Ocean Protection Deal: France & UN Conference
France champions a landmark ocean protection deal at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, ushering in a new era of high seas governance. The ambitious “Treaty of Nice,” poised to take effect by early 2026, aims to place two-thirds of the world’s oceans under international governance, protecting them from overfishing and pollution—a major step forward. Backed by 174 delegations and 64 heads of state, including key endorsements from geopolitical rivals, the agreement signals unprecedented global cooperation. The conference also birthed the European Ocean Pact to boost ocean exploration and research funding.News Directory 3 is following this closely.Delve deeper into the specifics of these critical conservation efforts and discover how this global initiative will reshape our planet’s future.
France rallies Support for Ocean Protection Deal at UN Conference
NICE, France—Global leaders convened this week in Nice for the UN Ocean Conference, signaling a turning point for ocean conservation. France declared a new era of high seas governance and marine protection, emphasizing science and cooperation.
Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, France’s Special envoy for the UN Ocean conference, highlighted the importance of the gathering.He noted that 174 delegations and 64 heads of state united to transform the world’s oceans into a protected global commons. The focus is on governance through science, cooperation, and binding treaties for marine protection.
The UN’s Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) treaty, known as the “Treaty of Nice,” is expected to take effect by early January 2026. This pact seeks to bring nearly two-thirds of the world’s ocean under international governance, regulating areas vulnerable to overfishing and pollution. Conservationists are calling it the biggest step forward for marine protection in decades.
With 56 countries ratifying the treaty and 14 more expected before the New York launch on Sept. 23,the agreement is poised to become law. The treaty aims to regulate the high seas, addressing overfishing, pollution, and unregulated extraction. It also sets the stage for the first Ocean COP by the end of 2026.
Despite diplomatic tensions,France,Costa Rica,and the UN garnered widespread support. Even geopolitical rivals like China, India, and the European Union endorsed the treaty. Argentina’s president Javier Milei and Indonesia ratified it during the summit.
D’Arvor cautioned against renewed deep-sea mining efforts, particularly after a recent U.S. executive order authorizing preliminary exploration. He asserted that a coalition of 40 countries would block any attempt to adopt a mining code without consensus under the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
“The high seas are no longer a playground. Thay are now a protected space,” d’Arvor said.
The conference also saw the launch of the European Ocean Pact, a collaborative ocean exploration initiative led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Supported by countries including India and China, the pact aims to address the imbalance in research funding, as ocean exploration receives considerably less funding than space programs. The initiative seeks to create a shared global database for mapping and understanding the ocean.
According to d’Arvor, science will guide ocean policy moving forward. He emphasized that the ocean, long exploited, can become a platform for cooperation and peace.
What’s next
While challenges remain in compliance and enforcement within Exclusive Economic Zones (eezs), the momentum from the UN Ocean Conference in Nice offers renewed hope for ocean defenders globally. The focus now shifts to translating pledges into measurable progress for ocean conservation.