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Multiple stressors are eroding the ocean¡¯s ability to function as?the planet¡¯s?life support system, and so defending its capacity to produce oxygen, sequester carbon and provide food and livelihoods for billions of people is vital,?delegates heard.

With that in mind, in May last year, the?Oceano?Azul Foundation partnered with Ocean Unite and Oak Foundation to bring together representatives of fisherfolk,?indigenous peoples, ocean conservation organizations and foundations, to agree on common priorities and solutions needed to tackle the ocean crisis and raise the level of ambition for action.

Gathering?ministers and representatives from civil society organizations, the business community, intergovernmental and United Nations agencies,?the?preparatory meeting of the??took place in New York this week,?defining?key areas of ocean action, and aiming to drive?governments and other key decision-makers to deliver on their commitments.

During the preparatory meeting, co-chaired by the Governments of Palau and Denmark,?Tiago Pitta e Cunha, CEO of?Oceano?Azul Foundation,?said?that ¡°the decisions needed to address the ocean crisis had been delayed for too long¡±?similar to?action on?climate change.

Highlighting the need to agree on concrete actions,?he?added?that ¡°now is the time to push tirelessly for such actions¡±.

The?Ocean Conference, taking place in?Lisbon?from 2 to 6 June, aims to propel science-based innovative solutions in the form of global ocean action.

¡®Take the momentum further¡¯

According to recent data, the world has at most 10 years to win the battle to stay?below the 1.5¡ãC threshold?above pre-industrial?levels,?and?avoid the existential risks to nature and people that crossing it would bring.

Briefing the press at UN?Headquarters in New York on Wednesday,?Ambassadors?Ngedikes?Olai?Uludong?of Palau and Martin Hermann of Denmark,?emphasized that?the conference in June?was?an opportunity to ¡°take the momentum further¡±, the momentum?achieved with the?first?UN Ocean Conference?in?2017, and ¡°drive a new chapter of ocean action¡±.??According to the group, ¡°2020 is a huge opportunity for the global community to come together and raise the level of ambition.¡±