Just weeks before the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3), the lack of an official confirmation from the United States is raising concerns among organizers.
A Scientific Partner Still in Doubt
The United States has yet to confirm its participation in UNOC 3, which opens on June 9 in Nice. In a virtual press briefing, Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, France’s Ambassador for the Poles and Maritime Issues, acknowledged:
“There is always suspense with the United States.”
“As soon as I am in a position to share who will or will not be representing the U.S., I will be sure to do so,” he added, while lamenting the absence of “our American scientific colleagues.”
Partial but Not Entirely Absent
Despite political uncertainty, 149 American scientists are expected to attend the scientific congress held prior to the conference, mainly from academia and private foundations.
“U.S. participation will be slightly lower than expected, but still satisfactory,” said Jean-Pierre Gattuso, co-chair of the scientific congress, noting 5 to 10 withdrawals, especially from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the USGS (United States Geological Survey).
Notable Institutional Absences
NASA will also not be participating, confirmed Selma Cherchali from CNES (French Space Agency). These absences are partly due to budgetary constraints:
NOAA, for instance, has lost nearly 20% of its workforce, and the White House is planning significant cuts to scientific funding.
“We are missing a number of American colleagues who were not authorized to come,” emphasized Poivre d’Arvor.
“UNOC is a summit of scientific struggle. In today’s context, it’s a vital endeavor,” he underlined.
While 50 delegations will be led by heads of state or government — including Brazilian President Lula — organizers still hope for a last-minute decision from the United States.
The memory of the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on the first day of Donald Trump’s second term in 2020 continues to loom large.
