Third United Nations Conference on Oceans (Unoc), which begins on Monday (9), seeks a consensus to establish a common policy and raise funds for marine conservation
World leaders gather this week at For an international conference that will address the crises faced by oceans due to excessive fishing, climate change and pollution. The third United Nations Conference on the Oceans (Unoc), which begins on Monday (9), seeks a consensus to establish a common policy and raise funds for marine conservation. THE It states that oceans are in a situation of “emergency” and political leaders gathered in the city of Nice should try to reverse the situation as nations still debate which policy to adopt on deep water mining, plastic waste or excessive fishing.
Copatrocinated by France and Costa Rica, the conference expects to receive almost 50 heads of state and government, including the and his Argentine homologist Javier Milei. French President Emmanuel Macron must sail to Nice from Monaco, where he will participate in an event that aims to raise private resources for ocean conservation. Other vessels will come together with him in the Mediterranean in a maritime parade. At night, Macron will offer leaders a dinner based on Mediterranean fish before the official opening ceremony of the summit on Monday.
Peaceful demonstrations are expected over the five days of the event. France mobilized 5,000 police officers in Nice for the event, which will also be attended by many scientists, entrepreneurs and environmental activists. Pacific rulers must attend in large numbers and particularly require concrete financial commitments from governments. The United States government should not send a delegation. President Donald Trump recently announced that he will stimulate marine bed mining in international waters, which has generated much criticism.
Political will
France has promised the meeting to conserve the oceans what the Paris Agreement did for global climate action at COP21 in 2015. Analysts expect nations to adopt a ‘Nice Declaration’ to ratify greater ocean protection, together with additional voluntary commitments by individual governments. France has set a high goal and expects to ratify 60 countries for a historical treaty of world protection to marine habitats that goes beyond each national jurisdiction.
To date, only 28 countries and the European Union have signed the text. The entry into force of the treaty is considered crucial to achieving the globally agreed goal of protecting 30% of the oceans by 2030. “We have created this kind of myth that governments have no money for ocean conservation,” Brian O’Donnell, director of Campaign for Nature.
“Money exists. What doesn’t exist is political will,” he added. The recent UN conferences have struggled to achieve consensus and the funds needed to combat climate change and other environmental threats. Oceans receive the lowest financing of all UN sustainable development objectives.
*With information from AFP
