As the COP25 opens, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco Urges World Leaders to Take Immediate Action to Address Ocean Crisis

December 2, 2019 – Please attribute the following statement to HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, on the opening day of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP25) in Madrid:   “As world leaders convene at COP25, it’s critical we commit to taking immediate action to address the crisis facing our global Ocean".

The Ocean plays a vital role in combatting climate change and maintaining the general health of our planet, absorbing more than 25 percent of carbon dioxide emissions and more than 90 percent of the excess heat due to global warming. The recent IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere made it clear; climate change and other human activities have inflicted unprecedented damage on the Ocean and the biodiversity within it.

We cannot effectively address climate change until we take timely, ambitious and coordinated action to protect and preserve the Ocean. The world will be watching COP25 and expect nothing less than a collective commitment of responsibility of how we can both ensure the protection and integrity of our Ocean ecosystem and mitigate further damage to the Earth and all its living things.

What’s most crucial right now is that countries take immediate action to meet the commitments of the Paris Agreement and drastically reduce carbon emissions to limit global warming to well below 2° Celsius.”

For well over a decade, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco has been a leading voice on the international stage on the importance of protecting the global Ocean and recognizing its role in mitigating climate change. HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco played an integral role in commissioning the IPCC’s Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere, as well as the Because the Ocean initiative’s Ocean for Climate Report, which offers actionable solutions to mitigate the impact of climate change and global warming on the Ocean and promote Ocean resilience.

Under His leadership, Prince Albert II of Monaco’s eponymous foundation has dedicated more than 60 percent of its portfolio to Ocean initiatives, including the development of marine protected areas, the protection of threatened marine species, the mitigation of the impact of climate change and acidification on the Ocean, and the promotion of innovation in the fight against plastic pollution.

To speak with a representative from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation please contact: Nadège Massé at nmasse@fpa2.org or Raphaël Cuvelier at rcuvelier@fpa2.org

About the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation:

In June 2006, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco established his Foundation to address our planet's alarming environmental situation. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is dedicated to the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development on a global scale. The Foundation supports initiatives of public and private organizations, in the fields of research and studies, technological innovation and socially-aware practices. The Foundation supports projects in three main geographical zones, the Mediterranean Basin, the Polar Regions and the Least Developed Countries and focuses its efforts on three main areas:  climate change, biodiversity and water resources. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has 10 international branches in Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the USA. Visit www.fpa2.org to learn more.