During the opening remarks at the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a stark warning about the state of the world’s oceans. “The ocean is the ultimate shared resource,” he told delegates, “but we are failing it.” He emphasized that oceans are absorbing 90% of excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions and are under tremendous strain from issues like overfishing, rising temperatures, plastic pollution, and acidification. Guterres pointed out the alarming realities: dying coral reefs, collapsing fish stocks, and rising sea levels that threaten to submerge coastal regions and islands.
The conference’s opening ceremony drew over 50 heads of state-including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen-underscoring the political urgency surrounding ocean health. More than 120 countries are participating in this five-day gathering, demonstrating a collective acknowledgment that the health of the oceans is integral to climate stability and food security.
French President Emmanuel Macron, co-hosting the summit with Costa Rica, made a passionate call for collective action. “The abyss is not for sale,” he asserted, warning against leaving the fate of the ocean to market forces. He underscored that the solutions must be grounded in scientific facts, not opinions, further calling for multilateral cooperation. President Rodrigo Chaves Robles of Costa Rica echoed this sentiment, urging an end to viewing the ocean merely as an “infinite pantry and global waste dump.” He advocated for a shift toward stewardship and announced a call for a moratorium on deep-sea mining until comprehensive risk assessments could be established.
One of the conference’s main goals is to advance the High Seas Treaty, or BBNJ accord, adopted earlier in 2023 to protect life in international waters. Macron revealed that the 60 ratifications required to make the treaty binding are within reach, stating that numerous countries have already committed to signing.
The tone of the opening speeches made it clear that the conference in Nice is set for high-stakes discussions focused on finalizing a treaty on plastic pollution, enhancing ocean finance, and resolving conflicting views on seabed mining. Hundreds of pledges are expected to be announced, building on the over 2,000 commitments made since the first UN Ocean Conference in 2017.
As the summit unfolds in a secured diplomatic venue transformed into the “Blue Zone,” the implications of current discussions resonate far beyond the conference’s immediate goals. A ceremonial flag-raising at Port Lympia marked the symbolic transfer of the historic port into UN hands, heralding a week filled with collective commitments and shared responsibility.
Before the negotiations began, traditional rituals set a reflective tone. Polynesian climate activist Ludovic Burns Tuki emphasized unity with his people through the ceremonial blowing of a conch shell. “We are not only countries; we need to think like a collective system,” he noted.
The conference aims to tackle ambitious objectives such as advancing the ‘30 by 30’ pledge, promoting sustainable fishing, decarbonizing maritime transport, and unlocking new financing opportunities. In his opening remarks, Guterres urged that Sustainable Development Goal 14-focused on life below water-remains the least funded among the UN’s 17 global goals. “This must change,” he stated, proclaiming that the ocean can become a testament to what can be achieved in a generation.
As negotiations begin, the imperative for action has never been more significant. The week ahead promises to be pivotal in shaping a sustainable future for the oceans that underpin vital ecosystems and economies globally.
Original Source: https://news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2025/06/1164146
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Publish Date: 2025-06-09 17:30:00
