Countdown to UN Ocean C Conference: Environmental Groups Demand Immediate Ban on Oil and Gas Exploration in Oceans

By Abdullahi Lukman

Over 100 environmental organizations have united to demand an immediate ban on oil and gas exploration in the world’s oceans, ahead of the highly anticipated United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) scheduled for June 2025.

In an open letter released on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, a total of 111 groups urged governments worldwide to take immediate action, citing the devastating impact that fossil fuel extraction is having on marine ecosystems.

The groups emphasized that ongoing oil and gas exploration in oceanic waters poses a direct threat to the delicate balance of marine life.

According to the signatories, the aggressive search for fossil fuels in the seabed not only disrupts underwater ecosystems but also contributes to significant noise pollution in the seas.

Nicolas Entrup, from the environmental organization OceanCare, who spearheaded the demand, underscored the serious dangers this noise poses to marine life.

“These exploration activities produce some of the most intense noise in the oceans, and this noise has devastating effects, from causing stress to marine creatures to deadly consequences for species as diverse as small plankton to large whales,” he said.

The letter also highlighted the critical role that healthy oceans play in mitigating the worst effects of climate change. Entrup emphasized that oceans act as carbon sinks, absorbing significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and helping to regulate the global climate.

As such, the protection of the oceans is crucial not just for biodiversity but for the planet’s broader efforts to combat climate change.

“The health of our oceans is directly tied to our ability to combat climate change. If we continue to degrade marine ecosystems through activities like oil and gas exploration, we are undermining our efforts to protect the planet,” Entrup stated.

The environmental organizations also called for greater coherence between global climate policies and ocean protection measures. They urged governments to align their environmental strategies to ensure that policies to tackle climate change also prioritize the protection of the oceans.

As part of this push, the letter pointed to the efforts of European countries, including France, Spain, and Portugal, which have already taken steps to ban new oil and gas exploration in their waters.

“European governments have demonstrated that it is possible to take bold action on this issue. By banning new oil and gas exploration, countries like France, Spain, and Portugal are leading by example,” Entrup remarked.

The UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), scheduled to take place from June 9 to 13 in Nice, France, will provide a critical platform for discussions on the protection of the oceans and marine biodiversity.

Environmental groups are hoping that the conference will lead to concrete actions and agreements that will protect the world’s oceans from the harmful effects of exploitation.

The conference is expected to attract global attention and provide a framework for international cooperation on ocean conservation.

The environmental groups who signed the letter stressed that the UNOC3 conference must be a turning point for ocean protection.

“The oceans are at a tipping point, and urgent action is needed now more than ever. This conference must not be just another platform for discussion, but a moment for real action,” the letter stated.

As the countdown to UNOC3 continues, the call for an immediate ban on ocean oil and gas exploration is gaining momentum.

Environmental advocates hope that the conference will serve as a catalyst for nations to adopt stronger protections for the oceans and address the urgent threats posed by climate change and human exploitation.