UN head declares ‘ocean emergency’ as global leaders gather in Lisbon

Antonio Guterres says the world must turn the tide of rising sea levels, ocean heating, acidification and plastics pollution

The UN secretary general has declared that the world is in the middle of an ocean emergency", and urged governments to do more to restore ocean health.

Speaking at the opening of the UN ocean conference in Lisbon, Portugal, attended by global leaders and heads of state from 20 countries, Antonio Guterres said: Sadly, we have taken the ocean for granted and today we face what I would call an ocean emergency. We must turn the tide."