Philippines prepares for UN ocean meet

MANILA, Philippines — Government officials, scientists, academics and ocean experts convened to exchange views and collaborate on the Philippines’ preparations for its participation in the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) to be held in Nice, France in June 2025.

The inter-agency consultation meeting was recently hosted by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office.

Participants included representatives from the Climate Change Commission, National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy, ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, Department of Science and Technology-National Academy of Science and Technology, Department of Defense, DFA, key ocean experts, scientists and academics.

The group discussed various approaches, principles and modalities in preparation for the conference.

“With the conference looming, sustained inter-agency collaboration is seen as essential to developing a unified and effective national position,” the DFA stated.

The group agreed on the importance of bringing into the process other sectors including business, the scientific community, academe, the youth and indigenous and local communities.

In this regard, further work will be undertaken by the group to organize a national stakeholder meeting later this year with a view to having a whole-of-nation effort that will inform the national positions and views to be advocated by the Philippine delegation at the 2025 UNOC.

The UNOC aims to mobilize action for SDG 14 or the conservation, protection and sustainable use of the ocean, seas and marine resources.

“As an archipelagic state, the Philippines is acutely aware of the need to conserve and sustainably use the ocean and seas,” the DFA said.