Monaco takes part in a UNESCO Marine World Heritage event

On the margins of the 42nd session of the General Conference of UNESCO, Ms Sèverine Dusaintpère, Monaco’s Permanent Delegate to the organisation, took part in an event entitled “UNESCO Marine World Heritage: Symbols of Hope in a Changing Ocean” on 16 November 2023.

The event was an opportunity to express the Principality’s commitment to UNESCO Marine World Heritage.

The speech by the Monegasque Delegate recalled the objectives of the agreement signed with UNESCO in 2017 to improve conservation and scientific understanding of the marine sites on the World Heritage List.

The UNESCO World Heritage List includes 50 marine sites in 37 countries. Sites are known for their unique marine biodiversity, one-of-a-kind ecosystem, unique geological processes and incomparable beauty.

While they cover less than 1% of the surface of the world’s ocean area, the 50 marine sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List are home to at least 21% of the planet’s blue carbon ecosystems and 15% of all blue carbon assets – carbon reserves equivalent to around 10% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to 2018 data.

These ecosystems play a central role in storing atmospheric carbon; conserving and restoring them is crucial to the fight against global warming.

Photo: © UNESCO/Marie Etchegoyen

Speakers at the event (from left to right):

Ms Fanny Douvere, Senior Project Manager for the Marine Programme of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
Ms Sèverine Dusaintpère, Deputy Permanent Delegate of Monaco to UNESCO,
Mr Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre,
Mr Cyrille Barnerias, Director of International Relations, Agence française pour la biodiversité (French Biodiversity Agency),
H.E. Ms Megan Anderson, Ambassador of Australia and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO,
H.E. Mr Kris Dierckx, Flemish Government Representative (Belgium) to UNESCO