A global oceans summit on Friday wrapped up with world leaders taking major steps toward marine protection and vowing a showdown when nations meet to negotiate rules for deep-sea mining next month.
However, as a cacophony of ship foghorns sounded the close of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, a lack of funding pledges and the total omission of fossil fuels disappointed some observers.
The summit was just the third — and largest yet — dedicated entirely to what the UN calls an “emergency” in the world’s oceans.
Photo: Reuters
More than 60 heads of state and government joined thousands of business leaders, scientists and environmental campaigners over five days in the southern city of Nice.
There was unanimous praise for efforts to ratify the high seas treaty designed to protect marine life in the 60 percent of oceans that lie beyond national waters.
About 19 countries formally ratified the pact at Nice, taking the overall tally to 50 — but 60 nations are needed to bring the treaty into force.
France’s oceans envoy, Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, said the numbers would be reached by September and the treaty should take effect by January next year.
High Seas Alliance director Rebecca Hubbard welcomed the “incredible progress” but urged “all remaining nations to ratify without delay.”
The summit sought collective action on oceans even as countries brace for tough talks over deep-sea mining next month and a plastic pollution treaty in August.
More than 90 ministers called in Nice for the treaty to enshrine limits on plastic production — something fiercely opposed by oil-producing nations.
The summit also rallied behind a defense of science and rules-based oversight of common resources — most notably the unknown depths of the oceans — in a direct rebuke of US President Donald Trump.
Trump was not present in Nice and rarely mentioned by name, but his shadow loomed as leaders thundered against his unilateral push to mine the ocean floor for nickel and minerals.
France and like-minded countries vowed to block any effort to permit deep-sea exploration at negotiations over a mining code at the International Seabed Authority next month, Poivre d’Arvor said.
“Nobody knows what is there in the deep sea... You cannot launch recklessly down this path,” he said in a closing address.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged caution, warning against turning the deep sea into “the wild west.”
Leaders “made it unmistakably clear: Deep-sea mining is one of the biggest threats facing our ocean, and the world is saying no,” Deep Sea Conservation Coalition campaign director Sofia Tsenikli said.
However, for all the rhetoric, a global alliance opposed to deep-sea mining only attracted four new members at Nice, rising to 37 nations.
Greece, Samoa and Colombia were among 14 nations who unveiled plans for vast new marine protected areas, taking the share of the world’s oceans under conservation to more than 10 percent.
Some also announced restrictions on bottom trawling, a destructive fishing method captured in grisly detail in a new David Attenborough documentary.
Activists had pushed for a total ban on this kind of trawling, which uses heavy weighted nets dragged across the ocean floor.
Developing nations hoping their larger and wealthier counterparts would open the checkbook in Nice were disappointed.
Small island nations in particular have long complained they lack the finances required to build seawalls against rising tides and protect their waters from illegal fishers.
While private donors pledged around 8.7 billion euros (US$10.05 billion) over the next five years, the UN says US$175 billion a year is needed for sustainable ocean development.
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