Luxembourg reaffirms its commitment to protecting the oceans at the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice
On 9 June 2025, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity, Serge Wilmes, took part in the 3e United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, co-organised by France and Costa Rica. The conference reaffirmed Luxembourg's commitment to preserving the oceans, combating climate change and biodiversity loss, and strengthening global governance of marine resources.
The Minister highlighted Luxembourg's active contribution to the sustainable blue economy, through several international climate financing initiatives. These include the Blue Natural Capital Finance Facility, In addition, there are projects in partnership with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), targeting small island developing states.
Support for the moratorium on deep-sea mining is a priority. Luxembourg has reiterated its commitment to this moratorium and thus to respect for the precautionary principle, as deep-sea mining represents a major risk to ecosystems.
« The water cycle is a closed cycle. Every drop of water that touches Luxembourg soil will one day return to it. The influence of the oceans on our climate, our food security and our survival is obvious. In the same spirit, we accept our responsibility to protect them, underlined Serge Wilmes.
No authorisation for extraction should be granted until the deep seabed - rich in as yet unknown forms of life - has been thoroughly researched. The risk of causing irreversible damage to a fragile and largely unexplored ecosystem remains too high.
Finally, Luxembourg's candidacy for the Unesco Executive Board bears witness to the Luxembourg government's desire to promote multilateral action based on solidarity, cooperation and sustainability.