"French Special Envoy calls for enactment of Biodiversity Treaty beyond national limits at UN Ocean Conference"
France Advocates for Urgency in Implementing Ocean Protection Treaty
Nice, France, May 27 (ANI) - French Ambassador for the Ocean and the President's Special Envoy for the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), Olivier Poivre d'Arvor, has stressed the immediate need to enforce the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty to combat the escalating threats to global oceans.
Speaking ahead of the UNOC3 summit scheduled for June 2025 in Nice, d'Arvor highlighted the significant role of Indo-Pacific nations as major stakeholders in the Blue Economy while also warning of catastrophic consequences, including a potential four-meter sea-level rise by 2100.
D'Arvor's statements underscore the global necessity to prioritize ocean conservation amidst climate change, an idea echoed by diplomatic sources emphasizing the need for comprehensive action to protect marine ecosystems.
"This is the first UN summit organised after Trump's election... Participants coming from the Indo-Pacific region are key players... They are the first beneficiaries of the Blue Economy... Shipping, Maritime Support, Fisheries... Indo-Pacific is deeply concerned about the future of the ocean... A four-meter rise in sea level by 2100... The summit is mainly organised for the stakeholders from the science, technology, and business sectors... The first-ever summit to be organised on the blue economy will have 16 heads of state from the Pacific region participating... Summits on the cities and regions affected by the sea-level rise will also be discussed... We need to implement the BBNJ Treaty also," D'Arvor stated.
D'Arvor also noted that India, a signatory of the treaty since July last year, needs to ratify it.
The BBNJ Agreement, also known as the 'High Seas Treaty', is an international treaty under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Its aims include long-term protection of marine biodiversity in the high seas, setting precise mechanisms for sustainable use, and ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits. It follows an ecosystem-centric approach based on the precautionary principle and promotes traditional knowledge and scientific knowledge.
During discussions with stakeholders, a French diplomatic source emphasized the urgency of ocean protection, pointing to the significant funding gap for ocean conservation as part of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The source noted that marine systems absorb 90 percent of the excess heat from global climate change, leading to severe consequences for marine life and coastal communities, stressing the need for ocean-centric initiatives for critical global biodiversity and livelihoods.
The high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development (the 2025 UN Ocean Conference) will be co-hosted by France and Costa Rica and held in Nice, France, from June 9 - 13, 2025. The overarching theme of the conference is "Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors" to support the implementation of SDG14. (ANI)
(The story has come from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by the Tribune staff.)
- The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty, also known as the 'High Seas Treaty', is crucial for combating threats to global oceans, as highlighted by France's Ambassador for the Ocean, Olivir Poivre d'Arvor.
- D'Arvor emphasized the need for immediate implementation of the BBNJ Treaty, especially considering the potential four-meter sea-level rise by 2100 and the impact on marine ecosystems.
- The United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) summit, scheduled for June 2025 in Nice, will focus on the Blue Economy, with stakeholders primarily from the science, technology, and business sectors expected to participate.
- The first-ever summit organized on the Blue Economy will see 16 heads of state from the Pacific region participate, underscoring the importance of ocean conservation in the face of climate change.
- Diplomatic sources have emphasized the urgency of ocean protection, pointing to the significant funding gap for ocean conservation as part of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the severe consequences for marine life and coastal communities.
- India, a signatory of the BBNJ Treaty since July last year, needs to ratify it to contribute effectively to the global efforts aimed at marine biodiversity protection and sustainable use.
