A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea the incidence and impacts of such pollution on marine ecosystems, including through the effective implementation of relevant conventions adopted in the framework of the International Maritime Organization, and the follow-up of relevant initiatives such as the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, 83 as well as the adoption of coordinated strategies to this end, and that they further committed to take action, by 2025, based on collected scientific data, to achieve significant reductions in marine debris to prevent harm to the coastal and marine environment; 187. Encourages States, in accordance with the commitment expressed in “The future we want” and based on collected scientific data, to take action by 2025 to achieve significant reductions in marine debris to prevent harm to the coastal and marine environment; 188. Notes the discussions at the seventeenth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process, which focused on the theme “Marine debris, plastics and microplastics” and which, inter alia, highlighted that the size of the problem had increased exponentially since the topic of marine debris was addressed at the sixth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process, in 2005, noted that marine debris in general, and plastics in particular, were some of the greatest environmental concerns of our time, along with climate change, ocean acidification and loss of biodiversity, discussed prevention and emphasized the need to address the issue, both downstream, through improved mechanisms for waste management, disposal and recycling, and upstream, by addressing consumption and production patterns, including through awareness-raising campaigns; 84 189. Also notes the eighteenth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process, which focused on the theme “The effects of climate change on oceans”, during which delegations discussed, inter alia, the environmental, social and economic impacts on all States, in particular developing States, of the effects of climate change on the oceans, as well as the urgent need to address such effects and impacts, the need for international cooperation and coordination, including concerted and immediate action to combat the effects of climate change on the oceans, as well as the need for continued coordinated international focus in recognition that, owing to the interconnected nature of the oceans, ensuing impacts cannot be overcome by any single State and, in particular, in view of the grave implications for countries with low-lying coasts, some of whose very existence is under threat; 4 190. Further notes the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, notes with concern its findings on the acidification of the oceans and the substantial risks to marine ecosystems, especially polar ecosystems, coral reefs, plankton and other organisms which have a calcareous exoskeleton, or a shell, like crustaceans, and the potentially detrimental consequences for fisheries and livelihoods, as well as the findings of the World Meteorological Organization contained in its annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, and notes its decision to foster collaboration with organizations and institutions that address the carbon budget of the ocean, 85 and in this regard encourages States and competent international organizations and other relevant institutions, individually and in cooperation, to urgently pursue further research on ocean acidification, especially programmes of observation and measurement, noting in particular the continued work under the Convention on Biological Diversity 86 and paragraphs 6 to 10 of decision XII/23 on marine and __________________ A/51/116, annex II. See A/71/204. 85 World Meteorological Organization, Seventeenth World Meteorological Congress, Geneva, 25 May–12 June 2015, resolution 46 (Cg-17). 86 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. 83 84 32/55 17-21819