The oceans belong to all of us. They feed and protect our peoples. They inspire dreams and enable travel. They offer sustainable energy, means to trade, resources, and infinite scientific knowledge.
One in three people relies on the oceans for their livelihood, yet they remain little-known, with neither global governance nor the financing needed for their preservation. The dangers they face are great and can be seen in the worrying numbers: more than 8 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year, according to a study in Science; more than a third of fish stocks suffer overfishing; while ocean acidification, rising sea levels and the destruction of marine ecosystems gain pace—direct consequences of climate change.
More than ever before, we must make sure that multilateral action is equal to the challenges of protecting the oceans.
France will be hosting the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) on conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development June 9 to Jun 13. For this crucial event, some 100 heads of state and government will converge, as well as tens of thousands of researchers, scientists, people of business and finance, activists and citizens from around the world. On this occasion, France’s aim will be clear: protecting the oceans through tangible action.
Ten years after COP21 and the Paris Agreement, which established a binding global framework to limit climate change, this UNOC, in Nice, offers a historic opportunity. The “Nice Ocean Agreements” will form an international compact for conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, fully in line with the sustainable development goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015.
To make this work, the talks in Nice need to be action-focused and practical, not pie in the sky, but rather aiming for better governance, more financing and greater knowledge of the seas.
When it comes to governance, the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) is essential. The high seas, which represent more than 60 percent of the oceans, are currently the only space not governed by international law. The lack of oversight and common rules is causing a real social and environmental disaster, with massive hydrocarbon and plastic pollution, illegal and unregulated fishing techniques, and the taking of protected mammals. To end this legal vacuum, we need the BBNJ Agreement to come into force. To achieve that, it must be ratified by 60 countries.
The protection of the oceans also requires public and private financing and support for a sustainable blue economy. To continue enjoying the incredible economic opportunities offered by the oceans, we need to make sure marine resources can regenerate. In Nice, several commitments will be announced for global trade, shipping, tourism and investment.
Lastly, how can we protect what we don’t know or understand sufficiently? We must enhance our knowledge of the oceans and share it better. Today, we are capable of mapping the surface of the Moon or of Mars, but the depths of the oceans—which cover 70 percent of Earth’s surface—remain unknown. Together, we need to put science, innovation and education to work to better understand the oceans and raise public awareness.
The oceans are not just one more issue of environmental concern: they are everyone’s business. Even as multilateralism becomes more challenging, we must not forget our shared responsibility. The oceans join us all together and are central to our future. Only Together, can we make the third UNOC a turning point for our peoples, for future generations and for our planet.
This conference is not about things that are far in the future or far from American shores.
It is important to remember that the United States has the world’s largest maritime space. Through various scientific agencies, it produces highly valued knowledge for better understanding the oceans. Some U.S. companies are at the forefront of an innovative and sustainable blue economy and the US administration aims to revitalize its domestic maritime industries. The Ocean Caucuses in the Senate and the House are both bipartisan, a reminder that the challenges and opportunities of the oceans unite us all.
We look forward to welcome U.S. stake holders in Nice for that historical Summit.
Laurent Bili is the ambassador of France in the United States.
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.
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