Skopje, 9 June 2025 (MIA) - President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova addressed Monday the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) held in Nice, France, in support of the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) on conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development, her Office said in a press release.

According to the President’s Office, Siljanovska-Davkova stressed the vital importance of the ocean as “the heart of the global climate system, which absorbs a quarter of CO2 emissions and provides half of the oxygen needed on Earth”. 

“Siljanovska-Davkova pointed out that with our unsustainable models of production and consumption, we are disrupting the marine system. She noted that tackling the crisis requires effecting multilateralism with a strong United Nations that exists not only to build peace among nations, but also with nature. According to the President, no country and continent can independently establish and maintain peace with nature. She said it is a symbolic coincidence that the signing of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity is taking place in the homeland of Michel Serres, the author of The Natural Contract, in which people treat the Earth and nature as their equal partners,” the President’s Office said in the press release.

Highlighting the country’s commitment to dialogue and international ocean governance, Siljanovska-Davkova stressed that the country welcomes the “Our Ocean, Our Future: United for Urgent Action” declaration and supports the implementation of SDG 14 and the Nice Ocean Action Plan. 

“As we are in the Mediterranean, one of the world’s most climate vulnerable regions, we prioritize adapting our most vulnerable sectors, especially water resources. However, this process will be much more efficient if our EU accession process is unblocked,” Siljanovska-Davkova said at the conference. 

Photo: Office of the President of the Republic of North Macedonia