World leaders convened in Nice, France, on June 8th for a high-level summit focused on ocean conservation. The summit addressed critical issues such as overfishing, pollution, and marine protection.
The United Nations has highlighted an "emergency" facing the oceans, urging nations to commit to financial support and stronger protections. The conference aims to address disputes over deep-sea mining, plastic pollution, and unsustainable fishing practices.
French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the planet cannot tolerate broken promises. Leaders from around the world, including Brazil and Argentina, attended the summit.
The conference venue was designed to resemble the inside of a whale. The summit included a dinner featuring Mediterranean fish. France deployed 5,000 police officers for the five-day event.
Pacific Island nations are expected to seek financial aid to address rising sea levels, marine debris, and overfishing. The United States did not send a delegation.
Conservationists have expressed concerns that the summit, which will not produce a legally binding agreement, could be ineffective without concrete proposals. France announced restrictions on bottom trawling in some marine protected areas.
Nations are being urged to provide the necessary funds to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030. Currently, only about 8% of the oceans are designated as marine conservation zones. Greenpeace estimates that at the current rate, it will take another 82 years to reach the 30% goal.
The summit also focused on ratifying a global treaty on harmful fishing subsidies and protecting the high seas. France is leading efforts to build support for a moratorium on deep-sea mining.