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Euronews
2 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
What is the UN Oceans Conference and why does it matter?
World leaders are gathering in the French city of Nice tomorrow for the United Nations Oceans Conference. As the world's oceans face increasing threats from climate change, overuse of marine resources and pollution, leading marine experts are calling on governments to use this opportunity to protect fragile underwater ecosystems. Taking place from 9 to 13 June, it is the largest ocean summit ever organised and could provide a vital chance for key agreements to be finalised, promises to be delivered upon, and new pledges to be made. Co-chaired by France and Costa Rica, the conference aims to confront the deepening global ocean emergency. Scientists warn that climate change, plastic pollution, the loss of ecosystems and the overuse of marine resources are all pushing our oceans to the point of no return. In an effort to spark collaboration and subsequent solutions to some of these problems, UNOC is bringing together world leaders, scientists, activists and businesses. Specifically, it focuses on the implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water. The overarching theme of this particular conference is 'accelerating action and mobilising all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean'. This is the third UN Oceans conference, and over 10,000 people will be in attendance. It is set to welcome leaders like Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula and France's President Emmanuel Macron will be in the spotlight. The week-long talks will end with the adoption of a political declaration. While this won't be legally binding, it sets the tone for future global ambition, serving as a signal to governments, investors and civil society and hopefully motivating support for new initiatives. UNOC identifies three key priorities for the declaration: defending ocean ecosystems, sustainable ocean economies and accelerating actions. A successful conference would result in a final and signed political declaration which would be called the Nice Ocean Action Plan. More ratifications of the landmark UN High Seas Treaty are also expected as efforts intensify to ensure its implementation. A strong outcome could also help lay the groundwork for more biodiversity and climate wins at COP30 in Brazil later this year. France is co-hosting the conference with Costa Rica, and it is being held in Nice on the country's Mediterranean coast. Ahead of the summit, President Macron and the French government have been encouraging countries to improve ocean protection. 'We've…had the leadership from the French government engaging with countries to increase the ratification for the BBNJ (UN High Seas Treaty),' says Rita El Zaghloul, director of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People. In late May, the European Union and six of its member states formally ratified the High Seas Treaty after France and Spain did so earlier this year. It is hoped that this international agreement will garner enough ratifications before the end of the summit to enter into force as international law. France has been actively leading efforts to engage with countries on ocean protection, El Zaghloul adds, to ensure that the conference ends with some concrete results. Earlier this year, Chile and France announced the '100 per cent Alliance', urging coastal and ocean states to commit to 100 per cent sustainable management of their national ocean areas. But Enric Sala, National Geographic explorer in residence and founder of Pristine Seas, emphasises that France has to be a 'leader in actions, not just words'. 'France is the co-chair of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, committing to at least 30 per cent of the ocean protected by 2030,' he explains, 'and in France…there are all these protected areas, but most of these protected areas are open to commercial fishing, including bottom trawling.' Sala says just 1 per cent of French waters are no-take areas that actually allow marine life to recover. These areas also bring huge benefits for tourism, jobs and local, small-scale fishermen. 'Everybody expects President Macron to make some announcements of designation of new marine protected areas that are truly protected. Also, there is a great expectation for President Macron to make some commitment about phasing out bottom trawling in marine protected areas.' The pledges made both at the conference and before will mean nothing, however, without the funds to back them up. And global marine protection efforts are already critically underfunded. In 2022, nearly 200 countries agreed to designate 30 per cent of the world's oceans as protected areas by 2030. As of 2024, just 8.4 per cent were covered, and only 2.7 per cent have been assessed to be effectively protected - meaning there are regulations and active management in place to ensure minimal or no damaging activities. That latter figure has dropped earlier this year as a result of the Trump Administration's rollback of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. Just two countries - Palau and the United Kingdom - have effectively protected more than 30 per cent of their waters, although effectively protected areas in UK waters are overwhelmingly located in remote, overseas territories. Around $15.8 billion (€13.8 billion) a year is needed to achieve the 30 per cent by 2030 target, but a new report by a global coalition of nature NGOs and funders has found that just $1.2 billion (€1.05 billion) is currently being spent. That is a massive funding gap of $14.6 billion (€12.7 billion) - a figure the environmental groups point out is just 0.5 per cent of annual global defence budgets. Brian O'Donnell, director of Campaign for Nature, which led on the finance gap analysis, says protecting the ocean is 'no longer just an ecological imperative - it's an economic one.' 'For just $15.8 billion (€13.8 billion) a year, we can protect one of our planet's most valuable assets while avoiding costs and unlocking long-term returns in the tens of billions.' The report's authors say it sends a clear message ahead of UNOC: governments can't afford to underinvest in ocean protection. And the conference is a critical opportunity to build momentum, ratify key international agreements and recognise the value of the ocean.
Wales Online
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Helen Skelton's Welsh home renovation almost ends in disaster as couple admit it almost broke them
Helen Skelton's Welsh home renovation almost ends in disaster as couple admit it almost broke them A couple who moved from London back home to their roots in Wales struggled whilst making Helen Skelton's Forever Home. (Image: Below The Radar ) In a step away from her usual Morning Live slot, Helen Skelton along with architect Patrick Bradley from Northern Ireland, try to help one young couple create their dream home in the hopes of returning to their roots in rural Wales. Knowing the struggle of renovating a house herself Helen was quick to offer comfort to the couple who struggled through a life-changing process. Jess and Colin, who are originally from Powys decided to move back to Wales after living in the hustle and bustle of London. In the new programme, Forever Home, the couple's relationship suffered as a result of the pressure of the renovation. The handy pair assisted the couple in creating their dream house and swapping the excitement of city life for a more settled lifestyle. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . The 59 minute pilot episode shows Jess and Colin facing the reality of a large-scale restoration project. Not only that, but they also need to navigate their life back in the Welsh countryside, after leaving their friends and busy London life. Jess said: "It's not just getting out of London, it's home." When deciding to start their restoration project, the Welsh couple were overwhelmed when they realised they both had family connections to the house in Powys. They thought it was fate when they realised Jess' grandfather used to live in the house and later so did Colin's family. Article continues below When asked why they chose the house, Jess said: "I suppose all our family is around here, and then kind of a funny story that we came across." Helen Skelton and architect Patrick Bradley are helping a Welsh couple return to their Welsh roots by renovating their dream home. (Image: Below The Radar ) Colin said: "To start with my grandparents moved from Liverpool, then my great uncle moved down too and they lived here. All my life I can remember growing up in this house." Jess added: "Obviously, I'm from here too and my grandad came back from the war and I was looking through his homecoming pictures last Summer, and I was like 'that looks like this house' and he was like it is." The pair didn't know that they had the connection to the cottage when they met in London in 2020. Things soon started to turn south when their goals of a budget of £150,000 to renovate the house and 8 months to do so, quickly changed. This was a result of the house flooding after a burst pipe and costs started shooting up. The pair were unlucky as the cost of building materials shot up 22% following the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Colin, who is an electrician, took on the job, almost like a project manager when their funds were sinking to save some budget. Jess, who is a solicitor, couldn't take on as much of the workload due to various exams taking place at the same time. The project eventually cost a lot more than they expected, at around £220,000-£250,000 and it also took a lot longer to complete, the renovation taking over three and a half years. Colin said: "Am I surprised it took longer? No. Would I have liked it done quicker? Yeah." He continued: "Me and Jess have been through... to hell and back really. Relationship wise, Jess was still working away when we were working on the house and I felt like I was always here, working harder than Jess. "Looking back on it, it wasn't really a fair thing to say, Jess is not going to be doing the stuff I was doing. She was there emotionally and she's not had me around as much as she probably wanted. So, it's now nice to be able to take your foot off the gas a little bit and enjoy the house and live in it, have breakfast together. We've not had our own space in a long time." Whilst the renovations were happening the pair moved in with Jess' parents in Newtown, as the workload was so overwhelming and they didn't want to live on a construction site. Jess shared: "It was tough, there were definitely days where I think we both just didn't want to do it., but, now it's like we made it and it was so worth it." When discussing the show Helen said: "Bringing old properties back to life is always something that has fascinated me, I love a property with a story to tell. "Watching Colin and Jess create their forever home with Patrick's guidance and ideas has been a total privilege. Article continues below "It is not always straightforward creating a dream property. I have lived the restoration highs and lows myself having completed my own project so getting a ring side seat for this one was a total joy." Forever Home will be available to watch on BBC Two from 7pm on Thursday, May 15. However it is already available to watch now on BBC iPlayer, as the programme aired on BBC Northern Ireland earlier this year.
