UN chiefs arrive for sea race conference – Cape Verde
But tonight UN chief António Guterres enjoyed a spectacular sight as 11 regattas were moored in the port of Mindelo, their ten-story masts dotting part of the sky above the island of São Vicente trying to pounce.
Secretary-General António Guterres previously called the indigo economy a fundamental opportunity to promote sustainable development in the island nation, and said the United Nations would work with the government there and there to make that ambition a reality. of
Cape Verde Prime Minister Jose Ulises Correa e Silva said his country needs to be better known internationally and in a more relevant way, and that the sea is a sector where he wants his voice to be heard.
He said: “It makes sense that we need to position ourselves in this particular area and do it in a relevant way. It is very relevant that this post is generated from here.
The country has, for the past five years, hosted an Ocean Week every year as part of this effort, and the following Monday, Cape Verde, to host a conference, with Ocean Race have a partnership. At the conference, eminent personalities from around the world will speak, including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is also included.
an existential threat
Cabo Verte’s commitment may not be enough. António Guterres has warned that the country is “on the frontline of an existential crisis” – climate change.
“Sea level rise and loss of biodiversity and ecosystems pose a threat to the existence of this group of islands,” he said.
“I am deeply dismayed that world leaders are not giving this deadly disaster the necessary action and investment.”
Some of these consequences are felt first at the level of the port hosting the race. This port is considered one of the best on the entire west coast of Africa, and it is because centuries ago it attracted traders and sailors, and today it hosts the largest yachting in the world.
Over the past five years, fishermen in Cabo Verde have noticed a significant reduction in their catches of black mackerel, a locally popular fish.
In 2022, the packaging industry recorded a significant reduction in the hunting of tuna and Atlantic mackerel, which are the raw material of this industry.
In 2018, the fisheries sector provided employment for 6,000 people, and in the food intake of about 5 lakh 88,000 people, fish constituted a significant portion. These fish products accounted for about 80 percent of the country’s total exports.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, taking part in a series of conferences organized and supported by the Prime Minister, at the National Center for Arts, Crafts and Design in Cabo Verde, said on Saturday evening: “The change is the future of the fishing industry as well as of all biodiversity. There is a clear risk.”
António Guterres said: “The truth is that there is a very clear link between the fishing industry and climate protection. Experience has shown that when a certain area is protected, it has a multiplier effect on other areas, and everyone benefits.
struggle for protection
This archipelago country is considered one of the world’s top 10 centers of marine biodiversity, and for decades the presence of 24 species of whales and dolphins in these waters has attracted many visitors, thanks to which tourism is a strong sector of the country’s economy.
This island country, after being plagued by the Covid-19 outbreak for many years, welcomed seven million tourists in 2022 alone, thanks to which the contribution of this sector to the gross domestic product of the country reached about 25%.
justice for cape verde
Cabo Verde has intensified its efforts against these changes.
The UN secretary-general said the country has shown climate leadership in words and deeds, and described efforts to convert debt into climate projects, including the blue economy.
About 20% of Cabo Verde’s energy production now comes from renewable energy sources, which is considered a particularly high level in sub-Saharan Africa. And by 2030, the goal is to increase the share of renewable energy use to 50%.
The Prime Minister said that his country must find a balance between the needs of the economy, the environment and the communities, because from these resources, we must create wealth for the country.
