In the context of the upcoming Third UN Ocean Conference, how can it be a watershed for our peoples, for future generations, and for our planet.
From June 9-13, France will co-host the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) with Costa-Rica. Around 100 heads of state and government, as well as tens of thousands of researchers, scientists, economic actors, activists and citizens from around the world, will converge in “Nice”. The aim must be clear: Protecting the ocean through tangible action.
Efforts in conserving the Marine ecosystem:
- High Seas Treaty/Nice Agreement:
- High Seas Treaty (HST/BBNJ) is referred to as the ‘Paris Agreement for the Ocean’. It was formally called the Agreement on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.
- It became the third agreement approved under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) after the 1994 and 1995 treaties, which established the International Seabed Authority and the Fish Stocks Agreement.
- Objective: To address critical issues such as the increasing sea surface temperatures, overexploitation of marine biodiversity, overfishing, coastal pollution, and unsustainable practices beyond national jurisdiction.
- Need for BBNJ: Ocean ecosystems produce half the oxygen we breathe, represent 95% of the planet’s biosphere and soak up carbon dioxide as the world’s largest carbon sink. Though high seas cover the majority of ocean area, only 1% of them are legally protected.
- The treaty will help achieve SDG Goal 14: Life Below Water > “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development”.
- The treaty will play an important role in achieving the global target to protect 30 per cent of the world’s coastal and marine areas by 2030.
- United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
- UNCLOS (Law of the Sea Treaty) is an international agreement that came into force in 1994.
- It establishes the legal framework for marine and maritime activities.
- UNCLOS establishes general obligations for safeguarding the marine environment and protecting the freedom of scientific research on the high seas.
- It can hold states liable for damage caused by violation of their international obligations through its three institutions:
- International Tribunal for Law of Sea,
- International Seabed Authority (ISA), and
- Commission on the limits of the continental shelf.
- The convention gives a clear definition of Internal Waters, Territorial Waters, Contiguous Zone, Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf.
- It provides rights to landlocked states for access to and from the sea without taxation of traffic through transit states.
- Members: It has 167 member states and the European Union. India is a member.
- International Seabed Authority (ISA)
- ISA is a Jamaica-based autonomous intergovernmental body established under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and its 1994 Agreement on Implementation.
- UNCLOS creates a legal regime for controlling resource exploitation in deep-seabed areas beyond national jurisdiction through the International Seabed Authority.
- It holds authority over the ocean floors outside its 167 member states’ Exclusive Economic Zones.
- United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA)
- UNFSA is a multilateral treaty under the UNCLOS and was adopted in 1995.
- It aims at ensuring sustainable use of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks.
- It provides an international legally binding framework for conserving and managing the world’s most commercially significant high-seas fish stocks.
- Achievement of ‘30×30’
- ’30×30′ is a worldwide initiative for governments to designate 30% of Earth’s land and ocean area as protected areas by 2030.
- It was launched by the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People in 2020, which now has more than 100 countries, including India, the US, and the UK.
- 30 by 30 was agreed at the COP15 meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity and became a target of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Significance of 3rd UN Ocean Conference in shaping up the future of Marine ecosystem:
- Ten years after COP21 and the Paris Agreement, which established a binding global framework to limit climate change, the UNOC3 is a historic opportunity.
- The “Nice Ocean Agreements” can form an international pact for the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean, fully in line with the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN in 2015. To this end, the talks in Nice need to be operational and action-focused, aiming for better governance, further financing, and greater knowledge of the seas.
- When it comes to governance, the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), under the UN Convention, is crucial.
- The high seas, which represent more than 60 per cent of the ocean, are currently the only areas not governed by international law. The lack of surveillance and common rules is causing a real social and environmental disaster, with massive hydrocarbon and plastic pollution, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and the capture of protected and endangered mammals. To end this legal vacuum, we need the BBNJ Agreement to be ratified by 60 countries, so that it may come into force.
- The protection of the ocean also requires public and private financing, and support for a sustainable blue economy. To continue enjoying the incredible economic opportunities offered by the ocean, we need to make sure marine resources can regenerate.
- To prepare for the UNOC3 milestone nationally and to reflect on India’s visions, France will be organising a Festival of Ideas, aptly named “Not in my ocean”. Throughout May, Alliances Françaises in Delhi, Chennai, Puducherry and the Museum of Goa will host immersive exhibitions, film screenings, workshops, discussions and debates with experts and artists from France and India. Further, along with the Ministry of Earth Sciences and the Embassy of Costa Rica, we will hold “Blue Talks” in Delhi, bringing together Indian institutions and researchers to provide clear recommendations from India for this UN Conference.
- The Indian peninsula is surrounded by an ocean, with about a third of India’s population living in coastal areas. With 7,517 km of coastline, India is among the countries whose daily life, economy and environment are most impacted by the ocean. This is acknowledged in the Indian government’s Vision 2030, which recognises the blue economy as one of the 10 core dimensions of growth.
In the context of ever-faster climate change and overexploitation of marine resources, the ocean is not just an issue like any other: It is everyone’s business. In a context in which multilateralism is being challenged, we must not forget our shared responsibility. The ocean is a universal bond, and crucial for our future. Together, we can make UNOC3 a watershed for our peoples, for future generations, and for our planet.
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