If you wish to do so, it is entirely possible to spend your trip from one international environmental conference to the next without having to go home. However, the relentless pace of these meetings does not always lead to equally quick action.
Instead, the results often endure painful progress slower and could grow for years, if not decades. There is an increasing number of public frustration tired of broken promises. They want action to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis before it’s too late.
In this void of global environmental leadership, the European Union has the opportunity to step up its management of the ocean, the greatest shared resource on our planet.
Credit: Josh Sorenson
The ocean is the Earth’s life support system. It covers more than 70% of our planet, regulates the climate by absorbing carbon dioxide, produces at least half the oxygen we breathe, maintains a livelihood of millions, provides billions of food, and holds the mystery just as we start to uncover.
However, despite its fundamental role in planetary health and human survival, the ocean remains constant assault due to climate change, pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction.
Most surprisingly, vast areas of the ocean, especially the high seas, remain protected and dangerous.
That is why it is remarkable and welcomed, as emphasised by EU Council President Antonio Costa, it is reaching the ambitious conclusion of the Council of Europe in March 2025 by all 27 EU heads of states and governments.
Among these was the commitment to quickly ratify the new high seas treaty, a groundbreaking international agreement that was finalized in 2023 after nearly 20 years of negotiations.
The treaty, also known as biodiversity beyond the National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement, was a foundation for marine protection and was hailed as a major victory for multilateralism. It holds great potential to protect marine life on the high seas. This is two-thirds of the ocean across the border and two-thirds of the ocean. But the treaty does not protect ecosystems – the state does.
And unless 60 countries ratify the agreement and enter into force, their historical possibilities are nothing more than paperbacks.
Here, the EU has the opportunity to lead with examples and numbers. The 27 member countries hold the key to being a game changer to accelerate the process of entry into force. The EU completed ratification in June 2024, but progress has been slower for individual member states.
At present, only France and Spain have officially entrusted the United Nations with the means of ratification. Some others are close, but overall momentum is insufficient. The EU Commission recently proposed a directive to transpose the BBNJ Agreement into EU law in a positive development aimed at facilitating ratification and facilitating preparation for implementation.
Member States must urgently speed up the national process to complete ratification and send strong signals of global leadership. This urgency and roadmap is detailed in the latest policy briefs from Jack Deralls of Europe, highlighting the major institutional, legal and diplomatic levers available to the EU and its member states.
The interests will not be high. 40% of EU citizens live in coastal regions, contributing about 40% of EU GDP. The EU, along with its overseas territory, also has the world’s largest exclusive economic zone. From economic stability to energy safety and food supply, the ocean is closely linked to Europe’s prosperity. Degraded oceans mean Europe that are less safe, less resilient and less prosperous.
True leadership means more than making a bold declaration. It’s about providing results.
In June this year, the 3rd United Nations Marine Conference (UNOC3) will be held on European soils – Nice. The conference has been designated as an important political moment to ensure the 60 ratifications needed to bring about the treaty’s entry into force.
Achieving this goal is crucial to maintaining the credibility of EU leadership and marine governance, as well as meeting broader international commitments, including the goal of the Kunmingmontorial Global Biodiversity Framework to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030.
The EU must leverage initiatives like the High Ambition Coalition for the High Seas Treaty, where it is established, to strengthen “blue diplomacy” and promote global ratification and implementation efforts of 52 members. This conference must prove that environmental multilateralism can once again be provided when it matters most.
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The EU has set up an ambitious course on marine governance. The imminent launch of the European Maritime Agreement, based on the foundations built by the Manifesto for the European Maritime Agreement launched by the European Jacques Dellows and the Oceano Azur Foundation, and the recent EU Council’s marine conclusions are strong cues of intention.
As the global order of flux and geopolitical alliances changes rapidly, the EU must work together to embrace its role as both a stabilizing force and a marine champion. Providing the High Sea Treaty through rapid ratification, diligent preparation for implementation, and the establishment of a robust governance framework will be a critical moment for the EU. It is a test of its reliability, leadership and vision for the future.
The world is watching. The sea is waiting. And the clock is ticking.
Pascal Lamy is the European vice-president of Jacques Delors and former director of the WTO. Genevieve Pons is the vice president and director of Europe’s Jacques Derrose and a leading advocate for marine conservation.
IPS UN Bureau
