LAST month, the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) brought together more than 12,000 delegates from 175 countries in Nice, France.
The Pacific region entered the summit as a united bloc and left a mark on the global stage with powerful voluntary commitments and a clear call for accountability.
“The Pacific voice echoed as a collective, calling for more global ocean accountability,” said Pacific Ocean Commissioner Dr Filimon Manoni.
The stakes are too high for the Pacific to remain passive.”
Over the week-long conference, Pacific delegates celebrated a major milestone as 19 more countries ratified the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), bringing the total number to 50 – just 10 short of the 60 required for it to enter into force.