Macron calls for a “ban” on the exploitation of the ocean floor

by

“The oceans must be basically what space was a few years ago: it is a new frontier for cooperation and multilateralism,” Macron said from the COP27 podium in Sharm el-Sheikh.

French President Emmanuel Macron called for a “ban on all exploitation of the ocean floor”, speaking today at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt.

“The oceans must be basically what space was a few years ago: it is a new frontier for cooperation and multilateralism,” Macron said from the COP27 podium in Sharm el-Sheikh.

France, “fulfilling its commitments”, “supports the prohibition of any exploitation of the ocean floor”, he added. “I am taking this position and will take it to international forums.”

In June, the French head of state defended during the United Nations conference on the oceans, the elaboration of a “legal framework to stop mining from the seabed in the open seas and not to allow new activities that would endanger the ocean ecosystems”.

In his speech Macron also promised a “positive conservation programme” to protect “critical ecosystems — ancient forests, peatlands, mangroves or wetlands”.

“So we urgently need to recognize these ecosystems as a special status and offer the countries that host them political and economic incentives to help protect them,” he said, explaining that Gabon, Colombia and the Philippines had agreed to such initiative during a meeting today at COP27.

“We will meet in Libreville at the beginning of 2023 to adopt very specific plans of action at the One Forest Summit,” the summit he is co-hosting with his Gabonese counterpart Ali Bongo, the French president added.

RES-EMP

You May Also Like

Recommended for you