TORONTO – The UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), which is taking place this week from 9 to 13 June, is the most significant political moment on oceans since the agreement of the Global Ocean Treaty in 2023. According to the organizers, dozens of Heads of State will attend, although Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney was not confirmed to attend. This level of attendance and the organizers’ diplomatic efforts provide an opportunity to set a high level of ambition for global ocean protection for the coming years.

The new Liberal government has committed to protecting nature. It promises to ratify the High Seas Treaty as soon as possible and support global scientific communities’ calls for evidence-based nature protection. The UN Oceans Conference is also the moment for Canada to reiterate its commitment to a moratorium on deep-sea mining and defend multilateralism against the actions of Canadian-based The Metals Company, which is ignoring international negotiations to mine the Pacific Ocean seabed under 1980s US legislation.

Greenpeace Canada’s Nature & Biodiversity Campaigner Salomé Sané said:

“This week is Carney’s moment to turn campaign talk into real commitment for nature. This means ratifying the High Seas Treaty now, not later, pushing for bold ambition ahead of the last round of the Global Plastics Treaty and standing against the rogue behaviour of Trump and his profit-seeking allies in the deep-sea mining industry.” 

Salomé Sané continued:

“The oceans don’t need us, we need them: for our health, our food and as the main buffer against climate change. Right now, Trump and Canadian-based The Metals Company are scheming to bypass global rules and bulldoze fragile deep-sea ecosystems for profit. It’s ecological theft and the new Canadian government cannot let it happen. Canada must step up as a leader and lead the charge to protect the world’s oceans by pushing for a global moratorium on deep-sea mining.”

ENDS

Notes to editor:

Journalists can join the Greenpeace UNOC3 WhatsApp channel for live updates from the delegation on the ground.

For more information, contact: 

Sarah, Communications Campaigner, Greenpeace Canada
[email protected], +1 647 428 0603

James Hanson, Head of Communications & Engagement – Ocean Sanctuaries
Greenpeace International, [email protected], +44 7801 212 994

Magali Rubino, Media Lead – Oceans Are Life
Greenpeace International, [email protected], +33 7 78 41 78 78