Nice, France- The UN Ocean Conference (9-13 June) is the most significant political moment on oceans since the agreement of the Global Ocean Treaty in 2023. Dozens of Heads of State will attend, according to the organisers. This level of attendance, and the diplomatic efforts of the organisers provide an opportunity to set a high level of ambition for global ocean protection for the coming years.
Megan Randles, Head of Greenpeace Delegation in Nice,France said: "With expectations for an ambitious joint political declaration very low, the success of this UN Ocean Conference now depends on the political commitments made elsewhere at this conference, in plenary and at side events. The actions from governments in Nice could have a significant impact on other crucial multilateral processes to protect nature that are taking place in 2025 – the Plastics Treaty, the Global Ocean Treaty and International Seabed Authority. The strength and ambition of commitments made in Nice will define this conference's success or failure."
France in particular has expended significant diplomatic energy to make the UN Ocean Conference the moment when the Global Ocean Treaty is ratified. This now seems unlikely, with only half the numbers needed [1]. Growing the number of governments supporting a deep sea mining moratorium is also a priority for President Macron at this conference, which follows attempts by The Metals Company to obtain permission to mine the Pacific Ocean seafloor under US legislation, ignoring multilateral negotiations and international law. It is also the last meeting of governments ahead of the final round of Plastic Treaty negotiations.
Randles continued:"This UN Ocean Conference must also be a moment when governments come together to reject The Metals Company's submission of the first ever license to commercially mine the international seabed via the United States, a move which undermines the United Nations and multilateral cooperation. A strong ministerial statement on reducing plastic production ahead of the final round of plastics treaty talks would also be critical, as would a wave of Global Ocean Treaty ratifications."
"However, we are concerned that geopolitical dynamics that have continued to plague global cooperation will play out in Nice. This risks turning the conference into little more than a talking shop as shown by the state of the draft political declaration. Governments have been negotiating this declaration for many months now, but the latest draft lacks the necessary action across all issues, from deep sea mining to stopping plastic pollution."
In a retaliation against Greenpeace ahead of the UN Ocean Conference, the French authorities have blocked Greenpeace International's ship Arctic Sunrise from entering the port of Nice, where the "One Ocean Science Congress" is being hosted ahead of the UN conference is being hosted. This follows Greenpeace France highlighting the weaknesses of the French network of Marine Protected Areas last month in the Mediterranean sea, in an expedition on board the Arctic Sunrise.
The ship has also been denied participation in the maritime parade on 8 June.
Greenpeace International has written a formal letter of complaint to the United Nations, deploring the behaviour of the hosting French government. Civil society participation is a core element of the UN Ocean Conference.
