Ahead of Nice Summit, an international event dedicated to biodiversity and climate, French President Emmanuel Macron has criticised countries that deny climate change and cut budgets on this matter.
In his closing speech at the Blue Economy Forum’s final day in Monaco, where leaders urged global action to protect oceans, hosted by Prince Albert of Monaco, Macron said “We’ve been hearing that, basically, climate change, the threat to biodiversity, the issue of the oceans, all of that, is a matter of opinion,” Macron said. He continued:
Speaking further, he said “I’m going to tell you: no, we don’t have the right to do that because it’s not an opinion, but it’s scientifically established.”
The French president also hinted at potential developments in the near future
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“We have a duty to mobilise because the science is clear and the facts are there. There is no inevitability. And so, with a few governments, we will in the coming days make strong decisions and mobilise the international community.”
He noted that a major focus of the weeklong summit was the push to ratify the High Seas Treaty, which would enable conservation in international waters.
The forum comes just before to the United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC) in Nice, where more than 50 world leaders are expected to attend. The US administration will not send representatives.
Story was adapted from Euro news.
