The 2025 UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) is officially underway from June 9-13, and Waterkeeper Alliance is on the ground in France with Waterkeepers Bahamas as well as Hann Baykeeper and Bargny Coast Waterkeeper from Senegal. Together, we are supporting coordinated advocacy for a #FossilFreeOcean and a strong UNOC declaration to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.
On June 11, we’re co-hosting a side event with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to a Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment. The event will highlight policy innovations, global standards, and grassroots strategies for advancing rights-based ocean governance. Waterkeepers Bahamas Executive Director and Bimini Coastal Waterkeeper Andurah Daxon, along with Hann Baykeeper Mbacke Seck, will share their perspectives on the threats posed by oil and gas drilling in coastal communities.
On June 12, Climate and Safe Energy Campaign Manager Isaiah Back-Gaal will join the panel “Ocean Frontiers at Risk: Fossil Fuel Expansion Threats to Biodiversity Hotspots and Climate Stability.” The discussion will highlight findings from Earth Insight’s latest report on the threats posed by offshore oil and gas development, produced in partnership with Waterkeeper Alliance, Waterkeepers Bahamas, Hann Baykeeper, Bargny Coast Waterkeeper, and others. The report presents 11 case studies from around the world, exposing the ecological and social risks of new oil and gas projects—and the growing resistance from local communities, Indigenous peoples, and environmental advocates.
