From Monday to Friday, heads of state and government leaders from over 60 countries will convene in Nice, southern France, for the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3). However, the absence of one major maritime power has made headlines.
French media outlet Le Monde said that the absence of the US is “regrettable.” Until the very last moment, French diplomats reportedly tried to persuade an American delegation to attend. “I regret that some heads of state choose to disregard science, or even discredit scientific studies and warnings in order to find an excuse for inaction,” Agnès Pannier-Runacher, France’s minister for ecological transition, was quoted by Le Monde as saying.
According to UN News, as coral reefs bleach, fish stocks collapse, and sea temperatures break records, the UNOC3 is regarded as one of the most urgent diplomatic gatherings of the year. It is expected to play a vital role in strengthening the international ocean governance system and promoting the sustainable development of the oceans. At such a critical moment when the world is working together to tackle the marine ecological crisis, the US’ absence is striking.
Zhang Yanqiang, a professor of law of the sea studies at Dalian Maritime University, told the Global Times that the non-attendance of the US will have some impact on the proceedings and outcomes of the conference. At the same time, it sends a signal of unilateralism to the international community, which is detrimental to the advancement of multilateral cooperation in global ocean governance.
The US government’s performance in global climate and environmental governance has long been controversial.
Zhang noted that between 2017 and 2021, the US administration at the time implemented a series of policies that directly contradicted environmental protection efforts, severely hampering the country’s role in global climate action and dealing a major blow to international environmental efforts.
The current US administration has once again taken several regressive steps: It withdrew from the Paris Agreement for a second time, claiming that the agreement imposes unfair burdens on the American economy; it also revoked a slew of domestic environmental regulations, including those aimed at reducing planet-warming emissions from power plants and protecting waterways from harmful pollution, according to US media reports.
The US is not only failing to take proactive measures in marine protection, but is actually hindering global progress. In April, in an attempt to obtain critical minerals, a new executive order directed the US federal government to expedite the review and issuance of mining permits for deep-sea exploration and commercial exploitation – both within US jurisdiction and in international waters. The move aims to accelerate the entry of related companies into deep-sea mining activities, according to Reuters.
This is a typical example of the US undermining international environmental protection efforts in pursuit of its self-interests – the logic of “America First.” According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Area and its resources are considered the “common heritage of mankind.” However, dissatisfied with the constraints that international rules place on its maritime hegemony, the US has yet to ratify the UNCLOS. Instead, it attempts to treat seabed resources as its own strategic reserves and seeks unilateral gains.
In both ocean governance and climate cooperation, the US not only shirks its international responsibilities but also repeatedly obstructs collaborative efforts, becoming a stumbling block to global environmental governance.
Still, as on display at the UNOC3, the US’ absence won’t dampen other countries’ commitment to advancing global marine cooperation. Notably, the center of gravity in global ocean governance is gradually shifting, with emerging powers – led by China – playing an increasingly vital role.
While addressing the general debate at the ongoing UNOC3, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Monday laid out four proposals on sustainable ocean governance. He called on all parties to take the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN as an opportunity to coordinate the conservation and sustainable use of resources to promote the sustainable development of the ocean and build a community with a shared future, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
In addition, on World Oceans Day on Sunday, the Xinhua Institute, a think tank affiliated with Xinhua, released a report highlighting China’s commitment to building the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation.
Meanwhile, the broader international community has become increasingly aware of the close ties between the ocean and the fate of all humanity, and a broad consensus has formed around the goals of sustainable development and ocean protection.
As a vital component of the Earth’s ecosystem, the protection of the marine environment requires global cooperation. The US’ current stance, which deviates from the principles of sustainable development, not only runs counter to the broad consensus of the international community on issues such as ocean protection, but also hinders global efforts to address environmental challenges.
