Berlin (d.de) – Environment Minister Carsten Schneider will take part in the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), to be held in Nice, France. From 9 to 13 June, representatives of the international community will gather there to discuss measures concerning the protection and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources. The UN Ocean Conference is the most important international conference dedicated to marine conservation. UNOC3 will be co-hosted by France and Costa Rica.

The German delegation will be led by Environment Minister Schneider, who will be in Nice for three days, and Secretary of State Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter. In Nice, Schneider will announce a number of substantial voluntary commitments by Germany to protect the oceans. Key priorities for the German delegation include the ongoing negotiations for a global agreement to combat plastic pollution, the protection of the oceans from the potential risks of deep-sea mining, and the entry into force of the UN High Seas Treaty (BBNJ). The German research vessel METEOR is moored in Nice and will serve as the “German pavilion” for a wide range of events on marine conservation and research.