Motion 056

This motion notes that the Ocean is a living entity with inherent rights and intrinsic value worthy of respect and protection regardless of its utility to humankind. It reiterates that diverse value systems exist regarding the Human-Ocean relationship, and all should be considered in decision making affecting its health. The United Nations has stressed that to maintain the quality of life that the Ocean provides humanity, a change is required in how we view, manage and use the Ocean. (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/oceanandseas).

The IUCN has: 1) established that the Rights of Nature are foundational in achieving ecologically sustainable development (IUCN World Declaration on the Environmental Rule of Law, Principle 2); 2) approved Resolution 100 in 2012 calling for Nature’s rights to be a “fundamental and absolute key element in all IUCN decisions;” committed to protected area governance that respects the Rights of Nature (IUCN Programme 2017–2020, p. 15, 26 and 35); and 3) recognised a just and fair legal system that protects the rights of nature and people is particularly essential in the face of the climate and biodiversity crisis (Nature 2030, IUCN Programme 2021-2024, p. 10, 11). The IUCN WCEL recently created a Rights of Nature task force with a separate working group specific to the Ocean. This group has the leadership to develop the best guidelines for implementation.

Additionally, as integral to the successful implementation of the framework, the Kunming-Montreal GBF refers to enhancing Mother Earth-centric actions within target 19 and calls for States to “ensure the full integration of biodiversity and its multiple values into policies, regulations, planning and development processes and, as appropriate, national accounting.” The BBNJ Agreement’s preamble asserts States’ desire to conserve the inherent value of biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. Finally, the UNESCO and UNOD Venice Declaration for Ocean Literacy Action includes Ocean Rights as a tool for transforming the Human-Ocean relationship and advancing an Ocean-literate society (https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000390297). Therefore, organisations, States and stakeholders could benefit from concrete actions and guidelines on how to integrate the rights and values of the Ocean into decision-making processes and Ocean governance and thus adhere to their commitments to conserve marine biodiversity.

Specifically, the initiative towards a Universal Declaration of Ocean Rights, or similar, by 2030, spearheaded by Cabo Verde, would advance an ethical global norm for Ocean governance based upon principles of intrinsic values, interconnectedness, responsibility, reciprocity, intergenerational equity and justice. In September 2023, the representative Grethel Aguilar of the IUCN officially supported Ocean Rights at The Ocean Race Summit: Presenting Ocean Rights: “A Universal Declaration of Ocean Rights is about respect and also about responsibility and obligations. IUCN will continue to support all efforts to shape ocean rights and to establish clear responsibilities.” Additionally, representatives from Panama, Brasil, UNDP, Volvo Cars and the World Bank voiced support for Ocean Rights. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDJaNJ9cM18). Dialogue on advancing an ethical Human-Ocean Relationship was advanced by Cabo Verde and Monaco in the 2023 UN Omnibus Resolution on Oceans and Law of the Sea, of which one State did not approve.