{"id":163841,"date":"2025-04-28T19:25:39","date_gmt":"2025-04-28T13:55:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&p=163841"},"modified":"2025-04-28T19:25:39","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T13:55:39","slug":"united-nations-ocean-conference","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/united-nations-ocean-conference","title":{"rendered":"United Nations Ocean Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">France and Costa Rica will<\/span><b> co-host the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from June 9-13, 2025, in Nice, to drive global ocean protection efforts.<\/span><b><br \/>\n<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nice Ocean Agreements: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The conference seeks to establish the<\/span><b> &#8220;Nice Ocean Agreements&#8221;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as a<\/span><b> binding international pact <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for ocean conservation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>About UN Ocean Conference<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The UN Ocean Conference is a global platform to advance action on ocean conservation, <\/span><b>focusing on implementing SDG 14 (Life Below Water).<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Origin:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Initiated under the UN framework, the Ocean Conferences emerged from a growing recognition of the <\/span><b>ocean\u2019s central role in climate stability and human prosperity.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Participants<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: UNOC3 will host around 100 heads of states and governments, researchers, scientists, business leaders, activists, and citizens committed to ocean sustainability.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Conferences:<\/b> <b>The First UN Ocean Conference (2017, New York)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> emphasized<\/span><b> voluntary commitments for ocean health<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, while the<\/span><b> Second (2022, Lisbon) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">boosted international cooperation on marine protection.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UNOC3 aims to escalate from commitments to concrete, enforceable international agreements for <\/span><b>protecting the ocean and addressing the governance gap.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Priority Areas:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The UNOC3 will focus on three priority areas<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Priority 1: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Working towards completion of multilateral processes linked to the ocean<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Priority 2:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Mobilizing finance resources for the SDG14 and supporting the development of a sustainable blue economy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Priority 3:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Strengthen and better disseminate knowledge linked to marine sciences to enhance policy-making.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Expected Outcomes of Upcoming UNOC3<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Focus on Action-Oriented Outcomes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: It aims to deliver tangible, operational actions for ocean governance, sustainable use, enhanced financing, and strengthening ocean-related knowledge.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strengthening Global Governance:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Emphasis will be placed on ratifying the <\/span><b>BBNJ Agreement <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to regulate <\/span><b>high seas governance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and end the current <\/span><b>legal vacuum beyond national jurisdiction.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Finance and Sustainable Innovation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UNOC3 will advocate for <\/span><b>greater public and private sector financing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and commitments towards promoting a <\/span><b>sustainable blue economy across global trade, shipping, and tourism.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Challenges of the Marine Ecosystem<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pollution and Waste<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Over <\/span><b>eight million tons of plastic<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are dumped into the oceans every year, leading to severe marine pollution and harming aquatic life.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Overexploitation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> More than<\/span><b> one-third of global fish stocks are overexploited<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, posing a threat to biodiversity and long-term food security.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Climate Change Impacts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><b>Ocean acidification, rising sea levels<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>destruction of marine ecosystems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are accelerating due to unchecked climate change.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Governance Gaps:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The<\/span><b> high seas,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> constituting <\/span><b>60% of ocean areas, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remain<\/span><b> largely unregulated<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, resulting in environmental degradation and illegal activities like unreported fishing.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Initiatives to Protect the Ocean and Marine Ecosystem<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>BBNJ Agreement:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The BBNJ Agreement under the UN Convention aims to regulate activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction and <\/span><b>needs ratification by 60 countries to become effective.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sustainable Blue Economy <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: UNOC3 will promote sustainable economic activities in marine industries to ensure the regeneration of marine resources alongside economic development.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Enhancing Scientific Research: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Global initiatives will focus on mobilizing science, innovation, and public education to better understand and conserve the vast, unexplored parts of the ocean.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Awareness Initiatives<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: France will organize a &#8220;<\/span><b>We Are the Ocean&#8221; Festival<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> across Indian cities and <\/span><b>&#8220;Blue Talks&#8221; in Delhi <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to<\/span><b> foster dialogue, awareness, and policy recommendations for UNOC3.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Significance of the Ocean for India:<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ocean supports India\u2019s economy through trade, fisheries, and tourism along its 7,517 km coastline.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It offers sustainable energy resources like offshore wind and tidal power crucial for India\u2019s energy security.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ocean contributes to scientific research and climate regulation vital for India\u2019s environmental sustainability.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To protect the ocean, we must<\/span><b> first deepen and widely share our knowledge<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as much of the ocean\u2019s vast depths remain unexplored compared to the Moon and Mars.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<span class=\"vc_button\"><b>Additional Reading: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/bbnj-agreement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>BBNJ Agreement<\/b><\/a><\/span>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.6375%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 111.19%; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Also Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Daily Editorials<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/daily-current-affairs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Daily Current Affairs<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/quiz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Daily Current Affairs Quiz<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Daily Main Answer Writing<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-previous-year-papers?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Previous+Year+Papers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Check Out Previous Years Papers From PW Store<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-test-series-courses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Test Series<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-textbooks?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Textbooks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-modules?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Modules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>France and Costa Rica will co-host the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) from June 9-13, 2025, in Nice, to drive global ocean protection efforts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":163830,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"paper-wise":[2089],"subject":[4642],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/163841"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/current-affairs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=163841"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/163841\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/163830"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=163841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=163841"},{"taxonomy":"paper-wise","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper-wise?post=163841"},{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=163841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}