Let’s Be Nice to the Ocean has published today a compilation of amendments aimed at strengthening the ambition and scope of the draft Nice Ocean Action Declaration, currently circulating at UN Headquarters in New York.
Read the document here.
These amendments have been drafted by the Varda Group, which coordinates Let’s Be Nice to the Ocean, and by our partners Ocean & Climate Platform, as well as by 20 associated stakeholders.
On 13 December 2024, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) released a zero draft of the Nice Ocean Action Plan, prepared under the responsibility of the Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives to the UN of Australia and Cape Verde, the two co-facilitators appointed by the UN General Assembly in July 2024. This zero draft triggered a broad variety of comments from both UN member States and civil society organisations (CSOs). According to the letter which accompanied the zero draft, the conversation is set to continue at least until 1 May, 2025.
Following an online meeting hosted by the Let’s Be Nice to the Ocean initiative on 5 February 2025—where representatives from approximately 45 of the 100 associated stakeholders shared their perspectives on the original zero draft—this document compiles the contributions received by the Let’s Be Nice to the Ocean’s coordinators.
Shortly after, a revised version (REV1) began circulating in February, incorporating some notable but limited improvements. However, to the best of our knowledge, UNDESA has not officially published it. We have therefore integrated the stakeholders’ contributions into the February 2025 REV1 version.
Given the collective nature of this compilation, some of the proposals align with similar views from different organisations. However, we have maintained them to ensure that delegations and stakeholders can fully consider the breath of perspectives. To enhance clarity, the contributions made in response to the original document are highlighted in the text.
This compilation reflects the depth of expertise, ambition and commitment of CSOs and other contributing organisations in shaping a strong and actionable Nice Ocean Action Declaration and Plan.
In the foreword to the compilation, Varda Group Director Rémi Parmentier wrote: “What level of ambition can be expected in Nice is a legitimate question. The wider geopolitical state of play represents an additional challenge to come up with an ambitious Nice consensus that can represent a decisive step forward for the protection and restoration of the ocean.”
