Sustaining the Seas: Outcomes of Third UN Ocean Conference

The Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) took place in Nice, France, in June. One of its priorities was to advance implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14)—one of 17 such goals established by the United Nations in 2015—which aims to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.” At the conference, member countries adopted the Nice Action Plan for the Ocean, which includes a political declaration titled “Our Ocean, Our Future: United for Urgent Action,” along with the following three voluntary commitments from stakeholders:

1. Strengthen international ocean governance and protection through key multilateral processes that concern the ocean. The prime example of this would be entry into force of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, which at time of publication, only needed ratification by seven more countries to take effect.
2. Mobilize financial resources for SDG14 implementation, such as increasing investment in the maritime trade and tourism sectors in order to promote a “sustainable blue economy.”
3. Enhance scientific knowledge and understanding of the ocean that supports informed decision-making and improved policy development by encouraging international scientific cooperation and better dissemination of marine science information.

The interrelationship between climate change and ocean health was thematic throughout the conference, with discussions focused on the effects of climate change on the oceans, such as rising water temperatures, acidification, and marine biodiversity loss. Strategies to mitigate these impacts and promote the resilience of marine ecosystems were also discussed. In addition, several countries and NGOs launched a call to action to prevent the extinction of gravely imperiled shark and ray species.

Program Terms: Marine Wildlife

AWI Quarterly Terms: Government/Legal, Quick Read