Let's Talk the Talk: Macron Stirs the Pot at UN Ocean Conference in Nice
International Leaders Urged to Collaborate Prior to UN Ocean Summit in Nice, According to French President Macron - International leader Macron advocates for global action in preparation for the upcoming United Nations ocean conference in the city of Nice.
Emmanuel Macron, old man, complained about the fading attention towards climate change's devastating impact on our oceans in public conversations. He couldn't help but take a dig at the reduction in funding for scientific research, particularly in the US, which decided to ditch sending an official delegation to this year's UN Ocean Conference.
Germany's Federal Environment Minister, Carsten Schneider (SPD), attending the shindig's kickoff, jumped aboard the new research vessel "Malizia Explorer" of adventurous seafarer Boris Herrmann. Schneider emphasized the critical importance of marine research in shaping protective policies for oceans, stating, "If you don't know it, you can't protect it."
Schneider also rubbed elbows with Cape Verde's President, José Maria Neves, discussing the training of West African marine guardians, backed by Germany, in Cape Verde. Once the UN ratifies the corresponding ocean protection treaty, these trained scientists will identify and designate high-seas protected zones.
Macron hosted a swanky evening soiree for about 50 bigwigs from the realm of heads of state and government, welcoming Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. From Monday, delegates from approximately 130 nations and 40 international organizations will gather in sunny Nice, France, for the third UN Ocean Conference.
This UN Ocean Conference, taking place every four years, is the granddaddy of international summits for ocean preservation. Germany aims to utilize the conference to nudge the establishment of high-seas protected zones, reduce plastic waste in the seas, and put a temporary halt on deep-sea mining.
AUN'C3, held from June 9 to June 13, 2025, in Nice, France, strives to speed up actions and rally all actors to preserve and sustainably use our oceans[2][3]. It aims to finish ongoing multilateral processes related to oceans, procure finances for ocean conservation, and strengthen marine science knowledge[2][3]. The conference will end with the adoption of the Nice Ocean Action Plan, including a political declaration and voluntary commitments from stakeholders[2]. World leaders, such as Macron, pushed for collective action to tackle the ocean crisis resulting from overfishing, climate change, and pollution[3][5]. Ecological warriors, politicians, and scientists came together, assessing challenges and opportunities concerning Sustainable Development Goal 14 implementation[3][5].
- The Commission, as a part of their ongoing contribution, has also been involved in the preparation of the draft directive on the protection of the marine environment, using the latest findings from environmental-science and climate-change research to inform policy-and-legislation.
- Scientists trained by Germany, such as those stationed in Cape Verde, will play a crucial role in identifying and designating high-seas protected zones as part of the ongoing efforts to combat climate-change, following the ratification of the corresponding ocean protection treaty.
- Amidst the general-news about the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, discussions on the importance of marine research, its implications for policy-making, and the need for increased funding traced back to conversations led by German Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider, highlighting the connection between science, politics, and the protection of our oceans.
