and to warn its people. So here you see ocean observation helped save lives and livelihoods. And beyond the moments of crisis, ocean data is essential every day. It helps us adapt to climate change, advise on shipping routes, restore vital fishing stocks, and much, much more. So we must listen to the ocean and we must protect it much more. And yet, ocean observation is under huge pressure. The global network that provides these data faces a critical funding shortfall. Sensors need upgrading and there are still gaps in governance and coverage. This is why we have launched OceanEye, our moonshot ambition for ocean observation. OceanEye can make us the leading ocean data provider in a matter of years. So I want to emphasize three points. The first is indeed on funding. Today, I am delighted to announce that we as European Union have increased support for ocean observation by 100 million euros. This comes on top of 155 million euros already invested in projects around the world. And now we will expand our network of sensors, including in space. Just last week, we launched Sentinel-3C, a new satellite to monitor sea temperature. And next year, the Crystal A satellite will give new data about the polar regions. And more satellites will follow. So from outer space to the deepest ocean, our funding helps us keep watch beneath the waves. My second point is the following. We have to expand our network of supporters. And we are expanding our network to the least observed areas of Earth. I'm very excited to share that the Vendee Globe, the sailing race, the famous one, has joined us in this adventure. These brave sailors race across the most remote waters, like in the Southern Ocean. Now, thanks to Ocean Eye and IUCN-UNESCO, all 40 boats in the 2028 race will carry scientific instruments. This will give us new insights in some of the most isolated parts of the planet, and of course, bring the power of ocean observation to new audiences. And my third and last point, we are putting observation data to work. It's good to have data, but we should not sit on them. Everything we collect needs to be processed and analyzed so that we can act on it. And in Europe, we do this with a digital twin of the ocean. It is a virtual replica of the ocean that helps us understand our seas and protect them at the same time. And it's very powerful in predicting the future. So we are now making this digital twin available to anyone around the world, citizens, scientists, policymakers. We basically want European science at the service to all. And now it's over to you. I want to ask everyone here in the room to be an ambassador for the Ocean Eye Alliance, to champion ocean observation everywhere you go. Ocean Eye can show us what is happening in the ocean right now. while the digital twin of the ocean can help us predict what may happen next. Ocean observation is our eyes and our ears beneath the waves. We only have this one ocean. We depend on it. We have to care for it. Our ocean is counting on us. So I particularly thank Canada for co-hosting this event. And as far as I understand, I'm supposed to hand over symbolically the mic to you, my dear friend Mark, as the next speaker. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Thank you very much, dear Ursula, President von der Leyen. Thank you, Sachs, for comparing this. We were last together less than a week ago in Strasbourg discussing what nations coming together and being able to do that none of us could do individually. It's the same spirit of Strasbourg that we're here today. Let me begin by observing that Canada is an ocean nation. We border three oceans. We have the world's longest coastline. As a consequence of that, that's our inheritance, and we recognize the obligations, the responsibilities that come with that to help lead efforts to understand those oceans and, of course, to protect them. We have much resources dedicated to oceanographic science and technology with other members of the Arctic Council. We focus on conservation through that, but we really are stepping up, and because of your leadership and the European Union's leadership, stepping up as part of Ocean Eyes. I was going to say that we're matching. the European Union's commitment, matching by pledging $82 million, and we have preserved that. Of course, the European Union's commitment has just increased, and that's the spirit of this event, which underscores the urgency. Our observation in terms of the Arctic: the ocean is warming. The Arctic Ocean is warming at four times the global average. We know the ice there is thinning. We can see the water is opening, but we recognize our picture is incomplete. And of course, this is the spirit of Ocean Eye. We can't protect what we can't see. We can't manage what we don't understand. Our commitment today will lead to real-time moorings in the Arctic that operate year-round, including in the depths of winter. when almost every other form of observation goes dark. We will send autonomous underwater gliders under the region's frozen waters or frozen ice, operating for months at a time, so reaching observations that no other instruments can make. We'll expand our monitoring in the Labrador Sea, the Davis Strait, which are critical currents that help shape the weather, the ice flows, the fisheries, marine life in the Atlantic coast. Beyond that, we will more than double our commitment to the global Argo network, the world's largest ocean climate monitoring system. We will continue to work with others in Antarctica and contribute data through a shared system. Obviously, the spirit of this is also to move to action. I just want to say a couple of quick words of what we're doing on conservation. We are protecting more of our oceans than ever before. A decade ago, we had only safeguarded 1% of our marine area. Today, that is 15%, more than 1 million square kilometers. We are committed, as part of our nature strategy, our new nature strategy, to double that. by the end of this decade to 30% of our waters as well as our land, new marine protected areas across various coasts, including very much so in the Arctic. We recognize as well, and I should say this is a race against time, so as much as possible, we will be using the data that is collected here in real time to inform those decisions. But we recognize that we will not let the best be the enemy of the good. In other words, we will protect on time with the information we have. We are also ratifying formally the High Seas Treaty, the BBNJ. Next spring, we will welcome the world to Halifax for the Our Ocean Conference. I hope to see as many of you there as possible. Canada's special envoy is here. Diana, make sure I get the last name right, Fox Carney, who is working tirelessly on this. And we intend to be at every table where the future of the ocean is decided and to continue to raise our ambitions. I understand, Saks, that we will hear in a moment from a Canadian astronaut, Joshua Kutryk, and a French astronaut, Sophie Adenot. on the value of space-based ocean observation. I'll just finish by observing that the first Canadian woman in space, Roberta Bondar, said that to fly in space is to see the reality of the Earth. This room is here because we know the reality of the Earth is that it is a blue planet. We need to better understand it, to better protect it, manage it, and pass on to the future. Thank you.

Thank you both for your leadership and your vital contributions to ocean observation and caring for our ocean. Thank you for getting the ball rolling for us. We are delighted now, by the way, before I move on, French is working. The French interpretation is now on the French channel, on channel two, if you require that. are delighted to have here with us today Alexandra Cousteau, sitting next to me. She is a globally recognized ocean advocate who's working hard to protect and restore ocean health around the world. As you might guess from her surname, she is the granddaughter of Jacques Cousteau, who co-invented the AquaLung and really changed, transformed global awareness about marine conservation. We're going to find out more your vital work later on. First, I would like to invite you to accompany President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Kani to sign our pledge board that we're going to move to the center of the room. Would you like to make your way down now? we could ask you all to sign the board as a mark of your commitment to the Alliance and ocean observation. Alexandra, please, come on this way. This way. You can go on down this way. There you go. You should all have a sharpie, please. The board is big enough for you all to sign at the same time. Go ahead. Bravo. And now time for a quick photo. Can we get a photograph of just President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Kani in front of the board as well, please? Just one more, President von der Leyen, one more photo. Thank you, President von der Leyen. Prime Minister Kani, I understand you have to leave us now. Thank you for co-chairing today's event. Thank you for your efforts for our ocean. All right. I'm going to press on. So to really understand our ocean, we need observations from many different vantage points, not just from the seafloor, but also from satellites orbiting far above the Earth. We heard Prime Minister Kani just now mentioned the Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk. So yes, there's even space-based ocean observation. We have a special video now from Joshua Kutryk and French astronaut Sophie Irenou. As Joshua prepares to join Sophie aboard the International Space Station, they both reflect on our shared planet from their special vantage point. Let's watch the video.

We often hear of astronauts speak of the view from space as remarkable, as transformative for how we humans see our home planet. What stands out the most from space are the oceans, their enormity, sustaining life everywhere, shaping our climate, and connecting all of us in ways that we cannot even imagine. From space, satellites track the ocean's sea levels, temperatures, currents, waves, and even life on the surface. But what we see from space is only part of the story. To protect this resource requires us all to come together, sharing knowledge, expertise, and data from space, but also from the ground and from just below the waves. I'd like to turn it over to my friend and colleague at the European Space Agency. Sophie, over to you.

Thank you very much, Josh. Alors je vous parle ici depuis la cupola de la Station spatiale internationale et vu d'ici, l'océan est un immense système interconnecté qui ignore les frontières.

Les satellites qu'on voit très bien dans.

Le noir du ciel nous permettent de l'observer, cet océan, à grande échelle et d'améliorer notre compréhension de son fonctionnement.

Mais les scientifiques ont aussi besoin de recueillir des données in situ, directement dans les océans, grâce aux navires, aux bouées, aux observatoires sous-marins, aux flotteurs. La station, ici.

Est la preuve que lorsque les nations unissent leurs forces autour d'un projet commun, elles peuvent aller plus loin ensemble.

C'est exactement l'ambition portée par l'Alliance internationale Ocean Alliance. Rassembler les moyens et les expertises du monde entier autour d'objectifs communs.

Mieux comprendre et protéger les océans. Anticiper et atténuer les changements. Et préserver notre prospérité et notre avenir sur cette belle planète bleue.

Brilliant. Thanks to Sophie and Joshua and to the Canadian Space Agency and the European Space Agency for that unique perspective. So looking down on our blue planet from space, we got a glimpse of that just now, it's clear how interconnected the ocean is, how interconnected we all are, as Sophie and Joshua said, as we know, we must work together. We cannot do this alone. Perfect time now to begin your pledges. Just a reminder, please, to make your pledge from your seat. I will call out your names and countries one at a time. We have a lot to cover. We are very grateful to have so many countries stepping up with pledges today. In the interest of keeping to time, I know you all have very busy schedules. Please do keep your pledge concise and to the point, in two minutes or less, if possible. I will be timing you. And thank you for moving on for helping us move on and hear from all the countries who are making pledges today. And before you leave, if I could ask all the nations making pledges today to please sign the pledge board as you leave. It is over there. Thank you. Right. Let's begin now with His Excellency Serenjal Wipps, Jr., President of the Republic of Palau. Sir.

Good morning. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, friends. Let me begin by thanking the EU and Canada for hosting this important event on Ocean Eye for SIDS, Ocean knowledge is not an abstract scientific ambition. It is a matter of survival, security, and sovereignty. OceanEye's purpose to strengthen global ocean observation and improve how we understand, manage, and protect the ocean speaks directly to the priorities of SIDS. Across AOSIS, our ocean is our climate regulator, our food source, our transport route, our economy, and our cultural inheritance. Together, IOOC's members exercise stewardship over nearly 30% of the world's oceans. That gives us a profound responsibility, but also a powerful voice. Better ocean observation means better early warnings, stronger coastal resilience, more accurate climate projections, safer navigation, and more sustainable blue economies. It also means that island nations can make decisions based on data that reflects our realities, not data gaps that overlook them. As OceanEye moves from vision to implementation, AOSIS must be at the table, not only as beneficiaries, but as partners, knowledge holders, and leaders. The success of this initiative will depend on inclusion, sustained financing, open data, capacity building, and respect for the needs of the countries most exposed to ocean change. Palau welcomes OceanEye as a platform for practical cooperation. If we get this right, we can transform ocean knowledge into ocean action and ensure that our that the blue heart of our planet remains a source of life, resilience, and opportunity for generations to come. Thank you.

Thank you, President Wepps. And now let me give the floor to His Excellency Jose Antonio Kast, President of the Republic of Chile. Sir, you have the floor.

Thank you very much. Thank you, David Lametti, the Permanent Representative of Canada. Thank you that you're here, Ursula von der Leyen. It's for me a pleasure to attend this important event to confirm Chile's commitment to the ocean conservation, ocean science, and the international collaboration. We are proud to have an active scientific community that has made significant contributions to the observation of the Pacific and the southern oceans. Our economy depends heavily on the ocean. Our fishing, agriculture, and aquaculture are examples of world-class industry that rely on scientific information and the sustainability of our resources. Through our Navy and our National Oceanographic Committee, CONA, Chile has built strong national capacities for ocean observation. And today we're proud to announce that we are joining the OceanEye International Alliance alongside the European Union, Canada, and IOC-UNESCO. organization in which Chile currently serves as vice chair with the full force of our ocean science. In this regard, Chile has created a task team with the mandate to develop a pilot project connecting our national efforts to the global dimension of the global ocean observing system. We are confident that this collaboration effort will yield significant results. The ocean unites us all through its currents and global influence. Chile remains committed to continue building our international relations rooted in science and friendship. Thank you.

Thank you, President Cast. By the way, you are all doing fantastically on time so far. We are very appreciative of that. And now we have His Excellency, Luis Montenegro, Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic. Sir.

Good morning, all of you. Dear President Ursula von der Leyen, Mr. Ambassador in the representation of Canada, Dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, what brings us here today is more than a common concern for our oceans or our planet. It is a deep sense of responsibility. Portugal has been at the forefront of the Global Ocean Alliance. We are, at our core, a maritime nation. 97% of our territory is at sea. We are home to Europe's richest marine biodiversity, one of the largest exclusive economic zones, and the largest network of marine protected areas in the North Atlantic. We have long understood that our approach to the oceans must be firmly grounded in science, supported by expanded ocean observation and deeper scientific knowledge. This is why this meeting is so important, and I wish to extend a special greeting to our hosts. To President von der Leyen for her strong commitment to advancing the European Union's leadership in protecting the ocean and harnessing its potential. To Prime Minister Carney for joining these efforts. Ladies and gentlemen. international alliance that we are formalizing today will be essential to ensuring that ocean observation is supported by a properly structured governance framework and remains financially sustainable. Portugal will continue to play its part with financial and in-kind pledges to support ocean observation and therefore the objectives and activities of the Global Ocean Observing System. Our combined pledges amount around 75 million euros. Allow me to briefly outline them. Firstly, we formally commit to hosting and supporting the Biology and Ecosystem Project Office. Secondly, alongside of our direct annual financial contributions, we will continue to invest substantially in our state laboratories, providing the infrastructure needed to data collection, ocean modeling, forecasting, navigational safety, and environmental monitoring. Thirdly, Portugal commits to sustain our very sizable financial contributions to the European organization. Finally, we are also prepared to consider further in-kind contributions. The Portuguese Navy is developing new advanced capabilities in ocean surveillance and oceanographic research. This will include the entry into service in 2027 of a purpose-built vessel serving as a multifunctional naval platform. Portugal will remain fully committed to advancing a multilateral approach capable of delivering effective responses to the growing pressures facing our oceans. You can count on us. Good work for all of you.

Thank you, Prime Minister Montenegro. And now, I would like to give the floor to His Excellency Rob Jetten, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Thank you so much for hosting this wonderful event. And as Prime Minister of the Netherlands, I simply must be here today since the Netherlands is a low-lying maritime country, particularly strongly connected to the ocean through our strong maritime sector, fisheries, and knowledge institutions. But we're also dependent on the sea of our mild climate and for our water safety and security. And we are threatened by AMOC that is weakening faster than previously thought, leading to much colder winters in northwestern Europe with more storms and also more drought in summers. Furthermore, oceans are warming, acidifying, oxygen levels are decreasing, and its capacity to absorb CO2 and heat is declining, with coral reefs disappearing at a rapid pace, as we notice in our six Caribbean islands of the Kingdom. And all these changes in the oceans are currently taking place without us having a clear view of them because as an international community, we do not measure the ocean sufficiently. So we know it, but we cannot quantify the scale and the speed of the changes. Moreover, due to the lack of observation of the ocean system and how it connects with the rest of our climate systems, we still understand too little to make good future predictions of these processes and their consequences. And as long as global climate mitigation remains insufficient, we know that these processes will continue to accelerate. So to prepare for this, we need to observe the ocean better, from coastal waters to the high seas. The Netherlands has always been committed to these kinds of observation. For instance, their support to the Argo program and the overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic program. And since this year, the Netherlands has also a highly advanced research vessel called the Anna Waver van Bos. In addition, the Netherlands has a very long running and well organized monitoring program for the North Sea, which we continuously adjust depending on new challenges and opportunities. We welcome this alliance and OceanEye. Today I can pledge on behalf of the government of the Netherlands that we will invest 27 million euros to catalyse maritime monitoring innovation through development and deployment of innovative autonomous monitoring systems that integrate environmental and biological components of the maritime ecosystem. So thank you very much for this great initiative. I'm very happy to be part of it.

Thank you, Prime Minister Jassin. And now let's hear from His Excellency, uh, Andrej Plenkovic, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia.

Thank you very much, Madam President von der Leyen, uh, Excellencies, dear colleagues. It is a great honor to be here today as we recognize the strategic importance of oceans and seas as fundamental to our planet, our climate, and our prosperity. As a Mediterranean country and, moreover, chair of the Med9 at the moment, just about to host a summit in Split in two weeks from today, with the Adriatic Sea at the heart of our geography, economy, and way of life, Croatia fully recognizes the importance of reliable and continuous observation of our marine environment. This is why we welcome the OceanEye International Alliance and its ambition to strengthen the global ocean observing system and make it more resilient, connected, and sustainable over the long term. Croatia brings concrete strengths and pledge to this alliance. For more than five decades, our researchers have been building long-term knowledge and data sets on the Adriatic Sea. Today, we are combining this scientific expertise with real-time ocean observations, autonomous marine systems, robotics, and digital technologies. Our national capacities include operational offshore observing infrastructure in the Adriatic and a new center of excellence for maritime robotics and technologies for a sustainable blue economy. Together, these capabilities allow us not only to observe the sea, but also to turn data into knowledge, innovation, and solutions. However, ocean observation is inherently international. No country can observe and understand the ocean alone. We therefore look forward to working with our international partners to strengthen ocean observation and ensure that research and data support sound decision making and a sustainable future of our seas and the oceans. Thank you.

Thank you, Prime Minister Plenkovic. Over now to His Excellency Robert Abela, Prime Minister of the Republic of Malta.

Thank you, dear colleagues. Malta welcomes the launch of the Alliance and the EU's efforts to strengthen international cooperation on ocean observation. For Malta, as a maritime nation, as an island member state in the very heart of the Mediterranean, Reliable ocean data is directly relevant to climate adaptation, coastal resilience, maritime safety, fisheries management, and the sustainable development of the blue economy. We see value in improving access to high-quality marine data, especially where this helps smaller administrations, like ours, take better informed decisions and make use of existing European tools such as the digital twin of the ocean and Copernicus Marine Better ocean observation can also help identify regional data gaps and support more risk-based and ecosystem-based approaches, including in fisheries management and control. More broadly, sustained ocean observation is increasingly important for forecasting, resilience, maritime safety, security, and the competitiveness of the blue economy. We have engaged with our relevant national stakeholders to assess whether and how we can contribute in a realistic and useful manner. To this end, Malta commits to increasing investment in aquaculture research, focusing on species diversification, eco-engineering, and sustainable practices to drive innovative solutions that strengthen sustainability, support the circular economy, and enhance food security, while fostering research and innovation, strengthening national and international scientific collaboration. Malta commits to the following: strengthening national ocean observation and data collection, national ocean data management and digital integration, marine litter and lost gear monitoring, capacity building and ocean observation skills, investment in marine and maritime research and innovation by Scienza Malta, which is our national research agency, engagement with Mercator Ocean International and other initiatives aimed at expanding the scope of the observations we collect across our many space. A total investment there of around four and a half million euro. We look forward to this historic initiative so that we can truly work together for investing in the health of our ocean for the benefit of our common home. Thank you.

Thank you, Prime Minister Abella. And now we have a message and pledge on video from His Excellency Nicos Christodoulides, the President of Cyprus.

Dear Ursula, dear Mark, ladies and gentlemen, as an island nation in the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus understands very well the vital connection between our ocean's health and our people's well-being, security, resilience and prosperity. Therefore, we warmly welcome the launching of the Ocean AI Alliance, and we commend President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Kearney for their leadership It is our firm conviction that the Alliance represents a very important step towards securing reliable and sustained global ocean observation. In this context, I'm pleased to inform you that Cyprus will very soon proceed with the signing of the Convention, which will support the global ocean observation system. At the same time, we stand ready to contribute through our national scientific research and technical capacities, as well as through enhanced cooperation and data sharing. Dear friends, the ocean is one, vast, interconnected, and essential to life on Earth. Cyprus stands ready to lead regionally, collaborate globally, and champion a resilient, healthy ocean for all of us. Thank you.

We thank President Christos Nechis for his message and for Cyprus's pledge. Thank you all for your generous pledges, your enthusiasm, your commitment to this crucial cause is most heartening. We have more pledges coming up shortly. First, let's delve deeper into why we must take action together, why we must invest more in ocean observation. Let's watch this thought-provoking video.

Dear Poseidon, Dear Tangaroa, dear Ran, to all sea gods, we hope you don't mind us reaching out. For decades, we have built a global system to watch your ocean. From the surface to the deep, ships, sensors, autonomous platforms. Together, they send us millions of measurements every day. Data we rely on to feed families, move goods, build economies, and keep communities safe. Now, underinvestment is weakening the system, and the data is disappearing with it. Ships may sail blind, fisheries may collapse, storms and great waves may hit without warning. So, Could you, sea gods, take it from here? Collect, coordinate, share all the data, preferably for a long time, please.

So what do you choose? Pray to the sea gods or invest more in ocean observation? Now, to shed light on the science of why we need ocean observation, we have with us Professor Celeste Salo, Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization, co-sponsor of GOOS. Professor Salo.

Thank you very much, President von der Leyen, Minister, Excellencies, colleagues. Let me start by saying that this is a very important date for all of us. And of course, thanking Canada and the European Union for bringing us together to strengthen the Global Ocean Observing System, GOOS. WMO, the United Nations agency for weather, climate, and water, is proud to be one of its main sponsors. The scientific reality is clear. Ocean observations shape our understanding of the climate system. They give us time to prepare. They give us measurements far out at the sea, which help countries anticipate conditions that affect food production, water supplies, and people's safety. To give you an example of what is at stake, this month, WMO warned that El Nino is expected to become very, very strong, raising risks of droughts, floods, and extreme heat into 2027. But predicting El Nino depends on ocean observations, without which we are flying blind. Despite this evidence, today, we have no longer our fixed observing presence of observing system across a critical part of the Western Pacific warm pool. This is a region that helps shape El Nino and La Nina, and consequently rainfall and drought patterns around the world. Restoring three priority sites would begin to close this major gap. But keeping them operational requires sustained ship time and contributions from more than just a few countries. We cannot continue to be dependent on the resources of only one or two nations. And it is not just El Nino. As has been said before, operational forecasts and warnings of tropical cyclones, severe precipitation, extreme heat, depend on real-time observations of ocean variables. The atmospheres and the oceans are inseparable. Each one drives change in the other. WMO works through GOOS to identify which observations are needed and where gaps have the greatest consequences. Governments and funders should know which essential networks need sustained support, which gaps are most urgent, and what their contributions can achieve. Support for GOOS must cover the continuing work of deploying and maintaining instruments, It must also support data quality and international exchange. Expanding participation will make the system stronger, enabling more countries to contribute observations and use the information they provide. Ocean observations are a global public good, and our investment priorities should reflect that shared benefit. Let us tap into this alliance and the political will and commitment that we have here to speak with only one voice about the observations the world needs, secure lasting commitments to goods, and give people better information and more time to prepare for a world of extremes. Let's not only listen to the gods, let's do something for the oceans. Thank you very much.

Hear, hear. Thank you, Professor Saulo. And now I would like to give the floor to His Excellency Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, to hear Greece's pledge. Sir, we are glad you can join us.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair, dear Ursula. The ocean is vital to our planet, our climate, our economies. We are one of the world's leading maritime nations. We have the longest coastline of all EU countries. So protecting our seas is both a responsibility and a strategic priority. And we're certainly acting on that responsibility. We have just recently established two very big new marine national parks, one in the Ionian Sea, one in the southern Cyclades in the Aegean. We will protect 30% of our territorial waters well ahead of the 2030 target. But we know very well that effective protection requires knowledge, and we do need to understand our seas and our oceans. much better and observe changes in real time and turn data into action. We very much support this international alliance, co-led by the European Union and Canada. We can make three very concrete pledges today. The first is we have already signed the convention establishing the Mercator Ocean International as an intergovernmental organization, and we're committed to very swift ratification by the Hellenic Parliament. We encourage other countries to do the same. The second we can do is to put our growing computing and AI capabilities at the service of this effort. We have significant new financed by the EU, dear Ursula, computing infrastructure in our e-factories in Greece, we can provide additional computational capacity to process what is really a vast amount of ocean data and to contribute to the digital twin of the ocean. And third, we can strengthen our contribution to ocean observation and collection through our national space assets, in situ observation systems, and our significant operational presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, which as we know is a hotspot for climate change. We can provide valuable data and enhance maritime domain awareness. And in this regard, we also undertake to map in of marine habitats within the Natura 2000 network and the two national marine parks in the Aegean and the Ionian. These are some practical commitments, but they reflect the core principle that we can only protect what we measure and what we truly understand. So we'll continue to work closely with the Ocean Alliance, Mercator, the IOC, the European Commission, all our partners to deepen our knowledge of the oceans. And thank Ursula, on behalf of the European Union, for taking this very important initiative. Thank you.

Thank you, Prime Minister Mitsotakis. Next up, let's hear from Vidar Helgesen. He is executive secretary of IOC-UNESCO, co-sponsor of GUSA. It is over to you.

Thank you very much. The ocean is the biggest and most important thing that we know the least about, and that's why I'm so thankful to the European Commission and Canada for their leadership in bringing about more knowledge about the ocean. As the lead sponsor and the secretariat of GOOSE, we see how ocean data is critical for decision making around the world, across sectors and across governments. And we see how a changing ocean has profound impacts on weather patterns and currents, on maritime and coastal safety, on ocean industries, on human life and livelihoods. And those decisions that need taking every day based on ocean data get poorer if the data isn't there. And nowhere is this more noticeable than in countries that are the most vulnerable and at the forefront of ocean change, SIDS, least developed countries, Those are in greatest need of building sustainable ocean economies. They're at greatest risk for more hazards coming from a changing ocean. So we need a GOOS, a global ocean observing system that is modernized, that is optimized, and that is scaled. And that is why today's meeting is such an amazing start in building a better global ocean observing system for the future. The system exists. It's there, it needs investment. We have been very dependent on one major contributor for very long and to whom we are greatly appreciative, but we need more leaders, more investment, more hands on the observation deck, essentially. We need those investments for instruments in water and we need them for coordination and global collaboration. The financing is important, the awareness raising that this alliance represents is another important thing. This is an ocean literacy undertaking. And speaking of that, I'd like you after this event to welcome you to the north exit to an UNESCO event about ocean education, about ocean literacy, a good sequel to this event. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Helgeson, for reinforcing the case for urgent coordinated global action. And now back over to you, Alexandra. So you've been working for over two decades to help conserve the ocean, to help rebuild ocean abundance. You bring together scientists, governments, businesses, communities to move from documenting, filming ocean decline to rebuilding what we've lost. Please share with us very briefly, if you can, your thoughts on why we need to keep doing our best to look after our ocean.

Thank you. And it's wonderful to be here with you this morning. For more than two decades, I have had the privilege of working across the world's oceans, and I've seen both how much we've lost and how much is still within our power to recover. Today, as a senior advisor to Oceana and co-founder and president of Oceans 2050, much of my work is focused on a simple question. How do we move from documenting ocean decline to rebuilding ocean abundance? When my grandfather, Jacques Cousteau, first began exploring the ocean more than 70 years ago, he revealed a world that most people had never seen. Since then, we have lost an extraordinary amount of what he encountered. Fish populations have declined, habitats have disappeared, communities have lost their livelihoods, and the ocean itself is becoming warmer, more acidic, and less predictable. But something else has also changed profoundly. We can now understand the ocean at a scale and with a precision that would have been unimaginable in his lifetime. Satellites, autonomous technologies, and thousands of observing instruments can give us an increasingly dynamic picture of what is happening across our blue planet. That capability isn't only about documenting change. It can become our most powerful tools for driving the recovery of the half of the ocean that we've lost. At Oceana, we see every day how better information can lead to better decisions. From tracking fishing activity and exposing illegal fishing to protecting marine habitats and rebuilding fisheries, good data can turn what happens far offshore and beneath the surface into something governments can understand and act upon. And as we move from protection towards restoration, observation becomes even more important. It can show us where recovery is possible, where it's already happening, which interventions are working, and how we can accelerate them. That is the opportunity of OceanEye. A sustained global ocean observing system is infrastructure for better decisions and ultimately the most important thing we can work on together, ocean recovery. Because the ocean connects every country on Earth, understanding it is necessarily a shared endeavor, and restoring it will be one too. So thank you to the European Union and Canada for their leadership, and to everyone here for committing to build it together. Thank you.

Thank you, Alexandra, for your powerful words and for all that you do. We have one more video for you now, this time on a valuable tool, the European Digital Twin Ocean that Prime Minister von der Leyen spoke about earlier. It is a virtual replica of the ocean that is free and available to everyone. Let's have a look.

The incredible digital twin of the ocean. It's an amazing tool that helps us better understand the ocean.

Every day, we observe the ocean from space and at sea. These observations are the foundation of ocean knowledge. Today, we are taking this knowledge one step further. The Digital Twin Ocean integrates observations into a virtual replica of the ocean. delivering free, open, trusted and operational information and services to a wide array of users worldwide, turning data into ocean intelligence. It enables decision makers to explore possible ocean futures and make informed, real-life choices, helping restore ocean health, boost sustainable blue economies and enhance maritime security. And as we move forward, global ocean cooperation strengthens. With shared knowledge comes shared responsibility and greater capacities. The digital ocean reveals our blind spots and where together we can make a difference.

So the digital twin is at the heart of Ocean Eye.

There you go. It's transformative technology that could benefit us all. Of course, the more accurate ocean data we can collect through ocean observation, the more accurately this technology can generate information and predict future scenarios to help humanity. And now we are joined by His Excellency Francisco Avelino Vieira Carvalho. the Prime Minister of the Republic of Cabo Verde. Sir, you have the floor.

Thank you. Mr. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, Excellency. Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Excellency. Excellencies. The ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth's surface. The sea ocean represents 99% of the territory of the Republic of Cape Verde. The sea is our greatest strategic asset, our greatest source of wealth and a significant source of income for many families. One of the key priorities of the government programme, Cape Verde for All, is the transformation of the ocean into a driver of economic growth, job creation, food security, innovation, and national resilience. Through our vision, Conquering the Sea, we aim to transform this vast maritime territory into a space of prosperity, innovation, and inclusion. Excellencies, for small island developing states, as Cape Verde, the resilience of our coasts is fundamental to our development process. For SIDS, The oceans is not a backdrop, it is the foundation of our economies and our physical protection. Its conservation and restoration are already part of our national policy. Cape Verde's commitment to the ocean is solid within the framework of Ocean Decade Islands under the patronage of His Excellency, the President of Republic. Cape Verde has organized annual conferences aimed to promote partnership around knowledge and the sustainable use of the oceans. Ocean observation cannot be a result of individual efforts. Our individual actions will only yield positive results if carried out within the framework of international partnership and cooperation. That is why I would also like to commend the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and World Meteorological Organization for joining this initiative. Mr. Prime Minister of Canada, Madam President of the European Commission, I would like to thank you for the timely invitation extended to Cape Verde to attend today's event. It is with great pleasure that we join this initiative. As an oceanic country and archipelago, Cape Verde is pleased to support the Ocean Alliance. and reaffirms its commitment to strengthen ocean observation in the Atlantic. As a national contribution, we are available to contribute through enhanced national coordination, designation of a national focal point, promotion of ocean data sharing and integration with regional and global observing systems, and participating in capacity building initiatives and their goals. You can, you can count on the efforts of the government of Cape Verde. Thank you very much for your attention.

Thank you, Prime Minister Cavalu. Before our leaders leave, if I could remind you to please sign the pledge board over there. And now, President von der Leyen, I understand you have to leave us. You have lots to attend to. Thank you very much for co-chairing today's event and thank you for leading the way. In the interest of, we have to wrap up by 11:30 a.m. I'm going to press on. So we have more pledges now. Thank you all for making these pledges. Once again, please do keep your pledge as concise as possible. We really appreciate it. And again, please sign the board on your way out. Now, let's hear from Her Excellency, Ana Paula Chantry Lunagi Cavalu, who is Minister of Environment of the Republic of Angola. Angola, pardon me. Are you in the room with us? I believe maybe not. Right. Are they here? Angola, would you like to take the floor?

Thank you for to convey me the possibility to take, you know, to pass a speech. But unfortunately, my minister is not around. I think the minister was invited to take part on another meeting. So I'm not in a condition to for time being to speak in the name of my minister.

Okay, sir.

So if you don't mind, I propose that Minister Sfar, she can come here and by that time, you know.

Even -- I'm going to jump in. Thank you very much. We have to move on. Thank you very much for letting us know that your minister is not here. Right, let's move on now to His Excellency, Dalan J. Rumphul, who is Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade for the Republic of Mauritius. Are you here in the room with us? It does not appear so. If you are here, you are. Please, sir, go ahead.

Thank you very much, moderator. I'm afraid Minister Ramphal as well is held up somewhere else, so I will pass on.

Thank you.

Thank you for letting us know. I understand everybody has many meetings to attend here during UNGA. Next up, we have Mr. Timothy Dooley, who is Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy, and the Environment of Ireland. I believe you are in the room with us. Bravo! Please, go ahead, sir. Tell us your pledge.

It was fantastic. First of all, just to thank you for organising such an important event, to thank President Van der Leyen and Prime Minister Carney for their initiative, and, of course, from an Irish perspective, we're very pleased to play an active role. The OceanEye International Alliance for the Global Ocean Observing System represents an opportunity for collective action to broaden support for the ocean observation. and to close gaps in ocean data and to improve the global monitoring system, which is so important. Ireland recognizes that sustained, coordinated, and accessible ocean observations are fundamental to advancing the scientific knowledge, to better understanding our oceans, and to supporting the many national, European, and international maritime policy objectives. Ireland's location on the western flank of Europe, our vast maritime territory, which is seven times our land base, the prevalence of global communications infrastructure on our seabed, and our national ambition for the development of offshore renewable energy all point to a need to better understand and predict our marine environment, our weather, and indeed our climate. The announcement of the Ocean Observation Alliance provides an important strategic opportunity for Ireland and we are therefore pleased to express our commitment to supporting the International Alliance, co-led, as I said, by the European Union and Canada. We look forward to being part of the Alliance, and we will enhance the global ocean knowledge, strengthen and integrate ocean observing capabilities, and build partnerships across research institutions industry and international observation networks. We're proceeding at pace to achieve the targets of 30 by 30. We've about 10% achieved so far in terms of marine protected areas, and we are bringing through new legislation, which has recently been published, to make that designation a reality, and we look forward to working with others in achieving a more coordinated approach to the protection, preservation, and management of our oceans. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Dooley. And now, let's hear from Her Excellency Sigrun Yralv, I hope I said that correctly, Minister of Climate and the Environment for Norway. You have the floor.

Perfect, Madam Chair. Excellencies, distinguished guests, colleagues, partners and friends of the ocean. As a nation shaped by the sea, Norway greatly appreciates the invitation to join the Ocean Eye Alliance as both a partner and a regional contributor. We have invested for generations in monitoring systems, marine research, open data platforms. from our coastal ecosystems to the critical rapidly transforming Arctic gateway that connects and drives the North Atlantic circulation. And yet, as many have been pointing out, no nation alone can maintain the infrastructure for ocean observation concerning the entire planet. That is why Norway unequivocally supports and joins the OceanEye Alliance. We would like to commend the European Commission, Canada, IOC, UNESCO, and WMO for their strategic leadership in securing the governance and long-term financing of the Global Ocean Observing System. Norway is stepping up national investments in core observing instruments, expanding our Argo float deployment, and strengthening regional coordination hubs. And this is on top of approximately 20 million US dollars contributing to our common efforts for safeguarding the ocean of annual commitments that will remain and be gradually strengthened. To confront global challenges, we must share open data, we must standardize measurements, and commit to long-term predictability. Norway stands ready as an active and steadfast partner to ensure our shared ocean is observed, is understood, and protected for future generations. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Alsan. Let me give the floor now to His Excellency Carsten Schneider, Federal Minister for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of the Federal Republic of Germany. Sir.

Does it work? Can you understand me? Excellent. Yeah, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Our oceans are a real treasure, food source, habitat for countless animal species and an economic factor. And yet, we still know too little about them. To help us provide better protection for our oceans, we need reliable data and a better understanding of how our oceans are changing. This is exactly where the Ocean Initiative comes into play. Congratulations for that. The initiative can rely on Germany's support. For example, our fleet of research vessels will play a role. These vessels are observing oceans all over the world. The data they collect is fed into the EU Copernicus Marine Service, for example. In future, all data from our research facilities is to be made fully available via the Ocean OPS and EMODNET networks. Germany is investing around 3 billion euros in four new research vessels. that will supply important data to Ocean Eye. The construction of the new Meteor research vessel was completed this year. And we are building a new version of the Polarstern. Many of you will know that. Construction is scheduled to end in 2030. The vessel will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. We also fund the Argo measuring system. Its data provides reliable meteorological and maritime forecasts. Additionally, Germany supports the evaluation of the data collected through a highly specialized laboratory infrastructure. This is evaluated data, but also helps the international community implement the UN BBNJ agreement Because without precise data, for example, on species population or environmental changes, it will not be possible to plan and monitor protection measures in a targeted way. Ladies and gentlemen, the oceans are a source of life. We will not be able to protect them properly without reliable scientific basis. That's why Germany will continue to strongly advocate for global ocean observation. Thank you.

Thank you, Federal Minister Schneider. Next up, we have Her Excellency Monique Babu, Minister for Ecological Transition, Biodiversity and International Climate and Nature Negotiations for the French Republic.

Dear colleagues, As it has been said many times here today, the ocean is a common good that is subject to multiple challenges and issues, but its monitoring capacity remains fragile and fragmented. No single country or institution can sustain it alone. This was largely demonstrated last year with the exchange held during the third United Nation Ocean Conference in Nice, as shown by the last video we just watched. France strongly supports the Ocean Eye initiative and its international alliance. Indeed, they pursue the shared strategic objective of broadening and stabilizing support for the global ocean observing system through a more coordinated international effort. This effort is of utmost importance in the context of the triple planetary crisis. France already invests substantially in ocean observation and relies on a broad ecosystem coordinated by the French Ocean Observing System. Both capacities contribute to global observing networks, ocean observation campaigns, and the provision of high-quality data and expertise. Those observation and data collection work must also support the development of operational services. The European and French-based Mercator Ocean International, as operator of the Copernicus Marine Service and co-contributor to the European Digital Twin Ocean, has an essential role to play in transforming observation into operational services. We particularly support efforts to strengthen ocean forecast system. The transformation of Mercator into an international governmental organization is now essential and a priority that France will continue to champion. 12 European countries have pledged to support this process. It is now time to accelerate and move from commitment to action. France, like Greece, will soon proceed to the ratification of the Mercator Convention. Finally, France believes that Europe should continue strengthening its entire marine knowledge value chain and its global standing in this area through, in particular, the Mission Neptune launched last year in Nice. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Babu. Let me give the floor now to His Excellency Nolavavy Lakaristide Ariatsihala, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of the Republic of Madagascar.

Thank you for giving me the floor. Ladies and gentlemen, Ministers and distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor for Madagascar to take part in this effort to reinforce the global system of observation. And therefore, we need to better understand the ocean to better serve our population. Madagascar, which is an island nation, is dependent on the ocean for its economy, and it is a source of substance of millions of its population. And an ocean that is not sufficiently observed could be a threat that is unpredictable. So we command this alliance with the leadership with Canada and the United and the global organization of meteorological affairs. And this is financed by the European Union with over $37 million. And all of these share this information with the centers in Madagascar and in the Seychelles Islands. And facing the immensity of our maritime space, so investments in the global systems of observation are essential. Madagascar is ready. to help with capacity buildings of its researcher and to contribute to the knowledge of the oceans and a better understood ocean and better studies. It is a guarantee for security and prosperity for our populations and future generations. I thank you very much.

Thank you, Minister Andrea Cehala.

And now let's hear from Her Excellency Polona Riffel, Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia. We are running out of time, so if I could ask you to go straight to your pledge, if possible, in a minute or less. That's a challenge for you. Are you here in the room with us? Brilliant. Please go ahead, ma'am.

Dear Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it's a pleasure to be here on behalf of the Republic of Slovenia and to join this important pledging initiative to strengthen global ocean observation. For Slovenia, as a small maritime country and part of the shared Adriatic and Mediterranean marine space, cooperation and reliable ocean data are essential. No country can observe and manage the ocean alone. Slovenia is therefore strengthening its practical contribution to OceanEye and GOOS. First, in 2027, we will invest 1.5 million in a new high-performance computing system. This will increase our capacity to process growing volumes of ocean and environmental data, improve modeling, and strengthen our ability to understand and predict ocean and atmospheric processes, as well as early warning and forecasting. Second, we will continue investing in the maintenance and upgrading of our coastal and offshore observation infrastructure, including ocean observation platforms and coastal monitoring system, oceanographic buoys, high frequency radars. Third, we will strengthen our engagement in EuroGOOS, MoonGOOS and GOOS, including through Slovenian expertise and organizational support for regional activities. And fourth, we will promote open and fair access to maritime data, including through EDMOTnet and the Copernicus Marine Service, while straightening national coordination through a GOOSE national focal point. We are also working on establishing a center for maritime pollution prevention with a potential transboundary and regional dimension. These commitments reflect our conviction that no country can observe, understand, and manage the ocean alone. We need collective dedication to secure long-term sustainability of ocean observation to supply timely decisions and effective action. Slovenia stands ready to contribute to this collective effort on national, regional, and international level. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Riffel, rushing us right along. I give the floor now to the Right Honourable Dame Angela Eagle, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Thank you very much, Chair. And as a longstanding and significant contributor to the global ocean observing system, the UK is absolutely delighted to join the OceanEye International Alliance. As an island nation and a global leader in climate science, we know that data from ocean monitoring is essential to our ability to protect and restore our oceans and anticipate and respond to the huge threats that they face, because we cannot save our oceans if we do not understand them. We should be in no doubt what is at stake here. Coral reefs, the most visible symbol of the abundant life that thrives in our oceans, are on the brink of extinction. Marine species are migrating to new areas to escape soaring temperatures, which is impacting delicate interconnected systems and disrupting life for the fishing communities that have depended on them for generations. Changing weather patterns and currents are fuelling the extreme weather that is already impacting all our nations through floods, droughts, storms and extreme heat. That is why the UK is so committed to maintaining our vital global network of observation systems, which span coastal waters, shelf seas and open ocean, including some of the longest-running observations in the world. and it is why UK scientists are collaborating with our international partners to observe and understand the behaviour of Atlantic currents, which is so critical for regulating the climate in Europe and ensuring our food security. But we are also clear-eyed about the urgency of the situation and the need to do much more. So we welcome OceanEye's ambition to increase support for the global ocean observing system, and we look forward to see how the UK can contribute further. We will start by prioritising cooperation on ocean observing through the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance, which the UK will chair next year. That could include contributions from our experts to design regional observing systems and harness the power of new technology, such as sensors, autonomous vehicles, digital imaging and artificial intelligence, so that we can develop modern and sustainable observing systems. All life on Earth depends on our oceans, but no country can do what is needed to save them alone. International cooperation, therefore, is essential to monitor and safeguard our precious marine environment. We will always be a steadfast ally in working to protect our oceans, and we look forward to working with all of you to strengthen our collective commitments. Thank you.

Thank you, Secretary of State Eagle. Let me give the floor now to His Excellency, Baudur Oystein Nielsen, who is Minister of Foreign Affairs and Fisheries and Deputy Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands.

Thank you. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, first of all, thank you to the EU and Canada for organizing this event. The Faroe Islands welcome the Ocean Eye initiative, which comes at a critical moment in time. Situated in the North Atlantic, we have a strong interest in understanding the changes taking place in the ocean around us. This is important for our climate and marine environment, but also for the living marine resources on which the Faroese economy depends. Since the 1990s, the Faroe Marine Research Institute has maintained long-term observation of important parts of the Atlantic circulation across the Greenland-Scotland Ridge. These measurements contribute to international research and monitoring of AMOC. We are committed to continuing this work. As our contribution to OceanEye, we will continue to prioritize long-term ocean and meteorological observations, improve international access to our data, and make relevant research infrastructure available for international cooperation. We are also strengthening our cooperation with our Nordic partners. A new project founded by the Nordic Council of Ministers and led by the Faroe Marine Research Institute will support continued and strengthened future AMOC observations. We look forward to contributing to OceanEye and to continued international cooperation on ocean observations. Thank you.

Thank you, Deputy Prime Minister Nielsen. We're going to squeeze in.

One more live pledge from Ms. Heidi Van Boots, who's Director General for Development Corporation and Humanitarian Aid of Belgium. You can now press. There we go. That's live now. Please go ahead.

Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Belgium is joining the Ocean Eye Alliance and is therefore turning its ambition into action. And over the next three years, we plan to increase our commitments by approximately 10 million euros through investments in ocean observation, biodiversity monitoring, marine data systems and research infrastructures. We do that as a maritime nation, not having long coastal lines as many of you have, but we have a long-standing tradition also of a principled, free and open ocean. Today, we translate that into supporting open science and open data, because knowledge serves best when it is shared. In that spirit, Belgium is also reiterating its support for a neutral and effective clearinghouse mechanism under the BBNJ agreement. As part of that engagement at multilateral level, we step forward as a candidate for hosting the secretariat of the BB&J agreement, with that conviction that it serves to protection of the oceans and the well-being of all our societies.

Thank you for being so brief. Thank you very much for your pledge. Now we have, uh, also received pledges from Iceland, Cape Verde, Italy, Angola, uh, Egypt, Brazil, and Mexico, unfortunately we cannot hear everyone's, uh, pledge today, we must wrap up shortly, thank you all for your much needed contributions. Every pledge matters in this collective effort and will make a difference. Pledging countries, please do sign the pledge board before you leave. Let's get quick closing thoughts now from someone who's familiar to many of you, His Excellency Ambassador Peter Thomson of Fiji, the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for the Ocean. Sir.

Got a piece of paper here saying I've got one minute max to speak to you. So here goes. I'm going to read very fast and I put my stopwatch on here and I'm already at 11 seconds. My God. No healthy planet without healthy ocean. And you all know the ocean's health is currently measurably in decline. So that matter, of course, is a call to action. So it's our inescapable responsibility to observe and measure the ocean's changing conditions. And that's as important to a farmer in the middle of a continent as it is to a coastal fisherman. So on behalf of the UN, I commend the launch of the Ocean Alliance. And I also give thanks to the great work of GOOS, the IOC, and WMO. Yesterday here at the UN, we held the Ocean Solutions Dialogue to focus on how ocean action can ameliorate the climate change challenge. At the meeting, OceanEye was identified as one such solution. Science-based ocean monitoring is fully accepted to be an essential pillar for ocean and governance and ocean action. Of course, ocean monitoring is not an end in itself. It's a necessary tool for strategic policies and ocean governance. And the European Union is demonstrating its leadership through the Ocean Eye, and it now has the opportunity to lead on policy and governance through the development of the proposed European Ocean Act. And we wish you well in that endeavor. Ocean observation leads to ocean knowledge, which leads directly to ocean action. So more power to the Ocean Eye Alliance and all the good actors that are involved. Sorry, I've done one minute, 40 seconds.

Thank you, Ambassador Thompson. And now to close out our event and give us a quick tally of all your generous pledges, here is the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Cadis, sir.

Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honor and privilege for me to close this momentous gathering. Today, we have seen international community's dedication and commitment to global ocean observation. Today, more than 30 countries from around the world have joined the Global Ocean Alliance and pledged more than 250 million euros in new financial or in-kind contributions to sustain the global ocean observation system. and we can be proud of this achievement. But today is only the first step. Our path is clear. We invite countries and partners around the world to join us, to step up their contributions and make new commitments in the months and years ahead. Philanthropies, non-governmental organizations, private sector are also invited to contribute to this alliance. Our next rendezvous will be the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP31. We look forward to seeing our community growing and continuing to work together to improve ocean observation, thus contributing to the preservation sustainable use of our ocean. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Cadis. Many thanks to all our wonderful speakers and thank you for your presence, your engagement, your support. A big thank you for all your pledges. Very inspiring to see the spirit of cooperation and the power of international collaboration to advance meaningful ocean action. Let's keep the momentum going and expand the alliance. If you've just joined, you are most welcome to to make pledges at future Alliance events later in the year. Let's turn these commitments into concrete action for a more sustained, resilient and effective global ocean observing system for the good of us all. We are stronger together. Thank you all.