UN Ocean Conference set to mobilise action to reverse marine degradation

THE United Nations will bring together heads of states, heads of governments and other high-level delegates, representatives from civil society organisations, the business community, intergovernmental and United Nations (UN) agencies, as well as renowned personalities, and other ocean and marine life advocates at the Ocean Conference from June 5 to 9, to spur action to improve the state of the world’s oceans.

With the health and sustainability of the global ocean sharply deteriorating, the conference comes at a critical moment. Human activities are having major impacts on the ocean, affecting everything from the viability of marine habitats to the quality and temperature of the water, the health of marine life, and the continued availability of seafood. Ocean deterioration has broader implications as it affects poverty eradication, economic growth, sustainable livelihoods and employment, global food security, human health and climate regulation, many of the critical goals needed to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

The Ocean Conference, which is the first UN conference of its kind on the issue, will focus on achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 14, highlighting the need to conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Mandated by the UN General Assembly, the conference was originally scheduled to take place in Fiji. But Cyclone Winston caused heavy damage to the island in 2016 and the conference was moved to New York.

The five-day conference will result in a global call for action by UN Member States, a concise, focused and concrete declaration to advance action towards a more sustainable future for the ocean. The conference will also generate hundreds of new commitments for action. More than 290 voluntary commitments have been made so far in the lead-up to the conference and many more are expected, showcasing critical initiatives undertaken by countries, businesses or people, individually or in partnership, including governments, the UN system, civil society and the private sector.