Latest news with #UNOceanConference
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
France says it has common ground with China on environment
France and China have found "points of convergence" on the environment, French minister for ecological transition Agnes Pannier-Runacher said Friday at the end of a visit to Beijing. Her trip came ahead of the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), which is due to start in Nice on June 9, and the COP30 climate summit in Brazil in November. After the United States again withdrew from the landmark Paris climate agreement once President Donald Trump returned to office in January, France has advocated for the European Union and China to form a united front on environment and climate. "Points of convergence were clearly felt," Pannier-Runacher told AFP after holding meetings with multiple Chinese officials, including environment minister Huang Runqiu and natural resources minister Guan Zhi'ou. "Commitment to the Paris Agreement" and "multilateralism" were two such points, she said. Pannier-Runacher said she was hoping for a joint-statement ahead of the COP30 summit to help give momentum to negotiations. "At a time when science is doubted by some, when the impact of climate deregulation on our lives is contested (...) it is important for the European Union and China to assume their responsibilities," she said. Huang told Pannier-Runacher that China would "keep observing the objectives set by the Paris accord and work with all parties to promote positive results" at the COP30 summit, a statement issued by his ministry said. China is the world's top emitter of greenhouse gases, but has embraced renewable energy sources, electric vehicles and is working to reduce carbon emissions. It plans to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2060, and some analysts have speculated that slowing growth and rapid renewable installations mean emissions have already levelled off. Emissions indeed fell in the first quarter of 2025, an independent think tank said earlier this month. Pannier-Runacher hailed China's "dynamism," saying all could learn from its "quickness" on adopting renewable energy technologies. The French minister also said China was a leader in those technologies, and expressed hope it would invest in France and other European countries to create jobs. ehl/tc-sst/bgs
France 24
20 hours ago
- Business
- France 24
France says it has common ground with China on environment
Her trip came ahead of the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), which is due to start in Nice on June 9, and the COP30 climate summit in Brazil in November. After the United States again withdrew from the landmark Paris climate agreement once President Donald Trump returned to office in January, France has advocated for the European Union and China to form a united front on environment and climate. "Points of convergence were clearly felt," Pannier-Runacher told AFP after holding meetings with multiple Chinese officials, including environment minister Huang Runqiu and natural resources minister Guan Zhi'ou. "Commitment to the Paris Agreement" and "multilateralism" were two such points, she said. Pannier-Runacher said she was hoping for a joint-statement ahead of the COP30 summit to help give momentum to negotiations. "At a time when science is doubted by some, when the impact of climate deregulation on our lives is contested (...) it is important for the European Union and China to assume their responsibilities," she said. Huang told Pannier-Runacher that China would "keep observing the objectives set by the Paris accord and work with all parties to promote positive results" at the COP30 summit, a statement issued by his ministry said. China is the world's top emitter of greenhouse gases, but has embraced renewable energy sources, electric vehicles and is working to reduce carbon emissions. It plans to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2060, and some analysts have speculated that slowing growth and rapid renewable installations mean emissions have already levelled off. Emissions indeed fell in the first quarter of 2025, an independent think tank said earlier this month. Pannier-Runacher hailed China's "dynamism," saying all could learn from its "quickness" on adopting renewable energy technologies. The French minister also said China was a leader in those technologies, and expressed hope it would invest in France and other European countries to create jobs.
Euronews
2 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
High Seas Treaty gets major boost from EU and 6 member states
The European Union and six of its member states formally ratified the United Nations treaty to protect the high seas on Wednesday in New York. This international agreement is seen as a critical opportunity to safeguard parts of the ocean that lie beyond national maritime borders. The latest wave of ratifications comes ahead of the landmark UN Ocean Conference, scheduled to take place in Nice, France, in early June. EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, described the move as a 'historic step towards protecting the world's oceans and preserving the delicate balance of our planet's ecosystem.' Ratification means that the EU and the six individual member states have formally agreed to the treaty becoming binding international law. This often involves aligning national legislation with what the treaty outlines. In April, the European Commission presented a proposal for a directive that would transpose the High Seas Treaty into European law. The High Seas Treaty has the potential to bring about a significant shift in global ocean conservation efforts. Areas beyond national jurisdiction -including the high seas and seabed -cover nearly two-thirds of the world's oceans. These regions face increasing threats from pollution, overexploitation, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Currently, only about 1 per cent of the high seas is protected. Following years of negotiations, a global consensus on the need to protect the high seas was reached in March 2023. The text of the treaty was formally adopted in June 2023 at the UN headquarters in New York. The agreement paves the way for protecting marine life in areas outside of national maritime boundaries. It allows for the creation of marine protected areas and supports the global goal of safeguarding at least 30 per cent of the world's oceans by 2030. Classified as a 'mixed agreement,' the treaty needs to be ratified by both the EU and its individual member states separately. On Wednesday, Cyprus, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Portugal, and Slovenia joined the EU in submitting their ratification. France and Spain had already ratified the treaty earlier this year. To come into force, the treaty requires ratification by 60 parties. With these latest additions, the number of ratifications has reached 29. A total of 115 countries have signed the treaty, indicating their potential commitment to ratification. The EU is urging all remaining parties to ratify the agreement without delay, in the hope of securing the 60 ratifications required for it to enter into force by the time of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice. Nathalie Rey, European Regional Coordinator for the High Seas Alliance, described the EU's action as a 'powerful acceleration' toward meeting the ratification threshold just days before the summit. 'EU leadership is essential in confronting the biodiversity and climate crises. This bold move sends a clear message that ocean protection is not optional - it's a global priority,' she said.
STV News
2 days ago
- Politics
- STV News
Marine conservation group claims damage to seabeds is a ‘national scandal'
Marine campaigners have accused Scottish ministers of continuing to allow 'destructive' fishing practices to be carried out in protected areas – claiming this not only breaches international obligations but is a 'national scandal'. The conservation charity Open Seas made the comments as it published its Ocean Witness report, a major survey of seabeds within Scotland's marine protected areas (MPAs). The report – published in the run-up to the global UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France in June – is based on more than 300 seabed surveys that were carried out during a five-month period, with the work done in collaboration with Greenpeace UK. It found that while habitats like maerl beds – which are formed by special seaweeds in shallow seabeds – and seagrass meadows are 'crucial parts of our biodiversity', it claimed in some areas these 'remain unprotected from destructive fishing practices'. Open Seas – which successfully took the Scottish Government to court in 2023 – said while MPAs had been brought in 'to safeguard Scotland's most vulnerable marine ecosystems', it added that 'numerous MPAs lack effective management measures'. As a result, it claimed this allowed 'harmful fishing practices', such as bottom trawling and scallop dredging to persist within their boundaries. 'This ongoing damage not only undermines the intended conservation goals but also threatens the very habitats these MPAs were established to protect,' the report stated. Open Seas said its surveys 'uncovered clear evidence that in many cases these so-called 'protected' areas are merely lines on a map with little real world impact on marine conservation'. One of the examples given was the Papa Westray MPA, which is located at the north end of the island of Papa Westray in Orkney. The group said that despite the area being designated as an MPA 'there are still no restrictions against trawling and dredging within or even near the area'. This, the report said, made it 'yet another example of a protected area that exists in name and not in practice'. The Open Seas research found that marine habitats in areas such as Papa Westray as well as Loch Creran in Argyll and Bute and the Sound of Jura on the west of Scotland are 'actively degraded'. Open Seas accused the Scottish Government of failing to meet international targets under the UN convention on biological diversity and the global biodiversity framework. The campaigning charity also claimed Scottish ministers have 'broken their own promises to protect the most sensitive and important' marine habitats. Open Seas director Phil Taylor said: 'Scotland's marine protections are failing by design. 'Despite public statements and legal commitments, the Scottish Government is allowing destructive fishing inside supposedly protected areas. 'These failures are not only national scandals – they breach Scotland's international obligations to halt biodiversity loss and restore the health of our seas. 'We have heard repeated promises to deliver for our seas and the coastal communities who rely on them from Scottish ministers – sadly those promises have been broken just as regularly.' Mr Taylor continued: 'These are not just technical oversights – they are policy choices that carry environmental, legal and reputational risks. 'Scotland likes to be seen as a leader on the environment. But, as this report shows, we are still dragging our heels while the seabed is being dragged into decline. That must change, starting now.' Will McCallum, co-executive director of Greenpeace UK, said: 'The lessons learnt in Scotland must be applied in all UK waters – allowing destructive industrial fishing practices like bottom trawling in marine protected areas is causing damage to fragile marine ecosystems and results in severe ecosystem degradation which is bad for everyone.' However, he said the research had also shown that 'where areas are meaningfully protected, marine life can recover and flourish' – adding that this 'should give us hope for the oceans'. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Management measures for the most vulnerable sites in the MPA network were implemented in 2016. 'Putting in place the remaining fisheries management measures for MPAs and further measures for the 11 Priority Marine Features most at risk from bottom trawling outside MPAs remains a top priority for this Government. 'Fisheries management measures will be implemented in 2025 for Offshore MPAs and as soon as possible for Inshore sites following the completion of the required statutory assessments and public consultation.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Marine campaigners claim damage to seabeds is ‘national scandal'
The report – published in the run-up to the global UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France in June – is based on more than 300 seabed surveys that were carried out during a five-month period, with the work done in collaboration with Greenpeace UK. It found that while habitats like maerl beds – which are formed by special seaweeds in shallow seabeds – and seagrass meadows are 'crucial parts of our biodiversity', it claimed in some areas these 'remain unprotected from destructive fishing practices'. Open Seas – which successfully took the Scottish Government to court in 2023 – said while MPAs had been brought in 'to safeguard Scotland's most vulnerable marine ecosystems', it added that 'numerous MPAs lack effective management measures'. READ MORE: Nature charities call for proposed offshore windfarm to be refused As a result, it claimed this allowed 'harmful fishing practices', such as bottom trawling and scallop dredging to persist within their boundaries. 'This ongoing damage not only undermines the intended conservation goals but also threatens the very habitats these MPAs were established to protect,' the report stated. Open Seas said its surveys 'uncovered clear evidence that in many cases these so-called 'protected' areas are merely lines on a map with little real world impact on marine conservation'. One of the examples given was the Papa Westray MPA, which is located at the north end of the island of Papa Westray in Orkney. The group said that despite the area being designated as an MPA 'there are still no restrictions against trawling and dredging within or even near the area'. This, the report said, made it 'yet another example of a protected area that exists in name and not in practice'. The Open Seas research found that marine habitats in areas such as Papa Westray as well as Loch Creran in Argyll and Bute and the Sound of Jura on the west of Scotland are 'actively degraded'. Coastal waters around Papa Westray (Image: Open Seas/PA Wire) Open Seas accused the Scottish Government of failing to meet international targets under the UN convention on biological diversity and the global biodiversity framework. The campaigning charity also claimed Scottish ministers have 'broken their own promises to protect the most sensitive and important' marine habitats. Open Seas director Phil Taylor said: 'Scotland's marine protections are failing by design. 'Despite public statements and legal commitments, the Scottish Government is allowing destructive fishing inside supposedly protected areas. 'These failures are not only national scandals – they breach Scotland's international obligations to halt biodiversity loss and restore the health of our seas. 'We have heard repeated promises to deliver for our seas and the coastal communities who rely on them from Scottish ministers – sadly those promises have been broken just as regularly.' Mr Taylor continued: 'These are not just technical oversights – they are policy choices that carry environmental, legal and reputational risks. 'Scotland likes to be seen as a leader on the environment. But, as this report shows, we are still dragging our heels while the seabed is being dragged into decline. That must change, starting now.' Will McCallum, co-executive director of Greenpeace UK, said: 'The lessons learnt in Scotland must be applied in all UK waters – allowing destructive industrial fishing practices like bottom trawling in marine protected areas is causing damage to fragile marine ecosystems and results in severe ecosystem degradation which is bad for everyone.' However, he said the research had also shown that 'where areas are meaningfully protected, marine life can recover and flourish' – adding that this 'should give us hope for the oceans'. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Management measures for the most vulnerable sites in the MPA network were implemented in 2016. 'Putting in place the remaining fisheries management measures for MPAs and further measures for the 11 Priority Marine Features most at risk from bottom trawling outside MPAs remains a top priority for this Government. 'Fisheries management measures will be implemented in 2025 for Offshore MPAs and as soon as possible for Inshore sites following the completion of the required statutory assessments and public consultation.' Show less
