The Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Climate Change, Mr Flavien Joubert, led a delegation to the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, in Nice from June 9 to 13, 2025.
This year the conference focuses on boosting efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14 – Life Below Water, one of the least financed SDGs. Heads of state and government, UN agencies, scientists, NGOs, local governments, and economic stakeholders will gather to advance ocean initiatives, mobilize funds, and enhance scientific-political cooperation.
Addressing the plenary session, Minister Joubert stressed the importance of ensuring that marine resources are well protected and managed because “the ocean is our common heritage and, we cannot do it alone”. He called for stronger global cooperation, more investment in ocean conservation, and lasting partnerships. “We need mutualistic research on the impact of climate on our oceans, biodiversity, and fisheries, and how to sustainably use aquatic resources to improve livelihoods,” he added.
Minister Joubert urged other countries to join Seychelles in its efforts to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030, ratify the BBNJ Agreement, and provide sustainable finance solutions – critical for Seychelles to addresses its vulnerabilities as a Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The adoption of the Nice Declaration will conclude the UN segment and formalize commitments to protect oceans over the next five years.
Seychelles’ engagement in such meetings is guided by national priorities, which encompass the protection and management of oceanic resources, sustainable fisheries, addressing plastic pollution, decarbonizing maritime transport, promoting the SIDS agenda, and the implemention of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI).
It is to be noted that Minister Joubert is heading a high-level delegation comprising of Mr Denis Matatiken Principal Secretary at the Environment Department; Mrs. Philliane Albert, Principal Secretary of the Blue Economy Department; Ambassador Ian Madeleine, Permanent Representative of Seychelles to the United Nations; and Ambassador Georges Tirant, Ambassador of Seychelles to France. Additionally, representatives from the fisheries department, local NGOs, civil society organizations, and environmental specialists were present and part of the delegation.