The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) commenced on Monday in Nice, a scenic coastal city in southern France, focusing on the theme of “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.”
Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, this year’s conference is a gathering of delegations from UN member states, international organizations, academia, civil society, and the private sector, all aiming to address global ocean governance.
UNOC3 aims to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14), which advocates for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources. Key priorities include enhancing support for ocean governance, securing funding for SDG14, fostering a sustainable blue economy, and improving marine scientific knowledge to inform policy decisions.
During the opening remarks, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the ocean as “the ultimate shared resource,” stating that humanity is currently failing it. He stressed the need for multilateral cooperation and increased financial investment, highlighting that SDG14 remains among the least funded Sustainable Development Goals.
The conference features a series of 10 plenary sessions along with 10 specialized “Ocean Action Panels,” with proceedings set to conclude on Friday.
Source: news.cgtn.com
