UN summit to tackle 'emergency' in world's oceans
A global summit on the dire state of the oceans kicks off Monday in France, with calls to ban bottom trawling and bolster protections for the world's overexploited marine areas.
World leaders attending the UN Ocean Conference in Nice have been told to come up with concrete ideas -- and money -- to tackle what organisers call a global "emergency" facing the neglected seas.
The appeal for unity comes as nations tussle over a global plastics pollution treaty, and the United States sidesteps international efforts to regulate deep-sea mining.
On the eve of the summit, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that leaders must act now: "The planet can no longer tolerate broken promises."
A wave of new commitments is expected Monday in Nice, where around 60 heads of state and government will join thousands of business leaders, scientists and civil society activists.
"Never in the history of humanity have we brought together so many people for the oceans," French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday before hosting leaders for an official dinner.
- Trawling targeted -
On Monday, the United Kingdom is expected to announce a partial ban on bottom trawling in half its marine protected areas, putting the destructive fishing method squarely on the summit agenda.
Bottom trawling sees huge fishing nets dragged across the ocean floor, a process shockingly captured in a recent documentary by British naturalist David Attenborough.
Greenpeace welcomed the UK announcement on trawling but said in a statement it was "long overdue".
Macron on Saturday said France would restrict trawling in some of its marine protected areas, but was criticised by environment groups for not going far enough.
French environment minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher told reporters Sunday that other countries would make "important announcements" about the creation of new marine protected areas.
Samoa led the way this past week, announcing that 30 percent of its national waters would be under protection with the creation of nine marine parks.
Just eight percent of global oceans are designated for marine conservation, despite a globally agreed target to achieve 30 percent coverage by 2030.
But even fewer are considered truly protected, as some countries impose next to no rules on what is forbidden in marine zones, or lack the finance to enforce any rules.
- Words into action -
Nations will face calls to cough up the missing finance for ocean protection, which is the least funded of all the UN's 17 sustainable development goals.
Small island states are expected in numbers at the summit, to demand money and political support to combat rising seas, marine trash and the plunder of fish stocks.
The summit will not produce a legally binding agreement at its close like a climate COP or treaty negotiation.
But diplomats and other observers said it could mark a much-needed turning point in global ocean conservation if leaders rose to the occasion.
"The UN Ocean Conference gives us all an opportunity to turn words into bold and ambitious action," said Enric Sala, founder of Pristine Seas, an ocean conservation group.
Another summit priority will be inching towards the numbers required to ratify a global treaty on harmful fishing subsidies, and another on protecting the high seas beyond national control.
France is also spearheading a push for a moratorium on deep-sea mining ahead of a meeting of the International Seabed Authority in July.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

News.com.au
7 hours ago
- News.com.au
UN summit to tackle 'emergency' in world's oceans
A global summit on the dire state of the oceans kicks off Monday in France, with calls to ban bottom trawling and bolster protections for the world's overexploited marine areas. World leaders attending the UN Ocean Conference in Nice have been told to come up with concrete ideas -- and money -- to tackle what organisers call a global "emergency" facing the neglected seas. The appeal for unity comes as nations tussle over a global plastics pollution treaty, and the United States sidesteps international efforts to regulate deep-sea mining. On the eve of the summit, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that leaders must act now: "The planet can no longer tolerate broken promises." A wave of new commitments is expected Monday in Nice, where around 60 heads of state and government will join thousands of business leaders, scientists and civil society activists. "Never in the history of humanity have we brought together so many people for the oceans," French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday before hosting leaders for an official dinner. - Trawling targeted - On Monday, the United Kingdom is expected to announce a partial ban on bottom trawling in half its marine protected areas, putting the destructive fishing method squarely on the summit agenda. Bottom trawling sees huge fishing nets dragged across the ocean floor, a process shockingly captured in a recent documentary by British naturalist David Attenborough. Greenpeace welcomed the UK announcement on trawling but said in a statement it was "long overdue". Macron on Saturday said France would restrict trawling in some of its marine protected areas, but was criticised by environment groups for not going far enough. French environment minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher told reporters Sunday that other countries would make "important announcements" about the creation of new marine protected areas. Samoa led the way this past week, announcing that 30 percent of its national waters would be under protection with the creation of nine marine parks. Just eight percent of global oceans are designated for marine conservation, despite a globally agreed target to achieve 30 percent coverage by 2030. But even fewer are considered truly protected, as some countries impose next to no rules on what is forbidden in marine zones, or lack the finance to enforce any rules. - Words into action - Nations will face calls to cough up the missing finance for ocean protection, which is the least funded of all the UN's 17 sustainable development goals. Small island states are expected in numbers at the summit, to demand money and political support to combat rising seas, marine trash and the plunder of fish stocks. The summit will not produce a legally binding agreement at its close like a climate COP or treaty negotiation. But diplomats and other observers said it could mark a much-needed turning point in global ocean conservation if leaders rose to the occasion. "The UN Ocean Conference gives us all an opportunity to turn words into bold and ambitious action," said Enric Sala, founder of Pristine Seas, an ocean conservation group. Another summit priority will be inching towards the numbers required to ratify a global treaty on harmful fishing subsidies, and another on protecting the high seas beyond national control. France is also spearheading a push for a moratorium on deep-sea mining ahead of a meeting of the International Seabed Authority in July.

Sydney Morning Herald
7 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
As a judge, I'm sounding the alarm: the out-of-control White House is dismantling justice
For 18 years, I have been a criminal trial judge. I believe in the rule of law and independent and impartial justice in both domestic and international criminal law. The present US administration does not hold to those principles, and is now doing all it can to undermine them. In the case of international criminal law, the International Criminal Court derives from the legacy of Nuremberg where, in 1945, an International Military Tribunal established by the allied forces, tried 22 leading German officials for war crimes. Controversial though it was, the International Military Tribunal demonstrated that justice beyond borders in the form of international criminal law could be real and effective in dealing with the most horrific war crimes, and perhaps be a means of preventing them thereafter. The Nuremberg experience testified to the truth of what many, including Dr Martin Luther King Jr. had said, that 'there can be no peace without justice, and there can be no justice without peace'. In 1998, the signing of the Rome Statute for the establishment of the ICC reaffirmed the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. It meant that all UN member states would refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the UN. These are uncontroversial and necessary international principles. And so, pretty much without fear or favour, in 2002 the ICC went to work. As with all courts, an important foundation of the ICC was judicial independence and the application of the rule of law. Given the gravity of the court's work, it had to be real and impartial justice – no matter who was accused of serious crimes. The judges needed to be able to conduct investigations and trials free from any form of governmental interference. Loading Now, that is no longer guaranteed. Nor is the court's future. The Rome Statute states that 'intentionally using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare by depriving them of objects indispensable to their survival, including wilfully impeding relief supplies as provided for under the Geneva Conventions' is a war crime. On 21 November 2024, the pre-trial chamber of the Court issued warrants for the arrest of Hamas commander Mohammed Deif (who was killed in 2024), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The latter two face allegations of being responsible for the war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare, and of intentionally directing an attack against a civilian population. Charges also allege that from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024, Netanyahu and Gallant were responsible crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. The process, if it is allowed to be completed, will tell the world whether those allegations are proved beyond reasonable doubt.

The Age
7 hours ago
- The Age
As a judge, I'm sounding the alarm: the out-of-control White House is dismantling justice
For 18 years, I have been a criminal trial judge. I believe in the rule of law and independent and impartial justice in both domestic and international criminal law. The present US administration does not hold to those principles, and is now doing all it can to undermine them. In the case of international criminal law, the International Criminal Court derives from the legacy of Nuremberg where, in 1945, an International Military Tribunal established by the allied forces, tried 22 leading German officials for war crimes. Controversial though it was, the International Military Tribunal demonstrated that justice beyond borders in the form of international criminal law could be real and effective in dealing with the most horrific war crimes, and perhaps be a means of preventing them thereafter. The Nuremberg experience testified to the truth of what many, including Dr Martin Luther King Jr. had said, that 'there can be no peace without justice, and there can be no justice without peace'. In 1998, the signing of the Rome Statute for the establishment of the ICC reaffirmed the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. It meant that all UN member states would refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the UN. These are uncontroversial and necessary international principles. And so, pretty much without fear or favour, in 2002 the ICC went to work. As with all courts, an important foundation of the ICC was judicial independence and the application of the rule of law. Given the gravity of the court's work, it had to be real and impartial justice – no matter who was accused of serious crimes. The judges needed to be able to conduct investigations and trials free from any form of governmental interference. Loading Now, that is no longer guaranteed. Nor is the court's future. The Rome Statute states that 'intentionally using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare by depriving them of objects indispensable to their survival, including wilfully impeding relief supplies as provided for under the Geneva Conventions' is a war crime. On November 21, 2024, the pre-trial chamber of the Court issued warrants for the arrest of Hamas commander Mohammed Deif (who was killed in 2024), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The latter two face allegations of being responsible for the war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare, and of intentionally directing an attack against a civilian population. Charges also allege that from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024, Netanyahu and Gallant were responsible crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. The process, if it is allowed to be completed, will tell the world whether those allegations are proved beyond reasonable doubt.