On the eve of the official opening of COP21, government representatives and civil society attended Because the Ocean, a high-level event at the Climate-Ocean Tara Pavilion.

11 countries signed the “Because the Ocean” declaration, which calls for:

“Today we are here to celebrate the ocean, and to celebrate the fact that the ocean is taking its place in the climate debate. Because the ocean is the single most important driver of our climate and Earth systems, and in fact responsible for half the oxygen we breathe. Because by absorbing 90% of the excess heat and 25% of the carbon we produce, the ocean has been and continues to shield us from far more intense and accelerated climate change impacts, we must cherish and protect the ocean. Because the ocean will – today and every day – extract 4 kg of CO2 per person on the planet from our atmosphere, we must care for the blue part of our planet”, said Jose Maria Figueres, Co Chair of the Global Ocean Commission.

The event was organized by the Global Ocean Commission in partnership with the Chilean Foreign Affairs Ministry, the French Ministry of Ecology, the Institute on Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI), the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and Tara Expeditions.

Declaration signatories include:

Several other countries whom could not attend have already announced that they are joining this initiative, and it is expected that the number grows through the duration of COP21.

The “Because the Ocean” initiative was born from six partner organizations:

A video about the declaration can be viewed here.