Latest news with #UnitedNationsOceansConference
Scoop
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
First Māori Voice Opens UN Oceans Conference, Pushing For Marine Legal Rights
NICE, FRANCE, 8 June 2025 The United Nations Oceans Conference commenced today with a significant opening address that championed the Rights of Nature for all marine life, including the groundbreaking concept of legal personhood for whales. This pivotal message was delivered by Dr. Mere Takoko, CEO of the Pacific Whale Fund, alongside Jean-Pierre Gattuso, Director of Research at CNRS and co-chair of the One Ocean Science Congress. French President Emmanuel Macron was in attendance, highlighting the global significance of these discussions for the future of our oceans. The opening presentation underscored the critical role of science and Indigenous knowledge to foster effective, culturally appropriate marine conservation and unlock vital nature finance. "Indigenous knowledge is not just a cultural heritage; it is a profound scientific methodology, honed over millennia of intimate coexistence with the ocean," stated Dr. Takoko. "Our traditional ecological insights are crucial for understanding marine ecosystems, their delicate balances, and the sustainable practices essential for their long-term health. This presentation marks a pivotal honour for the Pacific Whale Fund, demonstrating how Indigenous-led Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are a proven model for both ecological and financial success." The Pacific Whale Fund and Moananui Sanctuary Trust emphasise that integrating Indigenous knowledge and holistic frameworks, deeply rooted in interconnectedness, is essential for integrated marine restoration. These initiatives exemplify the power of blending traditional wisdom with modern science, not only delivering effective conservation outcomes but also ensuring cultural appropriateness and community well-being. The presentation served as a powerful call to action for global decision-makers to actively seek out and respectfully integrate Indigenous knowledge into all facets of marine conservation, recognising it as a powerful, proven pathway to a thriving ocean. The advocacy for the legal personhood of whales, a key initiative of the Pacific Whale Fund, represents a groundbreaking approach to marine protection, offering a new paradigm for our relationship with the ocean's most magnificent creatures. The Pacific Whale Fund is an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to ocean conservation through innovative legal, financial, and cultural frameworks, championing the recognition of whales as legal persons and the establishment of protected marine sanctuaries guided by ancestral wisdom.
Sydney Morning Herald
14 hours ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘There are no rules on the high seas': Australia to play a key role on ocean protections
Australian mining billionaire Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest will seek to partner with at least three countries to help fund marine protection zones, in a world-first plan to bolster poorer nations' capacity to fight unsustainable fishing practices. Forrest will attend the United Nations Oceans Conference in France on Monday, where he is expected to hold talks with world leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron. 'It's absolutely clear that the world fishing industries are in a race to the bottom, a race to make oceans extinct of life, and that is because it's a rule-less order [on the high seas],' Forrest said. Environment Minister Murray Watt said Australia would play a leading role at the talks, and announced on Sunday that the Albanese government would introduce legislation enabling Australia to ratify the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty. Twenty-eight countries have ratified the treaty, which needs 60 member states to come into force. The UN-led treaty seeks to protect vast swaths of ocean in international waters – covering nearly half the planet – from overfishing. Loading 'All Australians understand the importance of the ocean. It's at the heart of our national identity, and it connects us with our region and the rest of the world,' Watt said. 'Australia is a world leader in ocean protection, working domestically and with our Pacific and Indian Ocean neighbours to protect this precious and incredibly important shared resource.' Just over half Australia's oceans are in marine-protected areas, although only 22 per cent are 'no-take' zones that prevent trawling and other commercial fishing.
The Age
14 hours ago
- Business
- The Age
‘There are no rules on the high seas': Australia to play a key role on ocean protections
Australian mining billionaire Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest will seek to partner with at least three countries to help fund marine protection zones, in a world-first plan to bolster poorer nations' capacity to fight unsustainable fishing practices. Forrest will attend the United Nations Oceans Conference in France on Monday, where he is expected to hold talks with world leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron. 'It's absolutely clear that the world fishing industries are in a race to the bottom, a race to make oceans extinct of life, and that is because it's a rule-less order [on the high seas],' Forrest said. Environment Minister Murray Watt said Australia would play a leading role at the talks, and announced on Sunday that the Albanese government would introduce legislation enabling Australia to ratify the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty. Twenty-eight countries have ratified the treaty, which needs 60 member states to come into force. The UN-led treaty seeks to protect vast swaths of ocean in international waters – covering nearly half the planet – from overfishing. Loading 'All Australians understand the importance of the ocean. It's at the heart of our national identity, and it connects us with our region and the rest of the world,' Watt said. 'Australia is a world leader in ocean protection, working domestically and with our Pacific and Indian Ocean neighbours to protect this precious and incredibly important shared resource.' Just over half Australia's oceans are in marine-protected areas, although only 22 per cent are 'no-take' zones that prevent trawling and other commercial fishing.
Euronews
a day 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.
Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
PM's mantra to boost disaster-resilient infra
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday outlined five key global priorities for him to build disaster-resilient infrastructure, including a skilled workforce, a global digital repository to document best practices and innovative financing. In a video address to the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure 2025, Modi said strengthening early-warning systems and coordination is another crucial aspect. He noted that India has established a tsunami-warning system benefitting 29 countries and that it recognises the Small Island Developing States (SIDA) as large-ocean countries and the need for special attention to their vulnerabilities. With the event being hosted in Europe for the first time, Modi thanked French President Emmanuel Macron and extended his best wishes to him for the upcoming United Nations Oceans Conference. In his remarks, the prime minister noted that the conference's theme is "Shaping a Resilient Future for Coastal Regions" and underscored the vulnerability of coastal regions and islands to natural disasters and climate change. He cited recent disasters, including Cyclone Remal in India and Bangladesh, Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean, Typhoon Yagi in Southeast Asia, Hurricane Helene in the United States, Typhoon Usagi in the Philippines and Cyclone Chido in parts of Africa. Modi emphasised that these disasters have caused significant damage to lives and property, reinforcing the need for resilient infrastructure and proactive disaster management. Recalling India's past experiences with devastating disasters, including the super-cyclone of 1999 and the tsunami of 2004, he highlighted how the country adapted and rebuilt with resilience, constructing cyclone shelters across vulnerable areas and contributing to the establishment of the tsunami-warning system benefitting 29 nations. Modi said disaster resilience requires innovative financing and called for the creation of actionable programmes to ensure that developing countries have access to the necessary funds. He highlighted the necessity of strengthening early-warning systems and coordination, noting their critical role in facilitating timely decision making and effective last-mile communication. The prime minister called for the construction of infrastructure that remains steadfast against time and tide, emphasising the need for resilience in development. He called for global efforts to build a strong and disaster-resilient future for the world.
