A multilateral success for the ocean – The United Nations Ocean Conference

The protection and sustainable use of our ocean and collectively advancing SDG 14 – Life Below Water – as one of the most pressing global challenges were addressed at this year’s UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice from 9-13 June. The conference that brought together 175 UN member states, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, science and the private sector stands for a promising example of multilateralism.

Germany plays a proactive and constructive role in this multilateral setting with a strong commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development. At UNOC3, Germany advocated for more speed on the important issue of international marine protection, including  a precautionary pause on deep sea mining, the ratification and implementation of the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) and a binding agreement on plastic pollution. The German research vessel METEOR functioned as a German Pavilion for multiple side events on these highly relevant topics.

Tuvalu and Germany as co-chairs of the Coalition for Addressing Sea-Level Rise and its existential threats (C-SET)organized a high-level side event on sea level rise at UNOC3 bringing together stakeholders from different sectors to raise awareness of the multidimensional impacts and to discuss sustainable solutions that leave no one behind. During the side event Tuvalu’s and Germany’s Ministers for the Environment, Maina Vakafua Talia and Carsten Schneider, pointed out the challenges of sea level rise and the importance of immediate action. Christiane Amiel, Deputy Mayor of Nice, presented the newly launched Ocean Rise & Coastal Resilience Coalition.

Germany strives to make progress in protecting the ocean and will continue its efforts in this important work in the future.