Dignitaries Gather in Nice for United Nations Ocean Conference

Dignitaries from across the world have flown into Nice on France’s Cote d’Azur for this week’s United Nations Ocean Conference. The event, jointly hosted by France and Costa Rica, has attracted more than 50 heads of state, including French President Emanuel Macron.

The focus of this year’s conference is on the importance of understanding and protecting the world’s oceans. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is leading efforts to engage commercial ships in its scientific mission to better comprehend the planet’s seas and oceans.

UNESCO aims to equip 10,000 commercial vessels with scientific measuring instruments by 2035. These instruments will transmit real-time data to the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), enabling researchers to monitor climate patterns, predict extreme weather events, and enhance maritime safety.

Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, emphasized the need for global cooperation in safeguarding marine environments. “We all have a responsibility to protect our precious marine resources,” Dominguez stated, urging governments, industries, and civil society to work together.

During a visit to Monaco, President Macron reiterated the importance of sustainable practices in sectors like fishing, maritime transport, and tourism. He emphasized the potential for sustainable development in these industries and called for collective action to preserve the ocean’s health.

As discussions continue at the UN Ocean Conference, the international community is urged to renew its commitments to ocean conservation and sustainable marine practices. With a shared responsibility to protect our oceans, governments and industries must collaborate to ensure a healthy and thriving marine ecosystem for future generations.