UN Ocean Summit Advances Marine Protection, Ratifies High Seas Treaty

At the third United Nations Ocean Conference held in Nice, France, over 60 heads of state and thousands of stakeholders pledged significant new marine protected areas to help reach the international goal of protecting 30 percent of the ocean by 2030. Nineteen countries formally ratified the high seas treaty, bringing the total to 50, with the expectation that it will enter into force by January 2026 once 60 countries ratify it. The summit highlighted the urgency of ocean protection but faced criticism for the absence of funding commitments and the omission of fossil fuel issues. World leaders also prepared for upcoming negotiations on deep-sea mining regulations and a plastic pollution treaty, with over 90 ministers advocating for limits on plastic production despite opposition from oil-producing nations. The conference underscored the need for science-based governance of ocean resources and included a subtle rebuke of President Donald Trump's unilateral push for ocean floor mining, though he was not present. The event celebrated growing international cooperation but emphasized the challenges ahead to safeguard marine ecosystems from human threats.