UN Summit Urges Global Action to Save the Ocean from 'Plunder'
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The United Nations has kicked off a five-day summit in France, urging world leaders to take immediate action to save the ocean from 'plunder' and protect the planet from the devastating effects of climate change. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an end to the 'infinite pantry and global waste dump' that the ocean has become, warning that coral reefs are dying, fish stocks are collapsing, and rising seas could soon 'submerge deltas, destroy crops, and swallow coastlines.' Over 120 countries are participating in the summit, which aims to finalize a global treaty on plastic pollution, scale up ocean finance, and address conflicting opinions on seabed mining. The event has already seen the French President Emmanuel Macron pledge to work towards a moratorium on deep-sea mining, while Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles has called for a shift from exploitation to stewardship. The summit has also seen the raising of the French and UN flags in a symbolic ceremony, marking the beginning of a week of shared commitment, responsibility, and hope. Cultural performances and scientific reflections have also been held, highlighting the importance of collective memory and the need for bold models to unlock private capital. The goals of the Conference are ambitious but clear: to advance the '30 by 30' pledge, promote sustainable fisheries, decarbonize maritime transport, and unlock new streams of 'blue finance.' The UN Secretary-General stressed that Sustainable Development Goal 14, on 'Life Below Water,' remains the least funded of the 17 UN's global goals, and urged for bold action to change this.
