United Nations Ocean Conference
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| United Nations Ocean Conference | |
|---|---|
| Name | United Nations Ocean Conference |
| Location | New York City |
| Date | 2017–present |
| Organizer | United Nations |
| Participants | Member States, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, private sector, scientific community |
United Nations Ocean Conference The United Nations Ocean Conference convened to address ocean conservation, maritime biodiversity, and sustainable development, linking Sustainable Development Goal 14 with international diplomacy, scientific advisory bodies, and multilateral institutions. Drawing participants from United Nations General Assembly, United Nations Environment Programme, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, World Trade Organization, and regional organizations such as European Union, the Conference sought commitments from states, corporations, and civil society actors including Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund, Oceana (organization), and The Nature Conservancy. Its agenda intersected with legal regimes such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, economic forums like the World Economic Forum, and scientific initiatives including Global Ocean Observing System, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Background and Objectives
The Conference emerged from negotiations within the United Nations General Assembly and was shaped by resolutions from bodies such as the United Nations Environment Assembly and the UN Secretary-General's reports, responding to assessments by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Oceans and Cryosphere, and the Global Biodiversity Outlook. Its stated objectives included halting marine pollution referenced by the Basel Convention and Stockholm Convention, protecting marine biodiversity akin to targets in the Convention on Biological Diversity, scaling up marine protected areas in line with commitments in forums like the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, and supporting implementation of instruments such as the Nagoya Protocol and the Port State Measures Agreement. The Conference linked financing dialogues led by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and Asian Development Bank with capacity-building programs from the United Nations Development Programme and technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization.
Key Conferences and Summits
Major gatherings included the 2017 global High-Level Conference convened under the auspices of the President of the United Nations General Assembly and attended by heads of state, ministers, and representatives from agencies such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, International Maritime Organization, International Seabed Authority, and regional entities like the African Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Satellite events featured partnerships with the Global Environment Facility, scientific symposia involving Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and stakeholder dialogues hosted by World Ocean Council and International Union for Conservation of Nature. Follow-up summits convened side meetings at assemblies such as the Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties and sectoral conferences including the Our Ocean Conference and the Arctic Council sessions addressing polar marine issues.
Outcomes and Declarations
The Conference produced negotiated texts, voluntary commitments, and multistakeholder declarations supported by states party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Environment Programme. Outcomes included commitments to expand marine protected areas informed by scientific assessments from institutions like the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative, policy frameworks referencing the Aichi Targets and pathways compatible with the Paris Agreement. Financial pledges mobilized through mechanisms such as the Global Environment Facility and investment platforms associated with the World Bank Private Sector Development arm aimed to support initiatives proposed by NGOs like Conservation International and research centers including Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. The Conference advanced negotiations toward a binding treaty on marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction administered by the United Nations's intergovernmental negotiating committee.
Implementation and Follow-up Mechanisms
Follow-up relied on reporting channels within the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, monitoring frameworks coordinated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and data platforms such as the Global Ocean Observing System and Ocean Biogeographic Information System. Capacity-building was delivered through partnerships involving the United Nations Development Programme, Commonwealth Secretariat, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, and regional development banks like the African Development Bank. Compliance and review used forums such as the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and technical assessments from Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research and International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Private finance instruments referenced included blended finance vehicles promoted by the International Finance Corporation and blue bonds issued with technical assistance from organizations like the Nature Conservancy and European Investment Bank.
Stakeholders and Participation
Stakeholders encompassed member states from blocs including the Group of 77, Small Island Developing States, European Union, Pacific Islands Forum, and Caribbean Community, alongside observers such as International Maritime Organization, World Trade Organization, International Union for Conservation of Nature, and NGOs such as Greenpeace, Ocean Conservancy, Friends of the Earth, WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society), and Surfrider Foundation. Scientific partners included Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Ifremer, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, CSIRO, and academic networks like the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research. Private sector actors ranged from multinational shipping companies represented at the International Chamber of Shipping to fisheries groups participating via the Food and Agriculture Organization and investment consortia connected to the World Bank and International Finance Corporation.
Impact and Criticism
The Conference catalyzed new voluntary commitments, catalyzed scientific collaborations among entities like the Global Ocean Observing System and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and influenced policy dialogues within the United Nations General Assembly and Convention on Biological Diversity. Critics from NGOs such as Greenpeace and commentators in outlets referencing analyses by World Resources Institute and Chatham House argued that voluntary pledges lacked binding enforcement and that outcomes insufficiently addressed issues raised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and equity concerns highlighted by Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries. Debates persisted about finance adequacy from institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund and about gaps between multilateral legal instruments like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and emerging treaties on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction.