• Thani Al Zeyoudi and Harrison Ford join voices in climate change clarion call to international community to act now or regret it later • Thani Al Zeyoudi: Changing climate is amplifying existing health risks, exerting extra pressure on oceans • Owing to late Sheikh Zayed’s vision, sustaining natural resources, particularly those of the ocean, became UAE’s modus operandi • Harrison Ford: Those least responsible for nature’s destruction will suffer greatest consequences Climate change is taking a catastrophic toll on people’s health daily. The health of the planet is in grave danger. Oceans are losing their power to provide. Species are dying. And forests are withering. But we can change it. His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Harrison Ford, Vice Chair of Conservation International, joined their voices in making a clarion call to people to commit to climate action and protecting the environment, at a plenary session at the Climate Change Forum at the seventh World Government Summit (WGS 2019) today.

In his presentation, His Excellency Dr. Al Zeyoudi said: “We know, and the science proves it, that the impact of a changing climate is amplifying existing health risks, from undernutrition, to respiratory diseases, allergies, and heat strokes. Climate action is not just about saving the environment - it is also about ensuring that people do not suffer needlessly from diseases that could have been avoided.”

Shedding light on the declining health of the world’s oceans, His Excellency Dr Al Zeyoudi said: “When we look at the oceans, which have been providing humanity with countless services for millennia, we see that they too are under great pressure as a result of habitat destruction, overfishing, pollution, and now climate change. A prime example is coral reefs, representing a habitat for 25 percent of marine species and providing livelihoods to 100 million people working in the tourism and fishing business, face a gradual death due to warmer oceans.”

Reflecting on the UAE’s experience, he added: “The ocean has been so valuable to our progress. As a desert people, with little water for agriculture, our ancestors depended on fishing for survival. Pearl diving was a key element in the regional economy for generations. Owing to the far-sighted vision and the commitment of the UAE’s founding father, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to preserving the environment, sustaining natural resources, particularly those of the ocean, became the country’s modus operandi to strike balance between economic growth and environmental protection. This priority has been deeply-rooted in our people and is being carried forward by our current leadership.”

Following His Excellency Dr. Al Zeyoudi’s presentation, a video depicting the importance of oceans to humanity’s continued existence was played. With a narration by Ford in his deep voice, the video left the audience speechless.

After the video, Ford shared his insights into the importance of oceans and the dangers they face as a direct result of climate change. He said: “Our oceans capture carbon from the atmosphere. Their great depth and volume trap heat and moderate our climate. Mangroves capture 10 times more carbon than tropical forests. Just by ending the destruction of existing mangroves, we can reduce global carbon emissions by 6 percent, the equivalent of France or the United Kingdom becoming carbon neutral.”

He added: “Much of our planet’s population are clustered near coastlines. 75 percent of the world’s largest cities are on the ocean coastline, New York, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Dubai, Abu Dhabi. All of us - whether rich or poor, powerful or powerless - will suffer the effects of climate change and ecosystem destruction. The earth and the seas are the legacy we leave our children. In 10 years, it may be too late.”

Mr. Ford noted that as global warming increases the ocean's temperature, more water vapor is released into the atmosphere, fueling weather that’s more violent than has ever been seen before, and influencing weather patterns globally that are unpredictable and unprecedented.   

Drawing on the issue of climate injustice, he said: “We are facing what I believe is the greatest moral crisis of our time. That those least responsible for nature’s destruction will suffer the greatest consequences.”

The three-day World Government Summit 2019 runs until February 12 at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. The landmark event has convened more than 4,000 participants from 140 countries, including heads of state and governments, as well as top-tier representatives of 30 international organizations.