UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Peter Thomson, the outgoing president of the General Assembly as the first special envoy for the oceans. Peter Thomson played a leading role at the first-ever UN conference on oceans in June. The 193 UN member states issued an urgent call for action to reverse the decline in the health and productivity of the world's oceans.<br/><br/>UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric announced Thompson's appointment yesterday, saying the former ambassador for Fiji will promote action to implement the conference recommendations. Addresing the reporters, Thomson told the major challenge facing the oceans is the change in climate, which affects the seas and the air that all people breathe.