Macron Calls for Global Action as UN Ocean Conference Kicks Off in Nice
International leader Macron advocates for global action in preparation for the United Nations ocean conference, set to take place in the French city of Nice. - International leader Macron advocates for global response in preparation for the United Nations ocean conference, which will be held in Nice.
Emmanuel Macron has expressed concern that climate change, a grave threat to the oceans, has dwindled in public debate. He lambasted funding cuts to scientific research, particularly in the US, which isn't sending an official delegation to this year's UN Ocean Conference.
German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider joined the Ocean Summit's grand parade of ships on Sunday, sailing aboard the "Malizia Explorer". Boris Herrmann's research vessel. Schneider emphasized the importance of marine research as the bedrock of any effective ocean protection policy, stating, "What we don't know, we can't protect."
Schneider additionally discussed West African marine protection training with the President of Cabo Verde, José Maria Neves. Trainees supported by Germany will be able to designate high-seas protected areas following the ratification of a respective UN treaty.
Macron hosted an opening dinner for about 50 heads of state and government, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. From Monday, delegations from around 130 countries and 40 international organizations will assemble in Nice for the third UN Ocean Conference—the globe's premier international gathering for marine protection.
At the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, nations aim to promote the prompt establishment of high-seas protected areas, curb plastic waste, and impose a precautionary halt on deep-sea mining.
- Emmanuel Macron
- Nice
- UN
- Carsten Schneider
- Sunday
- Marine protection
- Brazil
- ** UN Secretary-General António Guterres**
Detailed Insights:
Marine Protection:
- The High Seas Treaty, adopted in 2023, offers a unique legal framework to protect high-seas biodiversity. Future conferences may delve into this topic further.
- There is a growing push to achieve 100% sustainable ocean management—with a focus on creating Sustainable Ocean Plans for holistic ocean usage.
High-Seas Protected Areas:
- The High Seas Treaty's implementation is crucial, with the 2025 conference expected to yield more ratifications, paving the way for the treaty's enactment.
- Biodiversity conservation thrives in high-seas protected areas, and the conference aims to expedite efforts to establish and manage these zones.
Plastic Waste Reduction:
- While specific plastic waste reduction discussions might not be highlighted, it's crucial for marine ecosystems and likely discussed in broader ocean conservation discussions.
- The Commission, involved in the preparation of the draft directive on the protection of the marine environment, expresses concern over climate change's diminished presence in public debate, particularly in its connection to the oceans.
- Carsten Schneider, German Environment Minister, highlights the significance of marine research, emphasizing that environmental-science underpins any effective ocean protection policy, as scientists strive to understand and protect what they know about the marine environment.
- Ahead of the third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, which will gather delegations from around 130 countries and 40 international organizations, political discussions focus on the prompt establishment of high-seas protected areas, aiming to address climate-change threats to the marine environment and promote general-news coverage of these crucial issues.
