The president of Seychelles called for global marine protection while he was deep beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean

Setting can go a long way.

The president of the Seychelles, Danny Faure, delivered a "striking" speech on Sunday, calling for global action toward protecting the Earth's oceans. The Seychelles and other small island nations are considered among the most vulnerable places in the world as they face the threat of rising sea levels caused by climate change. "This issue is bigger than all of us, and we cannot wait for the next generation to solve it," he said. "We are running out of excuses to not take action, and running out of time."

But Faure's speech was also notable for its location — he was deep beneath the ocean's surface in a submersible watercraft in the water off the coast of Desroches, one of the islands that makes up the Seychelles archipelago. Faure spoke during a visit to a British-led expedition which is exploring the depths of the Indian Ocean. The data from the mission will, per The Associated Press, help the Seychelles expand its policy of protecting almost a third of its national waters by 2020.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Faure said the experience made him more determined than ever to speak out about marine protection and praised the biodiversity he saw while under water. Read more at The Associate Press. Tim O'Donnell