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UN Aims To Transform Urgency Into Action At Nice Ocean Conference

Scoop

3 days ago

Politics
Scoop

UN Aims To Transform Urgency Into Action At Nice Ocean Conference

27 May 2025 The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) from 9-13 June will bring together Heads of State, scientists, civil society and business leaders around a single goal: to halt the silent collapse of the planet's largest – and arguably most vital – ecosystem. The ocean is suffocating due to rising temperatures, rampant acidification, erosion of biodiversity, plastic invasion, predatory fishing. 'A state of emergency' ' Our planet's life support system is in a state of emergency,' said Li Junhua, head of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the Secretary-General of the upcoming summit. He insisted that there is still time to change course. ' The future of the ocean is not predetermined. It will be shaped by the decisions and actions that we are making now,' Mr. Li said on Tuesday during a press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York. In the eyes of the senior official, UNOC 3 'will not be just another routine gathering.' 'We hope that it proves to be the pivotal opportunity to accelerate action and mobilize all stakeholders across the sectors and borders.' World-class conference More than 50 world leaders are expected on the Côte d'Azur, alongside 1,500 delegates from nearly 200 countries. The programme includes 10 plenary meetings, 10 thematic roundtables, a blue zone reserved for official delegations, and a series of parallel forums during five days of negotiations. For France, which is co-hosting the conference alongside Costa Rica, the challenge is clear: to make Nice a historic milestone. 'This is an emergency,' declared Jérôme Bonnafont, Permanent Representative of France to the UN, during the press conference. 'An ecological emergency: we are witnessing the deterioration of the quality of the oceans as an environment, as a reservoir of biodiversity, as a carbon sink.' France hopes to make the conference a turning point and the goal 'is to produce a Nice agreement that is pro-oceans, as the Paris Agreement 10 years ago now was for the climate.' This agreement will take the form of a Nice Action Plan for the Ocean, a 'concise action-oriented declaration,' according to Mr. Li, accompanied by renewed voluntary commitments. Three milestones Three events will prepare the ground for UNOC 3. The One Ocean Science Congress, from 4-6 June, will bring together several thousand researchers. The Summit on Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience to be held the following day will explore responses to rising sea levels. Finally, the Blue Economy Finance Forum, on 7-8 June in Monaco, will mobilize investors and policymakers. For Costa Rican Ambassador Maritza Chan Valverde, there is no more time for procrastination. ' We're expecting concrete commitments with clear timelines, budgets and accountability mechanisms. What is different this time around, zero rhetoric, maximum results,' she said. 'Transform ambition into action' The conference's theme Accelerating Action and Mobilizing All Stakeholders to Conserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean will address several topics, ranging from sustainable fishing to marine pollution and the interactions between climate and biodiversity. ' This is our moment to transform ambition into action,' Mr. Li concluded, calling for governments, businesses, scientists, and civil society to come together in a common spirit. He also praised the 'visionary leadership' of France and Costa Rica, without whom this large-scale mobilization would not have been possible. A slogan promoted by Costa Rica seems to sum up the spirit of the summit: 'Five days. One ocean. One unique opportunity.'

UN ocean summit critical to its protection

The Star

5 days ago

Politics
The Star

UN ocean summit critical to its protection

One in three people rely on the ocean for their livelihood but the ocean is in danger. FROM June 9 to 13, France will co-host, with Costa Rica, the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3). For this crucial event, around 100 heads of state and government will converge in Nice, as well as tens of thousands of researchers, scientists, economic actors, activists and citizens from around the world. On this occasion, France's aim will be clear: protecting the ocean through tangible action. The ocean is our common good. It feeds and protects our peoples. It provides us with sustainable energy, trade, resources and infinite scientific knowledge.

UN Ocean Conference: 'Human Rights Must Be At The Heart Of Ocean Governance,' Urges UN Expert

Scoop

21-05-2025

Politics
Scoop

UN Ocean Conference: 'Human Rights Must Be At The Heart Of Ocean Governance,' Urges UN Expert

The Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, Astrid Puentes Riaño, today urged world leaders to anchor ocean policy in human rights. 'Human rights cannot be an afterthought,' said Puentes Riaño, ahead of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) taking place in Nice, France, from 9 to 13 June. 'Human rights must be the core of ocean governance and of every ocean pledge,' she said. The Conference will culminate with the 'Nice Ocean Action Plan,' a political declaration accompanied by a registry of voluntary commitments from States, businesses and other stakeholders. The Special Rapporteur called on all delegations to ensure the political declaration expressly includes human rights- and ecosystem-based approaches, and incorporates the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. 'The Plan and its commitments must be firmly grounded in human rights and geared towards promoting ocean and marine conservation,' Puentes Riaño said. She stressed that it requires clear alignment with efforts to phase out extractive practices that harm marine ecosystems, and a commitment to the precautionary principle — ensuring potential ocean damage is prevented, even without full scientific certainty regarding severe and irreversible damages, as in the context of activities such as deep-seabed mining and geoengineering. 'Commitments must also advance access to information, public participation and access to justice for everyone, including coastal communities, fisherfolk, Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, women, children and youth, LGBTI, and people with disabilities,' the expert said. In a recent report, the Special Rapporteur warned that ocean degradation is a human rights crisis. She urged the Ocean Conference to embed the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment at every level of decisionmaking. 'Human rights obligations extend beyond States and include businesses, which must respect them in all ocean-related operations. They must implement rigorous human rights and environmental due diligence, systematically assessing and publicly reporting the impact of their activities,' the expert said. On 3 April 2025, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a landmark resolution on the ocean and human rights. The Council encouraged States to consider the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment in the Conference's proceedings and outcomes, and to take these principles into account in the run-up to the UN Ocean Conference in Nice in 2025. 'Ocean issues are human rights issues, yet this connection is all too often overlooked in practice,' Puentes Riaño said. 'We urgently need a fundamental shift in how these challenges are addressed and managed at every level of policy and decision-making.'

Korea Herald

21-05-2025

Politics
Korea Herald

[Contribution] 'We are the ocean'

Ambassador of France to the Republic of Korea From June 9-13, France will co-host, with Costa Rica, the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3). For this crucial event, around 100 heads of state and government will converge in Nice, as well as tens of thousands of researchers, scientists, economic actors, activists and citizens from around the world. On this occasion, France's aim will be clear: protecting the ocean through tangible action. The ocean is our common good. It feeds and protects our people. It provides us with sustainable energy, trade, resources and infinite scientific knowledge. One in three people relies on the ocean for their livelihood, yet the ocean is in danger. It's an area that is still largely unknown, and lacks the global governance and funding necessary for its preservation. More than 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year, according to a study published in the journal Science. Moreover, more than a third of fish stocks suffer overfishing, while ocean acidification, rising sea levels and the destruction of marine ecosystems gain pace, as direct consequences of climate change. We must act now. More than ever before, we must make sure that multilateral action is equal to the challenges of protecting the ocean. Ten years after COP21 and the Paris Agreement, which established a binding global framework to limit climate change, the third United Nations Ocean Conference is a historic opportunity. The 'Nice Ocean Agreements' can form an international pact for the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean, fully in line with the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015. To this end, the talks in Nice need to be operational and action-focused, aiming for better governance, further financing and greater knowledge of the seas. When it comes to governance, the Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) is essential. The high seas are currently the only area not governed by international law, causing a real social and environmental disaster, with massive hydrocarbon and plastic pollution, illegal and unregulated fishing techniques, and the capture of protected mammals. To end this legal vacuum, we need the BBNJ Agreement to be ratified by 60 countries, so as to come into force. The ratification by the Republic of Korea of this crucial agreement in March 2025 is an important step in this direction as well as a vibrant political statement, as the Republic of Korea aims to co-chair UNOC4 in 2028. The protection of the ocean also requires public and private financing, and support for a sustainable blue economy. To continue enjoying the incredible economic opportunities offered by the ocean, we need to make sure marine resources can regenerate. In Nice, several commitments will be announced for global trade, shipping, tourism and investment. Lastly, how can we protect something that we do not — or insufficiently — know? We need to enhance our knowledge of the ocean and disseminate it more effectively. Today, we are capable of mapping the surface of the Moon or of Mars, but the depths of the ocean — which covers 70 percent of Earth's surface — remain unknown. Together, let's mobilize science, innovation and education to better understand the ocean and raise public awareness. In the context of ever-faster climate change and overexploitation of marine resources, the ocean is not an issue like any other. It's everyone's business. In a context in which multilateralism is being challenged, we must not forget our shared responsibility. Together, we can make the third United Nations Ocean Conference a major turning point for our peoples, for future generations and for our planet.

Morocco World

06-05-2025

Morocco World

Tall Ship Belem Returns to Morocco, Rekindles a Shared Maritime Legacy

Rabat – The Belem, France's surviving three-masted sailing ship, has returned to Morocco after a 16-year absence, dropping anchor in Rabat on May 4 for a short but meaningful visit. Once a merchant ship and now a symbol of maritime heritage, the Belem carries more than its sails. It brings stories, tradition, and a living sense of history. At 50 meters long with towering steel masts, the vessel draws attention for its elegance and its journey across time, from its construction in 1896 in Nantes to its current role as a cultural and diplomatic envoy. In Rabat, the ship welcomed guests aboard for a reception hosted by the French Embassy. Diplomats, scientists, NGO leaders, and maritime professionals gathered on deck to reflect on shared priorities ahead of the upcoming UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3). The evening centered on marine ecosystems, the importance of international cooperation in science, and the governance of our oceans. The visit is part of a broader initiative organized with the Institut français, the Port of Tangier Ville, and Bouregreg Marina. It reawakens a relationship between Morocco and France rooted in sea routes and cultural exchange. After Rabat, the Belem sets sail for Tangier. In Tangier, the historical ship will be docked at the Port of Tangier City and open to the public for free visits on Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11 In 2024, it had the honor of carrying the Olympic flame from Athens to Marseille for the Paris Olympic Games , an event that further cemented its status as a French icon. The Belem's return reminds Morocco and France of the value in looking forward and back, toward cleaner oceans, deeper collaboration, and the enduring stories carried throughout time. The post Tall Ship Belem Returns to Morocco, Rekindles a Shared Maritime Legacy appeared first on Morocco World News.