[Un article de The Conversation écrit par Anne Choquet – Enseignante chercheure en droit, laboratoire Amure (UBO, Ifremer, CNRS), Université de Bretagne occidentale]
The polar oceans face the same challenges as the other oceans. Although they remain on the sidelines of discussions, they nevertheless house a unique biodiversity, and these distant areas are pillars of the global climate because of their role in the carbon cycle and their albedo effect – reflection of solar light by ice. They are also extremely sensitive to the growing pressure of human activities such as fishing, transport and tourism.
So what place of the polar oceans in the UNOC strategy?
Polar oceans in the background
The UNOC is co-organized by France and Costa Rica. On the French side, Olivier Poivre d'Arvor is the special envoy of the President of the Republic for the organization of UNOC. His cap of ambassador in charge of poles and maritime issues leads him to regularly recall that the maritime domain of France “positions it as the subarctic nation thanks to Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and Subantarctic thanks to its Austral and Antarctic Territories”.
The UNOC aims to strengthen the implementation The objective of sustainable development 14 (SDG 14) on the marine environment, with three priorities:
- Work for the culmination of multilateral processes linked to the ocean to enhance the level of ambition for the protection of the ocean.
- Mobilize funding for the ODD 14 and support the development of a sustainable blue economy.
- Strengthen and better disseminate knowledge related to sea sciences for better political decision -making.
The risk is to see the polar oceans diluted in the priorities mentioned, relegated to the background. This is evidenced, for example, the opinion of February 2025 of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council which expressly specifically specifies not to lean “on the human activities deployed on the Antarctic continent or the Arctic Ocean”.
Plastic pollution
The distance may suggest that certain pollution saves the poles. Unfortunately is not the case with plastic. From distant or local sources, plastic is observed in water in Arctic and Antarctica, resulting in its ingestion by sea birds.
The UNOC can be a means of pushing ambitious actions against plastic pollution. The latter would ultimately lead negotiations in favor of a legally binding instrument, as proposed in 2022 the United Nations in resolution 5/14. This is also one of the challenges that France has set for this summit.
Protected sea areas
In 2022, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity had adopted the world framework for the biodiversity of Kunming-Montréal. The objective: to protect 30 % of the oceans in 2030.
The UNOC can encourage the entry into force of international treaties such as this agreement relating to the conservation and sustainable use of the marine biological diversity of areas not falling under the national jurisdiction – BBNJ agreement. Adopted in 2023, it provides for the creation of management tools by zone such as protected marine areas (AMP).
During the SOS Océan event in March 2025, the President of the Republic made the preservation of the ocean a priority, by fixing the objective of “reaching 12 % to 15 % of the marine spaces thanks to the creation of protected marine areas by UNOC”. On the eve of the summit, only 8 % of the seas benefited from this status.
Within the Antarctic Treaty System, which is distinct from that of the United Nations, were adopted, on the basis of the Convention on the Conservation of Marine Fauna and Flora of Antarctica (CCAMLR), marine areas protected around Antarctica. In 2009, the southern plateau of the Southern Orcades Islands, in 2016, the Ross Sea region and others were planned like the Weddel Sea. Their creation is essential to preserve polar biodiversity but depends on a consensus within the CCAMLR, the discussions continue.
An impulse within a UNOC in favor of new protected marine area can only be beneficial, in particular to develop others in regions as sensitive as the polar oceans.
Illicit, unsuccessful and unregulated fishing
It is important to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular the ODD 14. The latter aims to preserve and exploit in sustainable oceans, seas and marine resources for the purposes of sustainable development. This objective is of particular importance for the polar oceans which are increasingly opening up to fishing.
In the north, fishing is mainly focused on the subarctic regions. An agreement to prevent unregulated fishing on the high seas in the central Arctic Ocean has nevertheless entered into force in 2021. A fisheries moratorium is thus imposed as well as a strengthening of scientific cooperation.
In the southern ocean, fishing activities mainly target krill, southern lens, DissimiS eleginoidesand the Antarctic Links, Dissatichus mawsoni.
Faced with the development, between the 1990s and the early 2000s, of illicit, unsuccessful and unregulated fishing mainly (INN) (INN) mainly of Le Lequine and its impact on stocks, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Wildlife and Marine Flora (CCAMLR) established unprecedented control measures, such as the list of ships fishing in this area.
Taking an interest in illicit, unsuccessful and unregulated fishing (INN) during the UNOC is essential to promote sustainable and responsible fishing in polar waters. If a strengthening of controls and cooperation between states have made it possible to reduce inn fishing in southern waters, it remains a threat to the conservation of marine resources.
Maritime transport
Faced with the increase in maritime traffic in the Arctic and Antarctica with research, tourism, fishing ships, a legal supervision of navigation in the polar regions has resulted in the adoption of the polar code. Coming into force in 2017, it establishes an international collection of rules applicable to ships operated in polar waters.
The development of clean technologies and alternative fuels is essential to limit the environmental footprint of polar ships. Due to its environmental impact and cost, maritime operators seek in particular to reduce their dependence on heavy fuel oil. Its transport and use have already been prohibited in Antarctica since 2010. In Arctic, the international maritime organization has adopted a gradual ban on it.
Any initiative in the transport of decarbonation within the UNOC will strengthen the efforts undertaken by the States for the polar regions.
Scientific research in the foreground
At a time when polar regions are at the heart of climate, geopolitical and environmental upheavals, scientific research is more than ever crucial to understand, anticipate and act.
During his presentation of the Paris call for the glaciers and the poles adopted on the occasion of the One Planet-Polar Summit in 2023, the President of the Republic announced the investment by 2030 of a 1 billion euros in polar research.
In April 2025, Jimmy Pahun, co-president of the study group: Arctic, Antarctica, French Southern and Antarctic Lands and Grand Ocean Funds of the National Assembly, “reaffirmed his commitment” to request an increase in means for polar research, failing this “the government will have to choose which infrastructure of research to abandon”.
At the UNOC was launched the decade of action for the Cryospheric sciences (2025-2034) to “advance scientific cooperation and action in favor of sustainable development worldwide”. On June 9, the [première prospective sur la recherche scientifique française aux pôles] was also presented.
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Better understanding the polar regions will protect them better. It is to be hoped that one is the occasion for ambitious and concrete announcements, in order to preserve polar scientific excellence. The effective strengthening of the French polar Institute Paul-Emile Victor (IPEV), historic and strategic operator of French research and the increased support for all polar researchers, in particular young people, is crucial.
The UNOC can be an ideal bridge between researchers, civil society and decision -making actors to transform scientific urgency into concrete actions. Even better aware of the strategic and ecological importance of the polar oceans, it is to be hoped that states are incited to stimulate ambitious actions in order to better understand the polar regions and adapt suitable protection policies.
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
