Latest news with #ThirdUNOceanConference
Straits Times
a day ago
- Science
- Straits Times
Troubled waters: Ocean conservation faces key tests
The world's oceans are in deep trouble. The planet's most defining feature is being fouled by plastic pollution, its fish stocks plundered and is becoming increasingly hotter as the planet warms. The 'big blue' is, indeed, feeling very blue. The United Nations says the oceans are facing an emergency. Last week, more than 60 world leaders answered the UN's call for action by attending the June 9 to 13 Third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, which was co-hosted by Costa Rica. Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here.
eNCA
6 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Declaration to protect the ocean
STELLENBOSCH, WC - The Third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, closed on Friday with a wave of commitments. More than 170 countries agreed to a sweeping political declaration promising urgent action to protect the ocean. Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, the five-day event brought together 15,000 participants, including more than 60 Heads of State and Government. The gathering ended with a shared call to expand marine protection, curb pollution, regulate the high seas, and unlock financing for vulnerable coastal and island nations. One of the delegates was Dr Philile Mbatha, Deputy Director of One Ocean Hub, and a senior Environmental Lecturer at the University of Cape Town.
Qatar Tribune
12-06-2025
- Science
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar, IAEA discuss marine environment protection cooperation
QNA Monaco Minister of Environment and Climate Change HE Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie met Director of the Marine Laboratories of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Florence Descroix-Comanducci, during an official visit to the laboratories' headquarters in the Principality of Monaco. The visit took place on the sidelines of his participation in the Third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France. The meeting discussed areas of joint cooperation between the State of Qatar and the IAEA, as well as ways to strengthen the partnership in marine environmental protection and in enhancing national technical capacities for monitoring environmental changes using advanced nuclear and radiological technologies. He also took a field tour of the labs, where he was briefed on the advanced equipment and methods used for analyzing marine pollutants, and how these technologies support international efforts to protect oceans and seas from the impacts of climate change and human activity. This visit reflects Qatar's commitment to strengthening international cooperation in environmental protection and benefiting from global technical expertise to develop its environmental system.
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Include disaster resilience in higher education: PM Modi at CDRI conference
New Delhi: Courses, modules and skill development programmes on disaster resilience need to become part of higher education, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday at a two-day conference, organized by Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure in Nice, France, laying down five key areas for disaster preparedness. 'Including disaster resilience in higher education will help build a skilled workforce that can tackle future challenges. Secondly, many countries face disasters and rebuild with resilience. A global digital repository of their learnings and best practices would be beneficial,' Modi said, in his video address. Thirdly, disaster resilience requires innovative financing, Modi emphasised. 'We must design actionable programmes and ensure developing nations have access to finance,' he said. 'Fourth: We consider Small Island Developing States as Large Ocean Countries. Due to their vulnerability, they deserve special attention,' Modi said adding: 'Fifth: Strengthening early warning systems and coordination is crucial. This helps timely decisions and effective last-mile communication. I am sure that discussions in this conference will consider these aspects. Let us build infrastructure that stands firm against time and tide. Let us build a strong and resilient future for the world.' The CDRI conference is taking place in Nice ahead of the Third UN Ocean Conference in which resilience of coastal areas will also be discussed. 'The theme of this conference is 'Shaping a Resilient Future for Coastal Regions'. Coastal regions and islands are at great risk due to natural disasters and climate change. In recent times, we saw: Cyclone Remal in India and Bangladesh, Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean, Typhoon Yagi in South-east Asia, Hurricane Helene in the United States, Typhoon Usagi in Philippines and Cyclone Chido in parts of Africa. Such disasters caused damage to lives and property,' Modi said. Further he recalled: 'India also experienced this pain during the super-cyclone of 1999 and the tsunami of 2004. We adapted and rebuilt, factoring in resilience. Cyclone shelters were constructed across vulnerable areas. We also helped build a tsunami warning system for 29 countries.' CDRI is working with 25 Small Island Developing States. Resilient homes, hospitals, schools, energy, water security and early warning systems are being built. Given the theme of this conference, I am glad to see friends from the Pacific, Indian Ocean and the Caribbean here. Further, I am happy that the African Union has also joined the CDRI, he said. With approximately 37% of the global population residing within 100 km of the coast, contributing around $1.5 trillion to the annual global GDP, and 90% of global goods transported by sea, strengthening coastal resilience is now a global priority, CDRI said. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana, said, 'We need a global push to unlock the resources required to bolster climate adaptation for the vulnerable regions, especially for small islands and low-lying coastal areas. For us, climate-resilient infrastructure is a question of survival.' David WR Adeang, President of the Republic of Nauru said, 'This conference is an opportunity to move from dialogue to delivery. Let us work together to ensure no nation and no community is left behind in building a future that is not only resilient but fair, inclusive, and sustainable.' Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda said: 'Resilient infrastructure is not just a policy option—it is a necessity for survival. We believe that resilience begins not at the shoreline but in the minds and systems we build.' The 54-member global coalition, CDRI, said it is committed to advancing climate and disaster resilient infrastructure across Africa. Other announcements include the awarding of research grants for 53 projects spanning 21 countries, as well as a call to action for accelerating infrastructure resilience in small island nations. In a separate event in Geneva, M Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology, India Meteorological Department (IMD), was awarded the United Nations Sasakawa Award 2025 for Disaster Risk Reduction on Friday. The award was conferred for minimising deaths due to any cyclone over the north Indian Ocean region, not only in India, but also in 13 World Meteorological Organisation member countries bordering the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
India to make statement at UN summit
India will be making a statement on ocean protection at the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) in France's Nice between June 9 and 13, according to officials. India is presently reviewing the UNOC 3 final declaration that is expected to be adopted at Nice. The text of the declaration was already negotiated in New York in May. It is expected to emphasise the particular importance of implementing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement including the goal to limit the temperature increase to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change, and help ensure the health, productivity, sustainable use and resilience of the ocean and thus common future. It is likely to address sea level rise, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss among others. India will be participating in several panels but the most important ones for it are those on scientific cooperation and sharing of oceanographic data; marine pollution from land; and impacts of biodiversity loss and climate change on the ocean. The Indian delegation will be led by Jitendra Singh, minister of state for earth sciences. Scientists from Ministry of Earth Sciences will also attend. As part of the statement, India will also be calling attention to sea level rise. 'Sea level rise is a very critical issue for tropical countries including India. Apart from sea level rise contributed by melting of glaciers, melting of sea ice in the poles, here sea level rise is contributed by thermal expansion due to global warming. It's a grave threat to populous low lying coastal areas,' said M Ravichandran, secretary, ministry of earth sciences. India will also be participating in a side event with Norway on June 8 to demonstrate marine spatial planning. 'Though our partnership with Norway we have conducted marine spatial planning for Puducherry and Lakshadweep. It is a very important project because it tells us where new industry, township, aquaculture farm, ports or any infrastructure can come up in these coastal regions. This spatial planning can help other countries too because it is about judicious use of land and ocean,' added Ravichandran.
