Nice: In a resounding call to action at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), Secretary-General António Guterres warned that unchecked greed is pushing the world’s oceans to the brink of irreversible damage.
Speaking at a press conference on the French Riviera, where hundreds of global leaders, scientists, and activists have gathered, Guterres painted a sobering picture of marine ecosystems under siege — from overfishing and plastic pollution to the rapidly intensifying impacts of climate change.
“We are here in Nice with a clear purpose — to save our ocean, and in doing so, save our collective future,” he declared, adding that humanity is dangerously close to crossing a critical threshold, beyond which recovery may be impossible.
Guterres directly blamed "greed" as the driving force behind the destruction, accusing powerful interests of denying science, distorting truth, and profiting at the expense of the planet’s health. “We must not allow greed to decide the fate of Earth,” he said, urging all sectors — from governments to grassroots groups — to join forces against destructive practices.
The UN chief outlined four urgent priorities for ocean protection:
- Reform ocean resource extraction — Beyond sustainable fishing, he stressed the need to meet the global goal of conserving 30% of marine areas by 2030.
- End plastic pollution — Guterres called for a complete phase-out of single-use plastics, enhanced recycling systems, and a global treaty to eliminate plastic waste.
- Confront climate threats — He urged nations to submit ambitious climate plans ahead of COP30, in line with the 1.5°C warming limit, with a focus on ocean impacts.
- Implement the High Seas Treaty — The BBNJ treaty, designed to safeguard marine biodiversity in international waters, must be ratified and enforced, he said.
In a firm stance against deep-sea mining, Guterres reiterated concerns over the lack of regulation, warning that the seabed must not become a lawless frontier. He voiced strong support for the International Seabed Authority’s oversight efforts.
Following his remarks, the Secretary-General visited the Port of Nice, where he boarded the historic schooner Santa Maria Manuela and met with members of the Oceano Azul Foundation, a Portuguese nonprofit dedicated to ocean restoration.
While dignitaries continue to arrive at the summit, the atmosphere has been energized by the presence of youth leaders and civil society groups determined to influence the global conversation on marine protection.
Among them are Arzucan Askin and Gayathra Bandara, youth fellows with the Sustainable Ocean Alliance. Bandara, a seabed mining researcher, expressed disappointment over some countries’ push for extraction, but praised the strong opposition from the leaders of France and Costa Rica, the summit co-hosts. Askin echoed the call for stronger protection of ancient and fragile marine ecosystems.
Also attending are members of SeaSisters Lanka, a Sri Lankan nonprofit focused on ocean education and women’s empowerment through swimming and surfing. Activists Martina Burtscher and Udani Hewa Maddumage emphasized that ocean protection is not just a policy issue, but a survival imperative — especially for coastal communities on the front lines of marine degradation.
“The ocean doesn’t need us, but we need it — and we’re the ones harming it,” Hewa Maddumage said. The activists stressed the need for diverse and marginalized voices to be included in ocean policymaking.
