Highlights and images for 7 June 2024

A deep dive into the Ocean reveals not only its mesmerizing beauty, but also its alarming degradation. Once teeming with vibrant marine life and pristine coral reefs, many areas now exhibit stark signs of deterioration due to biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution – the triple planetary crisis. This deterioration not only endangers marine ecosystems, but also poses a grave threat to human livelihoods and the health of our planet.

The first day of the Immersed in Change High-Level Event pulled delegates into the depths of these issues, propelling solution-oriented discussions to combat the Ocean crisis. The curtain-raiser event, “Let's Be Nice to the Ocean,” introduced the purpose of the #LetBeNicetotheOcean movement, of making ocean protection the norm, not the exception! 

Throughout the day, several reflections were made on recent progress in global ocean-related negotiations, including the adoption of the UN agreement on biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions (BBNJ Agreement) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Speakers further called for maintaining momentum for the adoption of an ambitious global plastics treaty by the end of this year to tackle the issue of marine plastics pollution.

During the opening session, Hervé Berville, Minister of State for Marine Affairs, France, underlined that the protection of the Ocean is key to successfully tackling the triple planetary crisis. 

Arnoldo André Tinoco, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Costa Rica, pointed to the Peace for Ocean Declaration, which will be a key outcome from the Event, urging participants to take on its commitment which is “as vast as the Ocean,” to implement joint solutions for a sustainable future for all. 

Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and Secretary General, Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), highlighted the relevance of the unanimous adoption of the Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity from the recently concluded Fourth International Conference on Small Islands States, which now makes protecting the Ocean an imperative.

Rodrigo Chaves Robles, President of Costa Rica, underlined that the future of the planet depends on our ability to rescue the Ocean from impending disaster, and the way to do this is to put into action our commitment to the Ocean and “make better decisions for people and the planet.”

In a video message, Emmanuel Macron, President of France, thanked Costa Rica for being an example and source of inspiration for all to implement commitments for protecting marine resources. He highlighted the importance of the Peace for Ocean Declaration in intensifying collective efforts for ocean action and as a forerunner of the Third UNOC to be held in Nice, France, in June 2025.

Delegates delved into four interactive panels illustrating success stories with the potential of being replicated. 

The panel on Satellite Technology for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Ocean focused on the importance of open access, infrastructure investment, and capacity building for satellite technology.

The panel on the Sustainable Blue Economy showcased the frontiers, interlinkages, and opportunities in operationalizing a whole-of-society and -government blue economic approach.

The Sustainable Use of Fishing Resources panel focused on the promotion of responsible use of fisheries resources as an alternative way to counteract the effects of climate change, conserve threatened marine species, guarantee food security, and contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of coastal and island communities.

In the Scientific Development to Address Marine Pollution panel, discussions focused on recent scientific information on plastics pollution; impacts on marine resources and people; shared practices and tools to combat the global plastics scourge; and opportunities looking ahead.

A total of 25 government representatives spoke at the High-Level Segment on Ocean Action, which provided an opportunity for states to reiterate their commitments to ocean conservation, and to showcase initiatives undertaken to ratify the BBNJ Agreement and implement the GBF, among others, leading to the Third UNOC.

The “logbook” event on Delivering the Science We Need for the Ocean We Want addressed the role of ocean science and knowledge in contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 14 (life below water); and the steps to focus on, and fast-track investment for science and technology for ocean solutions looking ahead to the Third UNOC and beyond.