United Nations Oceans Conference (2017)
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| United Nations Oceans Conference (2017) | |
|---|---|
| Name | United Nations Oceans Conference |
| Date | 5–9 June 2017 |
| Location | United Nations Headquarters, New York City |
| Convened by | United Nations General Assembly |
| Participants | Member states of the United Nations, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations |
| Result | adoption of Call for Action, Voluntary Commitments Registry, reaffirmation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 |
United Nations Oceans Conference (2017) The 2017 United Nations Oceans Conference convened at United Nations Headquarters in New York City from 5–9 June 2017 to support implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 and to address threats to the marine ecosystem such as overfishing, marine pollution, and acidification. The meeting brought together representatives from Member states of the United Nations, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, International Maritime Organization and a wide array of civil society actors to negotiate a political outcome and register voluntary actions.
Background and Objectives
The conference was mandated by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 71/312 and aimed to mobilize science, finance and policy toward targets under Sustainable Development Goal 14, including commitments to end illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, address marine pollution including plastic pollution, protect coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and coral reefs, and strengthen ocean governance through instruments like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Major objectives included accelerating implementation of existing agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, supporting the Small Island Developing States agenda, and catalyzing action by entities including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Union and regional bodies like the Pacific Islands Forum.
Preparations and Participants
Preparatory processes involved the United Nations Economic and Social Council, the Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement discussions, regional consultations hosted by groups like the African Union and the Organization of American States, and scientific inputs from bodies such as the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Delegations included heads of state from Fiji, Norway, Palau, Portugal, Kenya and ministers from Japan, Canada, Australia, India alongside representatives from Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and academic institutions like Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Business participants comprised corporations and industry groups including International Chamber of Commerce, World Economic Forum, Maersk, and fisheries organizations such as European Fisheries Control Agency.
Conference Proceedings and Key Outcomes
Plenary sessions featured statements by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the President of the General Assembly, the Prime Minister of Fiji and the President of Seychelles, and thematic dialogues with experts from Rutgers University, University of Oxford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and think tanks like the World Resources Institute. Negotiations produced a negotiated political outcome known as the Call for Action that reaffirmed commitments under Sustainable Development Goal 14, urged enhanced implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and encouraged establishment of networks of marine protected areas consistent with Convention on Biological Diversity targets. Side events and exhibits highlighted tools from GEBCO, Copernicus Programme, Global Ocean Observing System, and financing mechanisms promoted by the Global Environment Facility and Green Climate Fund.
Commitments, Partnerships and Voluntary Commitments Registry
The conference launched a public Voluntary Commitments Registry to record pledges from Member states of the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and private sector actors including commitments by Norway, Chile, European Union, Unilever, IKEA Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and coalitions like the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. Hundreds of entries ranged from establishment of new marine protected areas by Palau and Ecuador to initiatives on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing supported by Interpol and the World Customs Organization. Partnerships were formalized through coalitions such as the Friends of Ocean Action and scientific collaborations with institutions including Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and Plymouth Marine Laboratory.
Impact, Follow-up and Implementation
Follow-up mechanisms involved reporting to the United Nations General Assembly and integration with the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, with monitoring drawing on data from Global Ocean Observing System, Group on Earth Observations, and satellite programmes like Copernicus Programme and Landsat. The conference catalyzed national policy shifts in countries such as Indonesia and Philippines on marine plastics, influenced funding priorities at the World Bank and Asian Development Bank for coastal resilience projects, and accelerated negotiations toward a new international legally binding instrument on marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. Scientific collaborations expanded among International Union for Conservation of Nature, Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research, and regional bodies like the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission to support implementation.
Criticisms and Controversies
Critics including Friends of the Earth, Center for International Environmental Law and academics from University of Cambridge argued the conference produced non-binding outcomes and emphasized voluntary over legally binding measures, questioning the effectiveness of the Voluntary Commitments Registry and the role of private sector actors such as Coca-Cola Company and Nestlé in shaping agenda priorities. Environmental NGOs highlighted tensions between conservation goals and interests represented by shipping lobbies like the International Chamber of Shipping and flagged gaps in enforcement for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing overseen by bodies including the Regional Fisheries Management Organizations. Debates continued about the pace of negotiations on the agreement on marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction and the adequacy of finance mechanisms offered by institutions including the Global Environment Facility and Green Climate Fund.