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Scoop
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
UN Ocean Summit In Nice Closes With Wave Of Commitments
'We close this historic week not just with hope, but with concrete commitment, clear direction, and undeniable momentum,' Li Junhua, the UN's Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Secretary-General of the summit, told reporters. Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, the five-day event brought 15,000 participants, including more than 60 Heads of State and Government, to France's Mediterranean coast. With over 450 side events and nearly 100,000 visitors, the gathering, dubbed UNOC3, built on the momentum of previous ocean summits in New York (2017) and Lisbon (2022). It culminated in a shared call to expand marine protection, curb pollution, regulate the high seas, and unlock financing for vulnerable coastal and island nations. Ambitious pledges The conference's outcome, known as the Nice Ocean Action Plan, is a two-part framework that comprises a political declaration and over 800 voluntary commitments by governments, scientists, UN agencies, and civil society since the previous conference. 'These range from advocacy by youth to deep-sea ecosystem literacy, capacity building in science and innovation, and pledges to ratify intergovernmental treaties,' Mr. Li said. The pledges unveiled this week reflected the breadth of the ocean crisis. The European Commission announced an investment of €1 billion to support ocean conservation, science, and sustainable fishing, while French Polynesia pledged to create the world's largest marine protected area, encompassing its entire exclusive economic zone – about five million square kilometers. Germany launched a €100-million programme to remove underwater munitions from the Baltic and North Seas. In addition, New Zealand committed $52 million to strengthen ocean governance in the Pacific, and Spain announced five new marine protected areas. A 37-country coalition led by Panama and Canada launched the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean to tackle underwater noise pollution. Meanwhile, Indonesia and the World Bank introduced a 'Coral Bond' to help finance reef conservation in the country. 'The waves of change have formed,' Mr. Li said. 'It is now our collective responsibility to propel them forward – for our people, our planet, and future generations.' A diplomatic stage The summit opened Monday with stark warnings. 'We are not treating the ocean as what it is – the ultimate global commons,' said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, alongside the presidents of France and Costa Rica, Emmanuel Macron and Rodrigo Chaves Robles, who called for a renewed multilateralism anchored in science. On Friday, France's special envoy for the conference, Olivier Poivre d'Arvor, recalled the stakes: 'We wanted in Nice... to take a chance on transformative change. I believe we have moved forward, but we can no longer go backwards.' One of the conference's main objectives was to accelerate progress on the High Seas Treaty – known as the BBNJ agreement – adopted in 2023 to safeguard marine life in international waters. Sixty ratifications are needed for it to enter into force. Over the past week, 19 countries ratified the accord, bringing the total number as for Friday, to 50. 'This is a significant victory,' said Mr. Poivre d'Arvor. 'It's very difficult to work on the ocean right now when the United States is so little involved.' The French envoy was alluding to the absence of a senior US delegation, as well as President Donald Trump's recent executive order advancing deep-sea mining. 'The abyss is not for sale,' he said, echoing remarks made earlier in the week by President Macron. Still, Mr. Poivre d'Arvor emphasized the broad agreement achieved at the summit. 'One country may be missing,' he said. 'But 92 per cent of the 'co-owners' were present today in Nice.' His counterpart, Arnoldo André-Tinoco, the Foreign Minister of Costa Rica, urged other nations to accelerate financing for ocean protection. 'Each commitment must be held accountable,' he said at the conference's closing meeting. Momentum – and a test For Peter Thomson, the UN's Special Envoy for the Ocean, Nice marked a turning point. 'It's not so much what happens at the conference, it is what happens afterwards,' he told UN News, recalling the early days of ocean advocacy when Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14), on life below water, was first established. 'From the desert we were in back in 2015… to where we are now, where you see this incredible engagement.' Looking ahead, attention is already turning to the Fourth UN Ocean Conference, slated to be co-hosted by Chile and South Korea in 2028. 'We're going to again see a big surge upwards from here,' Mr. Thomson predicted. He expressed hope that major global agreements — including the BBNJ treaty, the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, and the future Global Plastics Treaty – will all be ratified and implemented by then. The 2028 summit will also mark a moment of reckoning, as SDG 14 approaches its 2030 target. 'What do we do when SDG 14 matures in 2030?' Mr. Thomson asked. 'Obviously, it's got to be raised ambition. It's got to be stronger.' He emphasized that while SDG14 had aimed to protect 10 per cent of the ocean by 2020 – a target the world failed to meet – the new benchmark is 30 per cent by 2030. Wearing a shell necklace gifted by the Marshall Islands, the Fiji native praised small island nations and atoll collectives for setting ambitious marine protections. 'If small countries can make big measures like that, why can't the big countries follow suit?' he said. He also saluted the 2,000 scientists who gathered for the One Ocean Science Congress ahead of the summit. 'What a great way to run things,' he said. A show of unity Despite the celebratory tone, tensions lingered. Small Island Developing States pushed for stronger language on loss and damage – harms inflicted by climate change that go beyond what people can adapt to. 'You cannot have an ocean declaration without SIDS,' one delegate warned earlier this week. Others, including President Chaves, of Costa Rica, called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining in international waters until science can assess the risks – a step not included in the final declaration. Still, the political declaration adopted in Nice, titled Our ocean, our future: united for urgent action, reaffirms the goal of protecting 30 percent of the ocean and land by 2030, while supporting global frameworks like the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Agreement (adopted in 2022, committing nations to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 through ambitious conservation targets and sustainable biodiversity management) and the UN International Maritime Organization's (IMO) climate goals. 'The real test,' Mr. Li said, 'is not what we said here in Nice – but what we do next.' As the sun dipped behind the Promenade des Anglais and the conference's final plenary adjourned, the sea – ancient, vital, and imperiled – bore silent witness to a fragile but shared promise.
The Wire
a day ago
- General
- The Wire
Two Serious Shipping Accidents Off Kerala Highlight the Need for a High Seas Treaty
Oceans are vital to life on earth, producing around 50% of our oxygen, regulating temperatures, storing carbon, and supporting billions through fisheries and ecosystems. Despite their importance, international waters – which account for nearly two-thirds of the ocean – remain largely unregulated. Pollution, resource extraction, and climate pressures have pushed these regions toward ecological crisis, demanding collective global action. Against this backdrop, the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference ( UNOC3 ), held from June 9-13, 2025 in Nice, France, emerged as a milestone in global marine governance. A global gathering with historic stakes Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, UNOC3 brought together over 15,000 participants, including more than 60 heads of state, scientists, diplomats, and civil society leaders. The summit delivered over 800 voluntary commitments and culminated in the adoption of the Nice Ocean Action Plan , a two-part document comprising a political declaration and a broad range of pledges addressing ocean conservation, treaty ratification, ecosystem protection, and marine innovation. Notable commitments included the European Commission's pledge of €1 billion for marine protection, French Polynesia's creation of the largest marine protected area (MPA) to date, and Germany's €100 million programme to clean underwater munitions. Spain added five new MPAs, and Indonesia, in collaboration with the World Bank, launched an innovative 'Coral Bond' to fund reef restoration. These announcements stressed both the urgency and the ambition of the global response. Yet, the conference's centrepiece was the renewed focus on the High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement. The High Seas Treaty: History, purpose, and scope Adopted on June 19, 2023, after nearly two decades of negotiations, the BBNJ agreement is the first legally binding framework to govern marine biodiversity in international waters. It builds upon the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and targets four key areas : Marine genetic resources and benefit-sharing; Marine protected areas (MPAs) and area-based management tools; Environmental impact assessments (EIAs); and Capacity-building and technology transfer. The treaty aims to halt biodiversity loss, regulate resource exploitation, and create mechanisms for equitable access—especially critical for low-income nations often excluded from high seas research and commerce. The Nice conference and accelerated momentum The 2025 Ocean Conference provided a diplomatic breakthrough. Nineteen additional ratifications were announced during the event, pushing the total to 51 out of the 60 required for the treaty to enter into force. French president Emmanuel Macron projected that the treaty could become active by January 1, 2026. Once the threshold is crossed, a 120-day countdown begins. This will trigger the first 'Ocean COP,' where governance structures, enforcement mechanisms, and funding frameworks will be finalised. Crucially, countries that have not ratified by then will forfeit voting rights. The political declaration adopted in Nice, titled Our Ocean, Our Future: United for Urgent Action , reaffirmed global targets like the 30×30 goal – protecting 30% of marine and terrestrial ecosystems by 2030 – and highlighted support for key environmental agreements like the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Criticisms and holdouts: The US and others Despite the treaty's global backing, it has drawn criticism, most notably from the United States. Although the US signed the treaty in 2023 , it has not ratified it. The Senate has yet to approve it by the required two-thirds vote. Critics within the US, particularly under the Trump administration, have voiced concerns over sovereignty, regulatory overreach, and economic impacts on deep-sea mining and fishing industries. Trump's controversial executive order supporting seabed mining and deregulation, and the minimal US delegation at UNOC3, sparked backlash . French officials criticised this stance , echoing president Emmanuel Macron while stating, 'The abyss is not for sale,' contrasting France's scientific approach with what he termed as America's 'rush to Mars.' The US absence also raised concerns about leadership vacuums in ocean governance. By not joining, the US risks ceding influence in future treaty negotiations and implementation decisions. India: Commitment and delay India signed the BBNJ treaty in September 2024, affirming its maritime interests and environmental commitment. Union earth sciences minister Jitendra Singh , speaking at UNOC3, reiterated India's support for the treaty and its ongoing ratification process. However, ratification has stalled. As per reports , India must first amend domestic laws such as the Biological Diversity Act before parliament can approve the treaty. This delay reflects internal legislative priorities, but also hesitations over the treaty's benefit-sharing mechanism, which some officials see as underdeveloped. Given India's vast coastline, dependence on marine ecosystems, and growing maritime security agenda, this delay has raised questions. Critics argue that India's strategic and environmental interests demand faster action. Moreover, as a major player in global south alliances, India's active participation is vital for balancing geopolitical power in treaty implementation. Why the treaty matters more than ever Mounting environmental pressures make the High Seas Treaty especially urgent. According to the United Nations , oceans have taken in the majority of heat generated by greenhouse gas emissions, leading to widespread acidification and rising marine temperatures. Over 1,500 marine species are now considered at risk of extinction. Moreover, plastic pollution remains a massive threat, with an estimated 14 million metric tonnes entering the ocean each year – jeopardising food security, marine life, and coastal economies alike. Moreover, the race to exploit marine genetic resources for pharmaceuticals and biotechnology raises concerns over biopiracy. Without regulation, wealthier nations and corporations could monopolise discoveries just outside developing countries' EEZs. The BBNJ treaty mandates fair benefit-sharing and data disclosure for such research. The treaty also holds promise as a legal bulwark against deep-sea mining. Though not banning it outright, it calls for strict EIAs and international oversight, aligning with growing calls for a moratorium until further environmental studies are conducted. Critics argue that short-term corporate interests should not be allowed to risk irreparable harm to ecosystems that remain poorly understood. Implementation challenges Despite the treaty's historic significance, its implementation will be complex. Monitoring such vast international waters will demand advanced satellite systems, multinational naval cooperation, and legal enforcement mechanisms. Financially, ocean-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDG14) remain severely underfunded – currently receiving less than 0.01% of total SDG allocations. Experts estimate an annual need of roughly $175 billion to meet marine conservation targets. Beyond enforcement and financing, institutional structures like a governing COP, oversight panels, and a centralised data hub still need to be created. Finally, ensuring inclusive participation – especially for nations with fewer resources – will require dedicated investment in technology transfer and capacity-building programs. Moreover, commercial interests, especially in fishing and shipping, continue to resist new constraints. A 2024 report by InfluenceMap found that 29 of the 30 largest seafood companies oppose MPAs and lobby against stricter regulations. As marine scientist Enric Sala noted , 'Protection is not the problem – overfishing is. The worst enemy of the fishing industry is themselves.' Shipping disasters: An overlooked threat to ocean health While international treaties aim to secure long-term protections for marine biodiversity, recent events off the Indian coast indicate how fragile ocean ecosystems remain in the face of maritime accidents. These incidents, often sudden and severe, can undo years of conservation gains. The Kerala coast has witnessed two serious shipping accidents within just 15 days, raising alarm over navigational safety and preparedness. The first involved the Liberian-flagged MSC ELSA 3 , which sank off the coast before a full assessment of the environmental risks – including possible oil leaks – could be completed. Before authorities could contain the fallout, a second accident occurred when the Singapore-registered cargo vessel M.V. Wan Hai 503 caught fire approximately 88 nautical miles off Kozhikode. The back-to-back nature of these incidents has heightened fears of potential oil spills and longer-term threats to Kerala's sensitive marine zones. Though containment efforts are underway, environmentalists have expressed concern over gaps in spill response capacity, and the cumulative impact of such events on coastal fisheries and marine biodiversity. These episodes highlight a growing vulnerability in ocean governance : even as global frameworks like the BBNJ Treaty are being advanced, critical gaps remain in operational enforcement and maritime safety. For countries like India – bordering busy sea lanes –strengthening coastal surveillance, emergency response, and ecological risk assessments must go hand-in-hand with treaty ratification and international cooperation. Fragile hope for the planet At the closing of the Nice conference, UN Ocean Envoy Peter Thomson described the event as a pivotal step forward in ocean diplomacy. Yet he emphasised that real progress would depend not on promises, but on follow-through. If implemented with urgency and equity, the High Seas Treaty has the potential to restore oceanic balance, protect biodiversity, and support a fairer future for all nations. Whether it becomes a cornerstone of global environmental governance – or merely another missed opportunity – will depend entirely on the decisions made in the months ahead. K.M. Seethi is Director, Inter University Centre for Social Science Research and Extension (IUCSSRE), Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU), Kerala. He also served as ICSSR Senior Fellow, Senior Professor of International Relations and Dean of Social Sciences at MGU. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
