On Thursday 12 June 2025, Greenpeace Luxembourg reported from the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France, which saw Luxembourg’s Minister of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity, Serge Wilmes, in attendance.
In its press release, Greenpeace Luxembourg stated that despite Minister Wilmes appearing at the opening of the conference on the morning of Monday 9 June 2025, it was a member of the diplomatic delegation who delivered the national statement. Member of Greenpeace Luxembourg, Altynaï Bidaubayle, who attended the conference, said: "I regret that Minister Wilmes did not speak in person, even though he joined the 100 or so ministers and heads of state on the UNOC podium. The political impact of Luxembourg's rhetoric has been considerably diminished.”
Greenpeace Luxembourg remarked: “Despite this, the stated position remains progressive and reiterated the conference's three priorities: emphasising the importance of a moratorium on deep-sea mining, accelerating the implementation of the Global High Seas Treaty to avoid the tragedy of the commons and adopting an ambitious treaty against plastic pollution.” The NGO added: “The government must now use all diplomatic means at its disposal to translate these commitments into concrete actions.”
According to Greenpeace Luxembourg, the Luxembourg government has declared itself in favour of a moratorium on deep-sea mining and in May 2024 supported the adoption of the Global Ocean Treaty. The NGO noted that a further step was taken on Tuesday 10 June 2025, when members of Luxembourg’s Chamber of Deputies voted to ratify the treaty.
In response, Greenpeace Luxembourg said: “Luxembourg's stated support for the moratorium must now translate into active and determined diplomacy in the face of attempts by certain countries, particularly the United States (US), to circumvent the United Nations' (UN) multilateral framework.”
According to the NGO, the number of states calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining now stands at 37, due to recent support from Slovenia, Cyprus, Latvia and the Marshall Islands, and the Global High Seas Treaty now requires ten ratifications to enter into force. It also noted that more than 90 states have called for an ambitious agreement regarding global plastics treaty negotiations.
Altynaï Bidaubayle said, “We cannot afford to leave the abyss to private interests. The moratorium needs broad support and strong voices to prevent this ecological disaster before it occurs. Luxembourg must seize every opportunity available to strengthen its diplomatic efforts and carry greater weight at the next meeting of the International Seabed Authority in July [2025].”
UNOC is an international meeting dedicated to the governance of the seas and the preservation of marine ecosystems.
