Macron Sounds Alarm Over Oceans Ahead of UN Conference in Nice (Revised)
International leader Macron advocates for global cooperation prior to the UN Ocean Conference, scheduled to take place in Nice. - International leader Macron urges global response prior to UN marine conference in Nice
Emmanuel Macron rattled off a stark warning: Climate change is no longer grabbing headlines, leaving the oceans in trouble. The French president bemoaned the reduction of funds for scientific research, especially in the USA, which will not dispatch an official delegation to the UN Ocean Conference in Nice this year.
While Macron played host to nearby politicians, Carsten Schneider, part of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD), got to business aboard the "Malizia Explorer," an extreme sailor's new research vessel, during the Ocean Summit's parade. Schneider stressed the import of marine research, stating, "Only what we know can we protect."
In addition to discussing West African marine training with the President of Cabo Verde, José Maria Neves, Schneider explored the topic of high seas protected areas as soon as a convention is ratified by the UN.
As the summit kicked off with a dinner attended by over 50 dignitaries, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the eyes of the world turned to Nice, France, where the third UN Ocean Conference had commenced. Roughly 130 countries and 40 international organizations assembled for the five-day event, which is considered the preeminent international summit for marine protection.
Germany is seeking key results at the conference, including the establishment of protected areas in the high seas, reducing plastic waste, and enforcing a moratorium on deep-sea mining. The UN Ocean Conference is held every four years with the latest one focusing on marine life survival and the long-term health of Earth's oceans.
- Emmanuel Macron
- Nice
- UN
- Carsten Schneider
- 2025
- Marine protection
- USA
- SPD
- Boris Herrmann
- Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
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The 2025 UN Ocean Conference is the latest gathering of nations dedicated to marine life conservation and the longevity of Earth's oceans. The primary objectives of the conference include:
- Marine Protection: Prioritizing ecosystem preservation and ensuring sustainable utilization of ocean resources.
- High Seas Protected Areas: Implementing a legal framework to establish protected zones in international waters via ratification of the UN High Seas Treaty.
- Reducing Plastic Waste: While not explicitly addressed in the available sources, reducing plastic pollution is a long-term goal related to SDG 14, which aims to maintain and use the oceans sustainably.
Countries like France are taking valuable steps to conserve the oceans, with French leaders pushing for high seas treaty ratifications. The participation of countries like Germany, Brazil, and the USA indicates a widespread commitment to ocean preservation.
- Carsten Schneider, a member of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD), emphasized the significance of marine research, stating, "Only what we know can we protect," during the Ocean Summit held on the "Malizia Explorer."
- Emmanuel Macron expressed concern about the reduction of funds for scientific research, particularly in the USA, and the impact it may have on the protection of the marine environment, as the UN Ocean Conference in Nice approached.
- In preparation for the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, Germany is seeking key results, including the establishment of protected areas in the high seas, reducing plastic waste, and enforcing a moratorium on deep-sea mining, to ensure the long-term health of Earth's oceans.
