Palau is co-organizing a side event at the upcoming third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), which will take place from June 3 to 13 in Nice, France. The side event, “Leading by Doing—Three Years of Progress and Meaningful Action Towards 30×30,” will be held on June 12. Leaders from Palau and the Solomon Islands will co-organize this event and discuss the progress made over the past three years toward achieving the 30×30 target for ocean protection.
France and Costa Rica are jointly organizing the conference.
In a message, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the Nice Ocean Agreements will provide a framework for the scientific community to gather and inform the climate action of Heads of States and Governments, similar to the role of the IPCC.
He emphasized, “Protecting the oceans means protecting an immense carbon sink and invaluable biodiversity reserves. It also means offering hope to all those whose lives depend on our oceans and those who will face rising sea levels. Additionally, we must collectively reinvent the blue economy; we should never forget that the sea is primarily a source of income, jobs, food, and innovation for people around the world.”
President Macron also noted that the UN Ocean Conference should become a “forum for solidarity, where we assist developing countries in adapting to the new blue economy and in combating illegal fishing, as well as a platform where we support local governments in addressing rising sea levels.” (By: Bernadette Carreon)