Latest news with #2025UnitedNationsOceanConference
Scoop
15-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
UN Ocean Conference Delivers Unified Call To Action And Strong Commitments
Nice, France, 13 June 2025 – The 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference concluded today with more than 170 countries adopting an intergovernmentally agreed declaration committing to urgent action to conserve and sustainably use the ocean. The political declaration titled Our ocean, our future: united for urgent action calls for concrete steps to expand marine protected areas, decarbonize maritime transport, combat marine pollution, and mobilize finance for vulnerable coastal and island nations, among others. The declaration – together with bold voluntary commitments by States and other entities – constitutes the Nice Ocean Action Plan, successfully concluding the five-day Conference with a boost to environmental multilateralism. 'Pledges made this week must be rigorously implemented, tracked, and scaled,' said United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua, who served as the Conference Secretary-General. 'The momentum we have generated must carry us forward to COP30, global and regional ocean forums, and national decision-making, and translate into decisive national action.' Voluntary commitments made during the Conference include: The European Commission, as part of its Ocean Pact, announced an investment of 1 billion EUR to support ocean conservation, science and sustainable fishing. French Polynesia pledged to create the world's largest marine protected area to safeguard its seas, covering its entire exclusive economic zone, approximately 5 million square kilometres (1.93 million square miles). New Zealand committed over 52 million US dollars towards supporting enhanced ocean governance, management and science in the Pacific Islands region. Germany launched a 100 million EUR immediate action programme for the recovery and clearance of legacy munitions in the German Baltic and North Seas – the first of its kind. Indonesia, the World Bank and other partners launched a Coral Bond, a groundbreaking financial instrument designed to mobilize private capital to conserve coral reef ecosystems within marine protected areas in Indonesia. Thirty-seven countries, led by Panama and Canada, launched the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean — the first high-level political initiative to tackle ocean noise pollution on a global scale. Italy committed 6.5 million EUR to strengthen surveillance by the Coast Guard in marine protected areas and on oil platforms, including through a satellite surveillance system capable of detecting potential oil spills in real time. Canada contributed 9 million US dollars to the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance to help Small Island Developing States and coastal developing countries increase their resilience to the impacts of climate change through nature-based solutions. Spain committed to creating five new marine protected areas that would allow protection of 25% of its marine territory. A collective of United Nations agencies and global partners launched a co-design process for One Ocean Finance — a bold new effort to unlock billions in new financing from ocean-dependent industries and blue economy sectors. A Conference report, listing the voluntary commitments in an annex, will be published after the Conference. The Marine Biodiversity Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) In a big step towards entry into force of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), 19 more States ratified the Agreement in the margins of the Conference, and 20 more signed it, bringing the total number of signatures to 136, and ratifications to 50 States plus the European Union. Ten more ratifications are needed for the Agreement to enter into force. The BBNJ Agreement, adopted in June 2023, is a crucial legal instrument to protect marine life and ecosystems in the two-thirds of the ocean that lie beyond any country's jurisdiction. About the Conference From 9 to 13 June 2025, 55 Heads of State and Government, along with 15,000 participants from civil society, business, and science, participated in the UN Ocean Conference co-hosted by the Governments of France and Costa Rica, including more than 450 side events, to accelerate action and mobilize all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean. Ten Ocean Action Panels produced forward-looking recommendations to guide implementation across key themes — from marine pollution and nature-based solutions to the role of women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples in ocean governance. The fourth UN Ocean Conference, in 2028, will be co-hosted by Chile and the Republic of Korea.
Hans India
14-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
170 nations in Nice commit to expand marine protected areas, combat pollution
Nice (France): The 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference concluded with more than 170 countries adopting an inter-governmentally agreed declaration committing to urgent action to conserve and sustainably use the world's oceans. The political declaration titled 'Our ocean, Our future: United for urgent action' calls for concrete steps to expand marine protected areas, decarbonise maritime transport, combat marine pollution, and mobilise finance for vulnerable coastal and island nations, among others. The declaration -- together with bold voluntary commitments by states and other entities -- constitutes the Nice Ocean Action Plan, successfully concluding the five-day conference with a boost to environmental multilateralism. 'Pledges made this week must be rigorously implemented, tracked, and scaled,' said United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua, who served as the conference Secretary-General. 'The momentum we have generated must carry us forward to COP30, global and regional ocean forums, and national decision-making, and translate into decisive national action.' Voluntary commitments made during the conference include: The European Commission, as part of its Ocean Pact, announced an investment of 1 billion EUR to support ocean conservation, science and sustainable fishing. French Polynesia pledged to create the world's largest marine protected area to safeguard its seas, covering its entire exclusive economic zone, approximately 5 million square km (1.93 million square miles). New Zealand committed over $52 million towards supporting enhanced ocean governance, management and science in the Pacific Islands region. Germany launched a 100 million EUR immediate action programme for the recovery and clearance of legacy munitions in the German Baltic and North Seas -- the first of its kind. Indonesia, the World Bank and other partners launched a Coral Bond, a groundbreaking financial instrument designed to mobilise private capital to conserve coral reef ecosystems within marine protected areas in Indonesia. Thirty-seven countries, led by Panama and Canada, launched the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean -- the first high-level political initiative to tackle ocean noise pollution on a global scale. Italy committed 6.5 million EUR to strengthen surveillance by the Coast Guard in marine protected areas and on oil platforms, including through a satellite surveillance system capable of detecting potential oil spills in real time. Canada contributed 9 million US dollars to the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance to help Small Island Developing States and coastal developing countries increase their resilience to the impacts of climate change through nature-based solutions. Spain committed to creating five new marine protected areas that would allow protection of 25 per cent of its marine territory. A collective of United Nations agencies and global partners launched a co-design process for One Ocean Finance -- a bold new effort to unlock billions in new financing from ocean-dependent industries and blue economy sectors. A United Nations Ocean Conference report, listing the voluntary commitments in an annex, will be published after the summit. In a big step towards entry into force of the agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), 19 more states ratified the agreement in the margins of the conference, and 20 more signed it, bringing the total number of signatures to 136, and ratifications to 50 states plus the European Union. Ten more ratifications are needed for the agreement to enter into force. The BBNJ Agreement, adopted in June 2023, is a crucial legal instrument to protect marine life and ecosystems in the two-thirds of the ocean that lie beyond any country's jurisdiction. From June 9 to 13, as many as 55 heads of state and government, along with 15,000 participants from civil society, business, and science, participated in the UN Ocean Conference co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, including more than 450 side events, to accelerate action and mobilise all actors to conserve and sustainably use the world's oceans. Ten ocean action panels produced forward-looking recommendations to guide implementation across key themes -- from marine pollution and nature-based solutions to the role of women, youth, and indigenous peoples in ocean governance. The fourth UN Ocean Conference in 2028 will be co-hosted by Chile and Korea.
Scoop
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
UN Ocean Conference Opens With Calls For Urgent Action To Safeguard The Health Of The Ocean
Nice, France, 9 June 2025 – The 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference, co-hosted by the Governments of France and Costa Rica, opened today in Nice with strong calls to accelerate action and mobilize all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean. 'I urge all countries to come forward with bold pledges,' United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in his opening remarks to the Conference this morning. 'We live in an age of turmoil, but the resolve I see here gives me hope,' he said. 'Hope that we can turn the tide.' President Emmanuel Macron of France, also addressing the opening ceremony, said, 'we need to revitalize multilateralism behind the UN Secretary General,' adding that, 'the only way to meet that challenge, is to mobilize all actors, heads of state and government speaking here, but also scientists.' President Rodrigo Chaves Robles of Costa Rica stated that 'this summit must be remembered as the time when the world understood that looking after the ocean is not simply an option. Rather, it is a moral, economic, and indeed we need minimum protection.' Bringing together world leaders, scientists, private sector representatives, civil society, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, the high-level gathering underscores the ocean's vital role in regulating the climate, sustaining food security and livelihoods, and preserving biodiversity. The ocean is under growing pressure from climate change and human activity, with record heat severely impacting marine life, and escalating threats from pollution, overfishing and biodiversity loss pushing marine ecosystems to the brink. The Conference is expected to adopt an intergovernmentally negotiated political declaration, which, along with a registry of voluntary commitments from across sectors, will be referred to as the Nice Ocean Action Plan – outcomes aimed at catalyzing urgent, inclusive, and science-based action to safeguard the ocean for present and future generations. 'The time for incremental progress is over. We need billions, not millions, in investment. We need binding commitments that survive political transitions and economic pressures,' United Nations Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua, the Conference Secretary-General said at the opening. Key issues under discussion during the five-day conference include: The Marine Biodiversity Treaty (BBNJ Agreement): Advancing ratifications of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, which was adopted in 2023 and covers nearly two-thirds of the ocean. Entry into force of the Agreement is critical for the health and resilience of the ocean and can make vital contributions to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14. A Special Treaty Event held later today, provides an opportunity for States to sign or ratify the Agreement. Sustainable Fisheries: Ending illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing practices, while encouraging science-based, community-led approaches to rebuild fish stocks and minimize ecosystem damage. Marine Protected Areas: Advancing progress on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework target of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030. Decarbonizing Maritime Transport: Accelerating the transition to low- and zero-emission fuels and electrifying port infrastructure, recognizing early leadership from both national governments and the maritime industry. Plastic Pollution: Generating renewed political will and momentum for tackling plastic pollution, with negotiations resuming in August 2025. Financing: Unlocking new finance streams — including philanthropic capital, blended finance, and public-private partnerships — to support coastal resilience and sustainable blue economies. Science and Governance: Underscoring evidence-based policymaking and the role of cutting-edge research, observation systems, and Indigenous knowledge in shaping effective ocean governance.
