Faith for the future

TURNING THE TIDE AT UNITED NATIONS WORLD OCEAN CONFERENCE

President Macron has spoken of the "unprecedented mobilisation" for oceans that happened during the UN World Ocean Conference in Nice between 8th -13th June 2025, which saw around 200 countries and over 50 world leaders and 10,000 people in attendance.

The High Seas Treaty received a major boost, jumping from 32 to 50 countries and with promises of more signing, many are confident it will exceed the 60 required by the week of the UN General Assembly in September 2025 in order to bring it into force. (The agreement, signed two years ago is to put 30% of the ocean into protected areas). Governments also adopted the Nice Ocean Action Plan in France on Friday which includes a political declaration and more than 800 voluntary commitments by governments, scientists, UN agencies and civil society.

Three Nations declared the creation of 10 new Marine Protection Areas (MPAs) in waters off the coast of Portugal, Colombia, Sao Tome and Princepe. There was also a strong push to include oceans in all forthcoming climate and biodiversity talks, including COP30 in Brazil in November, and timed to coincide with conference, the UK government announced bottom trawling is to be banned in 41 of England's offshore marine protected areas.

In another historic first, over 80 faith-based organisations and conservation groups signed a landmark multi-faith declaration called 'Turning the Tide', articulating shared spiritual values for ocean protection. Developed collaboratively with marine conservation experts, policy specialists and representatives from diverse faith traditions, the declaration also provides concrete policy recommendations in line with marine conservation goals and was presented to UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen and Ambassador Peter Thomson, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean. An accompanying report with case studies illustrates how faith communities worldwide are already advancing marine conservation and ocean protection through approaches that harmonize spiritual values with environmental science.

In the document summary the authors say:

"Case studies spanning diverse religious traditions 'from Islamic hima zones in Zanzibar, to Hindu turtle guardianship in India, to Buddhist dolphin protection in Cambodia, to Catholic fisher networks in Brazil, to Jewish Reverse Tashlich cleanups, and to Indigenous Polynesian rahui systems' also demonstrate how faith-base approaches can achieve what purely secular efforts often cannot".

You can download the full report HERE.