The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) from 9-13 June will deliver collectively Heads of State, scientists, civil society and enterprise leaders round a single purpose: to halt the silent collapse of the planet’s largest – and arguably most important – ecosystem.
The ocean is suffocating resulting from rising temperatures, rampant acidification, erosion of biodiversity, plastic invasion, predatory fishing.
‘A state of emergency’
“Our planet’s life assist system is in a state of emergency,” stated Li Junhua, head of the UN Division of Financial and Social Affairs (DESA) and the Secretary-Common of the upcoming summit.
He insisted that there’s nonetheless time to vary course.
“The way forward for the ocean is just not predetermined. It will likely be formed by the choices and actions that we’re making now,” Mr. Li stated on Tuesday throughout a press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York.
Within the eyes of the senior official, UNOC 3 “won’t be simply one other routine gathering.”
“We hope that it proves to be the pivotal alternative to speed up motion and mobilize all stakeholders throughout the sectors and borders.”
World-class convention
Greater than 50 world leaders are anticipated on the Côte d’Azur, alongside 1,500 delegates from almost 200 nations.
The programme consists of 10 plenary conferences, 10 thematic roundtables, a blue zone reserved for official delegations, and a collection of parallel boards throughout 5 days of negotiations.
For France, which is co-hosting the convention alongside Costa Rica, the problem is evident: to make Good a historic milestone.
“That is an emergency,” declared Jérôme Bonnafont, Everlasting Consultant of France to the UN, in the course of the press convention.
“An ecological emergency: we’re witnessing the deterioration of the standard of the oceans as an setting, as a reservoir of biodiversity, as a carbon sink.”
France hopes to make the convention a turning level and the purpose “is to provide a Good settlement that’s pro-oceans, because the Paris Agreement 10 years in the past now was for the local weather.”
This settlement will take the type of a Good Motion Plan for the Ocean, a “concise action-oriented declaration,” based on Mr. Li, accompanied by renewed voluntary commitments.
Three milestones
Three occasions will put together the bottom for UNOC 3.
The One Ocean Science Congress, from 4-6 June, will deliver collectively a number of thousand researchers. The Summit on Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience to be held the next day will discover responses to rising sea ranges. Lastly, the Blue Economic system Finance Discussion board, on 7-8 June in Monaco, will mobilize buyers and policymakers.
For Costa Rican Ambassador Maritza Chan Valverde, there isn’t any extra time for procrastination.
“We’re anticipating concrete commitments with clear timelines, budgets and accountability mechanisms. What’s completely different this time round, zero rhetoric, most outcomes,” she stated.
‘Rework ambition into motion’
The convention’s theme Accelerating Motion and Mobilizing All Stakeholders to Preserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean will deal with a number of subjects, starting from sustainable fishing to marine air pollution and the interactions between local weather and biodiversity.
“That is our second to remodel ambition into motion,” Mr. Li concluded, calling for governments, companies, scientists, and civil society to return collectively in a typical spirit.
He additionally praised the “visionary management” of France and Costa Rica, with out whom this large-scale mobilization wouldn’t have been attainable.
A slogan promoted by Costa Rica appears to sum up the spirit of the summit: “5 days. One ocean. One distinctive alternative.”
