2022 United Nations Conference on the Oceans in Lisbon: Ambitious international goals in sustainability of the Brest Commitments for the Ocean
Friday, July 1, 2022
On the initiative of the President of the Republic, on February 11, more than a hundred countries know that the place of the Ocean on the international political agenda does not correspond to its role in the climate balance, ecological and social planetary, or level. committed to working collectively, proactively and concretely to end Ocean degradation by contributing to the “Brest Ocean Commitments” from threats that aggravate marine life.
Four months later, during the United Nations Conference on Oceans held in Lisbon from June 27 to July 1, the President of the Republic, accompanied by the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Ecological Transition and Territorial Union, the Secretary for Maritime Affairs and Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships He gave a progress report on the commitments made in Brest and recalled that France is fully committed and determined to take action to protect biodiversity and end the overexploitation of marine resources. and combating marine pollution.
The Oceans Conference of the United Nations allowed to strengthen the international mobilization initiated by France to move towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Since the first edition of the One Ocean Summit, new signatories have joined the mobilization and strengthened actions in favor of protecting the oceans:
- The creation of protected areas is an important pillar for biodiversity conservation. More than 100 countries now intend to protect 30% of the world’s land and seas by 2030;
- France, Colombia and Costa Rica have launched an international coalition for blue carbon in Brest to accelerate conservation and restoration projects and enable a true ‘blue carbon transition’. Australia and Morocco have since joined this coalition;
- In Brest, Greece, Italy, Colombia, South Korea, the City of Paris and the Maritime Region of Central Greece, 500 signatories have joined the Global Commitment for a New Plastic Economy, implemented in partnership with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). including 250 companies from all over the world. Thailand, Kenya, Belgium, Ghana, Vanuatu, Mexico, Queretaro City (Mexico), Baja California State (Mexico), Baja California Sur State (Mexico), Sinaloa State (Mexico), Pernambuco State (Brazil), Sao Polo State (Brazil) ), 9 Consorcio Nordeste state (Brazil), Ensenada city (Mexico), San Miguel de Allende city (Mexico) joined this global commitment before the UN conference. Australia will also join this coalition by the end of 2022.
France welcomes international volunteerism in favor of ocean protection and at the same time acts at the national level to promote itself and intends to contribute to increasing collective ambitions in favor of ocean protection:
- The President of the Republic announced France’s desire to apply to host the next conference alongside Costa Rica in 2025.
- The Minister of Ecological Transition and Territorial Unity recalled the mobilization of the BBNJ coalition launched in Brest to conclude this year with the aim of adopting a legally binding agreement on the high seas (BBNJ) and called on its partners to join the high seas. -A coalition of ambitions for the BBNJ treaty, which started in Brest and already includes 48 states.
“The ocean is an essential cornerstone for ensuring a livable planet. The creation of a low sulfur emission zone covering the entire Mediterranean Sea from 2025 is the result of unprecedented international consultation. It includes both environmental and health benefits. By 2050 “It is possible to act to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. Thus, we are making very concrete progress towards the goal of greening maritime transport.”
“This United Nations conference was an opportunity to review a number of actions implemented in Brest. For example, the importance of joint fight against illegal fishing subsidies was mentioned. In mid-June, a historic agreement was adopted at the XII Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This is an important step forward for ocean conservation. This is the first time since 2013 that the WTO has agreed on a binding multilateral text, and we welcome it. A point was also highlighted regarding the fulfillment of the commitment undertaken by a number of European countries in Brest regarding the transformation of Mercator-Ocean into an intergovernmental organization for the implementation of the digital twin of the ocean. I am pleased with the centrality of the conference to knowledge in the service of ocean governance.”
