United Nations – Monaco takes part in two-day meeting devoted to oceans and law of the sea

40ème anniversaire de l’adoption de la Convention des Nations Unies sur le droit de la mer © UN Photo-Loey Felipe

On 8 December 2022, H.E. Isabelle Picco took part in the commemorations to mark the fortieth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a true “Constitution for the Oceans”. On 9 December, Florian Botto, First Secretary at Monaco’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, gave Monaco’s annual speech on all issues relating to the oceans, the seas and their resources.

At the end of a year that has seen numerous meetings on the oceans, such as the Lisbon Conference in which H.S.H. Prince Albert II took part, the Monegasque diplomat noted that pressure on the oceans was increasing, particularly as a result of pollution and the harmful effects of climate change.

He reiterated that the Principality was promoting ocean conservation through effective marine protected areas and had always supported marine science and research. He also highlighted the first “science festival” held by the Monaco Scientific Centre in October 2022, and paid tribute to its work as well as that done by the Oceanographic Institute, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Marine Environment Laboratories and the International Hydrographic Organization, all based in the Principality.