Morocco joins global leaders at UN Ocean Summit in Nice

Princess Lalla Hasnaa is representing King Mohammed VI at the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3) held in Nice June 9 to 13,joining over 50 heads of state and 1,500 delegates from nearly 200 countries for the five-day summit addressing critical marine conservation challenges.

The conference,co-organized by France and Costa Rica under the theme “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean,” opened Monday with addresses from UN Secretary-General António Guterres,French President Emmanuel Macron,and Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles.

Princess Lalla Hasnaa attended a pre-conference dinner Sunday hosted by President Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron,where she was personally welcomed by the French presidential couple. Her participation underscores Morocco’s commitment to marine conservation and sustainable ocean management.

Actually,Morocco was one of the first countries to ratify the Convention on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ),demonstrating its commitment to the sustainable management of marine resources,in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 on life below water.

According to the program of this major environmental gathering,Morocco is co-chairing this Monday,alongside France,the “Africa for the Ocean” summit — an event focused on blue economy challenges across the African continent,and an opportunity for Morocco to reverberate Africa’s voice in advancing an inclusive and sustainable blue economy,a core concern for Morocco,which has adopted an ambitious roadmap in this field.

Building on previous conferences in New York (2017) and Lisbon (2022),UNOC-3 advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 on ocean sustainability. Topics include sustainable fishing,marine pollution,climate-biodiversity interactions,high seas treaty implementation,plastic pollution,overfishing,seabed mining,and maritime transport decarbonization.

Unlike binding COP agreements,the conference focuses on voluntary state commitments and joint declarations. Costa Rica’s UN Ambassador Maritza Chan projects $100 billion in new public and private funding for sustainable ocean development will emerge from the summit.

France is expected to announce new marine protected areas,particularly in Polynesia,while the Neptune oceanographic mission involving ten countries will officially launch 2026-2040 operations. Major attendees include Brazil’s President Lula da Silva,European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen,and senior Chinese officials,demonstrating global recognition of ocean conservation urgency.