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18:33:23

Third United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC)-2025

Recently, the third United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC), held in Nice, France, concluded with commitments aimed at safeguarding the planet’s marine ecosystems.


Key Highlights
  • High Seas Treaty Nears Enforcement: Fifty-six of the required sixty countries have ratified the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement (aka High Seas Treaty).
  • It enables the creation of marine protected areas (MPAs) in international waters, regulate marine genetic resources, and mandate environmental impact assessments.
  • The European Commission pledged 1 Billion Euro to support ocean conservation and sustainable fishing.
  • French Polynesia announced plans to establish the world’s largest marine protected area, covering its entire exclusive economic zone—about five million square kilometers.
  • Over 170 countries adopted the Nice Ocean Action Plan, a political declaration paired with more than 800 voluntary commitments.
  • These range from youth advocacy to deep-sea ecosystem literacy and capacity-building in marine science.
  • A growing coalition of nations called for a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining, citing its potential to irreversibly damage fragile marine ecosystems.
  • India pledged to ratify the High Seas Treaty and proposed a 10-point roadmap for sustainable ocean governance. It includes:
    • Expand Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
    • Scale Up the Blue Economy
    • Reduce Marine Pollution
    • Promote Offshore Renewable Energy
    • Support the Global Plastics Treaty
    • Invest in Ocean Science and Technology
    • Strengthen Coastal Resilience
    • Ensure Equitable Access to Marine Resources
    • Pause Deep-Sea Mining
    • Foster Global Partnerships
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