French President Emmanuel Macron and his Chilean counterpart Gabriel Boric launched from Chile on Thursday “the call of Valparaiso”a joint initiative intended to strengthen bilateral relations in the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems.
This call aims to “train all our partners in preparing this path that takes us to Nice”explained Emmanuel Macron during a speech from Valparaiso, a large Chilean city on the Pacific Ocean.
Nice, in southeastern France, will host the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) in June, which aims to protect biodiversity and address rising sea levels.
L’“call from Valparaiso” will allow both countries to “facing the climate crisis together”declared President Boric. “Protecting Antarctica and the oceans also means protecting the future of life on the planet”he added.
The initiative will aim to fight “against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing”detailed President Macron, from the brand new icebreaker « Admiral Viel » of the Chilean Navy.
It will also be “to make the ocean a vector for decarbonization of our economies”he continued, evoking “the establishment of green corridors” between French and Chilean ports.
The Valparaiso appeal will also make it possible to “develop a greater number of marine protected areas” and of “conclude an ambitious and legally binding international agreement this year to end plastic pollution”continued Mr. Macron.
“We will fight together to, beyond our two countries, convince as many other countries as possible to ratify the treaty on high seas biodiversity”further pleaded the French president.
The text (known as the BBJN agreement) was adopted by UN member states in June 2023, but it must be ratified by at least 60 countries to enter into force. Chile was among the first to ratify it, while France has just done so. So far, only around fifteen countries have ratified it.
The high seas begin where states’ exclusive economic zones (EEZs) end and are therefore not under the jurisdiction of any state. As a result, it has long been ignored in the environmental fight.
Mr. Macron arrived in Chile on Tuesday evening for a two-day visit, after Argentina and Brazil.
Received Wednesday at the face-to-face palace in Santiago by his Chilean counterpart, he went to Valparaiso on Thursday for a speech before the Parliament which sits in this city, and to board the Chilean icebreaker.