Nice: French President Emmanuel Macron has strongly condemned the United States' withdrawal of climate funding, urging nations to unite behind a global agreement for ocean protection. His remarks come as France hosts the third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, amid mounting calls for urgent action to safeguard the world's seas.
Addressing scientists at a sideline event on Sunday, Macron expressed concern over the dwindling support for international science, which he noted still heavily depends on U.S. contributions. “We are witnessing a retreat from multilateralism and a rollback of critical funding by the United States, particularly in areas vital to global scientific collaboration,” he said.
The U.S. is notably absent from the high-level summit following its withdrawal from international climate agreements during the Trump administration, which also included cuts to climate-related funding beginning in January of that year.
In a passionate appeal, Macron urged countries to enact a moratorium on deep-sea mining and drilling, warning of the dangers of exploiting largely unexplored marine environments. “It’s sheer madness to drill and exploit in areas we barely understand,” he said. “We must reach a collective agreement—for the sake of the entire planet.”
Macron announced that around 30 nations have already pledged support for the moratorium, emphasizing that this growing coalition would not back down in its efforts to protect the oceans.
The UN Ocean Conference, which officially opens this week, is expected to draw more than 50 world leaders and thousands of delegates, including scientists, environmentalists, and policymakers. A key agenda item is the ratification of the High Seas Treaty, a landmark agreement aimed at enabling conservation efforts in international waters.
As attendees gather in Nice, discussions will center on translating decades of pledges into tangible protections. The UN has declared the threats facing oceans—from warming waters and plastic pollution to the overexploitation of marine resources—a global emergency.
