Context:
The UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) 2025, held in Nice, France, from June 9-13, focused on accelerating action to conserve and sustainably use the ocean. Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, the conference brought together heads of state, ministers, scientists, and other stakeholders to address Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water).
Key Outcomes:
- BBNJ Treaty (High Seas Treaty): 56 of 60 required countries have ratified; triggers legal enforcement after 60 ratifications and a 120-day countdown.
- Objective: Protect biodiversity in international waters by creating marine protected areas (MPAs), regulating genetic resource access, conducting impact assessments, and supporting developing nations.
- Challenge: Disagreements over fair sharing of commercial benefits from deep-sea resources; calls for stricter extraction limits.
- India’s Status: Yet to ratify but is in process; U.S. also has not ratified.
India is actively involved, having recently hosted the second Blue Talks in New Delhi to prepare for the conference. The Blue Talks focused on India’s blue economy and sustainable growth, aligning with the UNOC’s theme of “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”.
