UN ocean conference in France calls for urgent action on marine protection

The five-day event, co-organized by France and Costa Rica, brings together world leaders, scientists, commercial figures, indigenous representatives and civil society groups. Its objective is to agree on a series of voluntary and political commitments under what is expected to be called Nice Ocean Action Plan.

The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Gutres, urged countries to make bold comforts, saying that the world faced an agitation era, but the determination shown at the conference offered hope.

“I urge all countries to present themselves with bold promises,” said the United Nations Secretary António Guterres, in his opening comments.

“We live in an era of agitation, but the resolution I see here gives me hope. I hope we can change the course,” he added.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, requested Redwed multilateral cooperation, saying that the global challenges required the commitment of governments and scientists.

“We need to revitalize the multilatery behind the UN Secretary General. The only way to face that challenge is to mobilize all the actors, the heads of state and the government speak here, but also scientists.”

Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles said that the summit should be remembered as the time when the world recognized that protecting the ocean is not optional, but a moral and economic need.

The required minimum protection standards to guarantee long -term health of navy ecosystems.

“This summit should be remembered as the time when the world understood that caring for the ocean is not simply an option. Rather, it is a minimal moral, economic protection and, in fact, we need minimal protection.”

The conference is held in the context of record marine heat, plastic pollution and the decrease in fish stocks. It also follows the adoption of the Marine Biodiversity Treaty in 2023, whose objective is to regulate conservation in areas beyond the national jurisdiction.

The key discussion problems include efforts to stop illegal fishing, expand protected marine areas and decarbonize maritime transport. Delegates will also examine the options to increase financing through private investment and philanthropic channels to sustainable oceanic economies.

The UN Deputy Secretary of the UN, Li Junhua, who serves as general secretary of the conference, said that incremental progress was no longer enough to address the scale of ocean -related challenges.

He requested investments in billions, not in millions, and urged countries to make binding commitments that can resist political transitions and economic pressures.

“The time for incremental progress is over. We need billions, not millions, in investment. We need binding commitments that survive political transitions and economic pressures.”

A special event is scheduled to make the conference to promote a greater ratification of the Marine Biodiversity Treaty, which covers almost two thirds of the ocean.

Other sessions will address plastic pollution, the use of low -emission fuels in shipping and strategies to meet a global objective of protecting 30 percent of the ocean by 2030.

The event is held as part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science. More than 50 heads of state and government participate, along with more than 450 secondary events and a media zone aimed at promoting public participation with oceanic problems.

The conference is expected to adopt a political statement and a registration of voluntary commitments for the weekend.