Countdown to the UN Ocean Conference: Key Issues and Initiatives in Focus
The UN Ocean Conference in Nice set to tackle critical ocean protection issues and launch new initiatives.
Key Points
- • UN Ocean Conference scheduled for June 9-13, 2025, in Nice.
- • Focus on legal frameworks for ocean protection and high seas treaty ratification.
- • Launch of initiatives including 'Neptune mission' and 'Starfish barometer'.
- • Call for maritime decarbonization commitments aimed at zero emissions by 2050.
As the UN Ocean Conference approaches, taking place in Nice from June 9 to 13, 2025, preparations are intensifying to address crucial issues related to ocean protection. Significant figures such as Olivier Poivre d'Arvor, Romain Troublé, and Sophie Gambardella are emphasizing the urgency of the conference, which Poivre d'Arvor believes should be as critical as the Paris Agreement discussions, stating, "We need to protect this living ocean to ensure our own survival."
The conference will aim to establish a robust legal framework for protecting marine ecosystems, particularly concerning the high seas and deep seabeds. Following a treaty adopted in 2023 to safeguard marine life in international waters, only 28 countries, alongside the EU, have ratified it, highlighting a gap that organizers hope to address. Poivre d'Arvor expressed optimism, stating, "We hope to see more countries ratified by the end of the conference," with a goal set for 60 ratifications before the December 15, 2025 deadline.
New initiatives slated for launch include the 'Neptune mission', which aims to explore the depth of oceans over the next 15 years, and the 'Starfish barometer', the first comprehensive annual report on ocean health. As part of these efforts, commitments to decarbonize maritime transport and achieve zero emissions by 2050 are anticipated, with Poivre d'Arvor urging, "It’s now or never." The conference will be pivotal for shaping global commitments towards ocean conservation and sustainable practices.