Co-chairs,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

At the outset, please allow me to extend our congratulations for your appointment as Co-chairs of the nineteenth meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea on the theme "Anthropogenic Underwater Noise".

The Group of 77 and China recalls General Assembly resolution 54/33, which established the Informal Consultative Process in order to facilitate the annual review of developments in ocean affairs by the General Assembly. We recognize the primary role of the Informal Consultative Process in integrating knowledge, exchanging of opinions among multiple stakeholders and coordinating among competent agencies, as well as enhancing awareness of topics, including emerging issues, while promoting the three pillars of sustainable development

We underscore the need to continue to strengthen and improve the Informal Consultative Process' effectiveness as a unique forum for comprehensive discussions on issues related to oceans and the law of the sea. We are confident that the Informal Consultative Process under your able leadership will fulfill its mandate and render an outcome that gives further evidence of its effectiveness and utility.

The Group of 77 and China reiterate the priority they attach to accelerate actions to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including plastics and micro plastics, as well as to address, as appropriate, the adverse impacts of other human-related activities on the ocean and on marine life, such as underwater noise. We believe that the deliberations during the substantive discussions of the Informal Consultative Process on this topic would highly contribute in drawing more attention to this emerging issue, which can lead to a better understanding and assessment of all its possible impacts.

The Group of 77 and China are satisfied with the draft format for the meeting and the draft agenda as well as the proposed topics of the panel segments that intend to address all the important aspects of Anthropogenic Underwater Noise.

We stress the importance that the composition of the panel should be based on the equitable representation of the panelists from developing and developed members, in order to have a more comprehensive vision regarding this issue of transboundary nature, sharing of knowledge, lessons learned and best practices among states can greatly contribute in having a better understanding in order to address this issue.

Co-chairs,

Finally, I would like to reiterate that the Group of 77 and China stands ready to support you and constructively engage in this process.

I thank you.