Nice Ocean Summit: The planet is crying out for help

Nice Ocean Summit: The planet is crying out for help

In the French city of Nice, the work of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference “UNOC3” concludes today, June 13, with the participation of more than 100 delegations and 50 leaders of states and governments, and under a joint presidency between France and Costa Rica, with the aim of saving the oceans before it is too late.

HereEarth Guardsreviews through this article the fundamental issues that were put on the conference table, from environmental challenges to political stakes, and from the imminent dangers to the hope of a global rescue plan for the oceans.

An existential crisis in the depths of the oceans

When the Secretary-General of the United Nations –Antonio Guterres– spoke during the opening of the conference, he was not issuing rhetorical slogans, but rather raising a loud cry: “The ocean is under siege, and greed is the reason.” These are words that clearly reflect that the battle today is against the greed that is destroying our marine environment in the name of profit.

The oceans, which cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and produce nearly half of the oxygen we breathe, have today become the first and last line of defense against climate catastrophe. It absorbs about 30% of carbon dioxide emissions, and more than 90% of the heat generated by those emissions, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). However, only 8% of its area is subject to protection, according to figures from the United Nations Environment Programme, while the areas that receive “effective” protection do not exceed only 3%.

An unprecedented wave of threats

The oceans are not only home to biodiversity, but also a saving tool for humanity from the effects of climate change. Therefore, scientists stress that the loss of marine ecosystems necessarily means that climate goals will remain out of reach. Hence the role of marine protected areas, which experts describe as “life generators”, is highlighted not only to protect nature, but also to support coastal communities and their economies.

However, there is still a long way to go, especially since most of the maritime areas are located outside the territorial borders of countries and are subject to a wide legal vacuum. This is why the adoption of the “High Seas” Treaty in 2023 is a pivotal step, as it has allowed for the first time to establish marine reserves in international waters.

Regarding this treaty, Rebecca Hubbard, Director of the High Seas Alliance, says: “This treaty represents the last hope for protecting the half of the planet covered by ocean,” stressing that the world stands today at a crossroads; Either protect biodiversity or lose it forever.

Can teamwork save the ocean?

What has been notable over the past five days – from 9 to 13 June – is the Nice Ocean Summit’s focus on engaging the private sector, civil society and research institutions; On each of these days, plenary sessions were held in which representatives of member states gave their statements, and at the same time the afternoon sessions turned into interactive workshops that brought together stakeholders and experts from all over the world, in a format aimed at producing new partnerships, innovative financing, and a road map for achieving marine sustainability.

Therefore, France – the organizing country – hopes to push towards the ratification of international agreements to combat illegal and unjust fishing, as well as announcing the expansion of marine protected areas in its territory. Therefore, the French Minister of Environmental Transformation confirmed that these steps will not remain ink on paper, and will translate into an actual strengthening of the level of protection.

From Nice to the world

The conference set three priorities for attendees:

First priority

Enabling multilateral operations; In order to raise the level of environmental goals.

Second priority

Mobilizing finance to support a sustainable blue economy.

Last priority

Promote marine science, and disseminate its results to enable informed policy decisions.

All of these priorities are inseparable from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and form a solid foundation for achieving them, from food security to climate action, all the way to protecting life underwater and life on land. Therefore, the participants in the Nice Ocean Summit worked to have a clear vision. Namely: The oceans are a global issue, and must be viewed comprehensively through all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In conclusion,The Earth Guardsbelieves that the oceans are the beating heart of the Earth, the source of its food security, and the reason for its climate balance. That is why the voices of the world are calling out from the city of Nice, saying:There is no sustainable development without protecting the oceans.