2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 : Conserve and Sustainably Use the Oceans, Seas and Marine Resources for Sustainable Development
2028 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 : Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 : Conserve and Sustainably Use the Oceans, Seas and Marine Resources for Sustainable Development
2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 : Conserve and Sustainably Use the Oceans, Seas and Marine Resources for Sustainable Development
837
–
Who cites this mandate in the budget?
3 entities
Entity
(Sub-)Programme
Title
Total mandates cited
Expenditure
Subprogramme 3
Sustainable development
27
—
Subprogramme 4
Law of the sea and ocean affairs
44
—
Programme 11
Environment
151
—
Historical expenditure covers the complete programme or subprogramme, not this mandate. For an overview of all UN entities and programmes, see UN entities and programmes.
Decides that the high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, co-hosted by Costa Rica and France, will be organized in Nice, France, from 9 to 13 June 2025, to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14;
2
Also decides that all costs relating to the Conference and its preparation shall be financed through extrabudgetary resources;
3
Reiterates the call made in the declarations entitled “Our ocean, our future: call for action”6 and “Our ocean, our future, our responsibility”,7 for action to be taken on an urgent basis to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development;
Support further and urgent action to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, giving due consideration to the call made in the declarations entitled “Our ocean, our future: call for action” and “Our ocean, our future, our responsibility”;
b
Identify further ways and means to support the implementation of Goal 14;
c
Build on existing instruments to form successful partnerships towards the swift conclusion and effective implementation of ongoing processes that contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean;
d
Involve all relevant stakeholders, bringing together Governments, the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, other interested international bodies, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector, philanthropic organizations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities and other actors to assess challenges and opportunities relating to, as well as actions taken towards, the implementation of Goal 14;
e
Share the experiences gained at the national, regional and international levels in the implementation of Goal 14;
f
Identify possible challenges and obstacles relating to the achievement of all the targets under Goal 14, as well as opportunities and innovative ways and means to support their implementation;
g
InviteMember States and other relevant stakeholders to provide an update on the implementation of the voluntary commitments made in the context of the United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, and invite new voluntary commitments in support of Goal 14, as well as support the sharing of experiences and lessons learned on their implementation;
h
Share ongoing efforts, successes and challenges between relevant ocean-related initiatives and processes with a view to promoting collaboration, cooperation and coordination, as well as preventing the unnecessary duplication of efforts, to ensure further efficiency and effectiveness in support of Goal 14;
i
Contribute to the follow-up and review process of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development8 by providing an input to the high-level political forum on sustainable development, in accordance with resolutions 67/290 of 9 July 2013, 70/1, 70/299 of 29 July 2016 and 75/290 B of 25 June 2021, unless otherwise agreed in line with the aforementioned resolutions, on the implementation of Goal 14, including on opportunities to strengthen progress in the future;
Contribute to the mainstreaming of a gender perspective in the work to conserve and sustainably use the ocean and its resources, including through the empowerment of women and girls, as their full, equal and meaningful participation is key in progressing towards a sustainable ocean-based economy and to achieving Goal 14;
5
Also decides that the overarching theme of the Conference shall be “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”;
6
Further decides that the Conference shall explore ways to promote financing and innovations to support the implementation of Goal 14, including through means of implementation in developing countries and the mobilization of resources from all sources;
7
Encourages participation in the Conference at the highest possible level;
8
Decides that the Conference shall elect from among the representatives of participating States the following officers: two Presidents, one from Costa Rica and one from France, two ex officio Vice-Presidents from the host countries, and 13 Vice-Presidents,9 one of whom shall be designated as Rapporteur-General;
9Three from each of the following groups: African States; Asia-Pacific States; Eastern European States; Latin American and Caribbean States; and Western European and other States. The election of the Presidents will, however, have the effect of reducing by one the number of Vice-Presidents allocated to the regions from which each of the Presidents is elected.
9
Also decides that the Conference shall comprise 10 plenary meetings and 10 Ocean Action panels, to be held from 9 to 13 June 2025;
10
Further decides that the first plenary meeting of the Conference will commence at 9 a.m. on Monday, 9 June, with an opening segment from 9 to 10 a.m., and that the plenary meetings will be held as follows:
Monday, 9 June: from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m.
Tuesday, 10 June: from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, 11 June: from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m.
Thursday, 12 June: from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m.
Friday, 13 June: from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 to 7 p.m.;
11
Decides that 10 Ocean Action panels will be held at the highest possible level, in parallel with the plenary meetings, in succession and for a minimum of 2 hours, in order to allow for the highest participation of delegations;
12
Also decides that all the Ocean Action panels shall be collaborative and multi-stakeholder in nature and will focus on commitments and actions to support the implementation of Goal 14, including through strengthened cooperation, building on existing successful partnerships and stimulating innovative and concrete new ones, taking into account the theme of the Conference;
13
Further decides that the organizational arrangements for the Ocean Action panels will be as follows:
a
Each Ocean Action panel will be presided over by two Co-Chairs, one from a developing country and one from a developed country, to be appointed by the two Presidents of the Conference and identified by the host countries at least six months in advance of the Conference;
b
The two host countries of the Conference, in coordination with the Secretary-General of the Conference and the two Co-Chairs, will designate a moderator and up to four panellists for each of the Ocean Action panels, taking into account gender balance and equitable geographical representation in the appointment of Co-Chairs, moderators and panellists. The panels, facilitated by the moderator, will be followed by an interactive debate among States and other relevant stakeholders;
14
Recommendsthe provisional agenda set forth in annex I to the present resolution for adoption by the Conference;
15
Decides that the Conference shall be organized in accordance with the organization of work set forth in annex II to the present resolution;
16
Recommendsthe provisional rules of procedure set forth in annex III to the present resolution for adoption by the Conference;
17
Requeststhe Secretary-General to appoint a Secretary-General of the Conference to serve as focal point within the Secretariat for providing support to the organization of the Conference, in cooperation and coordination with the Presidents of the Conference;
18
Also requeststhe Secretary-General to appoint a Special Adviser to the Presidents of the Conference on oceans and legal matters;
19
Decides that the Conference shall adopt, by consensus, a brief, concise, action-oriented and intergovernmentally agreed declaration focusing on areas of accelerated and collective action to support the implementation of Goal 14 and a report containing the Co-Chairs’ summaries of the Ocean Action panels, as well as a list of voluntary commitments for the implementation of Goal 14 registered after 1 July 2022 and announced at the Conference;
20
Also decides to refer to the intergovernmentally agreed declaration and the list of voluntary commitments as the “Nice Ocean Action Plan”;
21
Requeststhe President of the General Assembly to appoint two co-facilitators, one from a developing country and one from a developed country, to conduct the intergovernmental consultations on the declaration to be concluded by 1 May 2025;
22
Also requeststhe President of the General Assembly to convene a one- to two-day preparatory meeting, in July 2024 at United Nations Headquarters in New York, to be chaired by the two host countries of the Conference, with interpretation services on an as-available basis, with a view to considering the themes for the Ocean Action panels and elements for the declaration, taking into consideration paragraph 19 above, in particular the call for a brief, concise, action-oriented and intergovernmentally agreed declaration;
23
Requeststhe Secretary-General to prepare, in coordination with the two Presidents of the Conference, a background note by the end of April 2024, including a proposal for themes of the Ocean Action panels, for the preparatory meeting;
24
Requeststhe Secretary-General of the Conference to prepare, in coordination with the co-hosts of the Conference and the appointed Co-Chairs of each Ocean Action panel, concept papers on each of the themes of the Ocean Action panels, taking into account the relevant ocean-related processes of the General Assembly and other possible contributions, and in that regard invites the stakeholders referred to in paragraph 4 (d) above to submit inputs;
25
Requeststhe co-facilitators to present a brief, concise and action-oriented draft declaration no later than January 2025, taking into account the deliberations of the preparatory meeting and other inputs;
26
Requeststhe President of the General Assembly to finalize the organizational arrangements for the Conference no later than March 2025;
27
Decides that the Conference and its preparatory process shall be open to all States Members of the United Nations, members of the specialized agencies and parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,10 recognizing that neither participation in the preparatory process and the Conference nor its outcome may affect the legal status of non-parties to the Convention or any other related agreements with regard to those instruments, or the legal status of parties to the Convention or any other related agreements with regard to those instruments;
Invitesother relevant stakeholders, including organizations and bodies of the United Nations, intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, other interested international bodies and non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector and philanthropic organizations, whose work is relevant to the Conference, accredited in accordance with the provisions set forth in annex II to the present resolution, to participate as observers in the Conference and its preparatory meeting;
29
Invitesassociate members of the regional commissions11 to participate in the Conference and the preparatory meeting, in the same capacity specified for their participation in the global conferences on the sustainable development of small island developing States held in 1994, 2005 and 2014;
11American Samoa, Anguilla, Aruba, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Curaçao, French Polynesia, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands.
30
Decides that accreditation to the Conference and the preparatory meeting shall be in accordance with the provisions set forth in annex II to the present resolution;
31
Requeststhe Secretary-General to provide appropriate support from all relevant parts of the Secretariat, and in cooperation with other relevant parts of the United Nations system, to the work of the Conference and to facilitate inter-agency cooperation to that end, as well as to ensure the efficient use of resources, so that the objectives of the Conference can be achieved;
32
EncouragesStates and international donors, as well as the private sector, financial institutions, foundations and other donors in a position to do so, to support the preparations for the Conference through voluntary contributions to a trust fund in support of preparations for the Conference and to support the participation of representatives of developing countries, priority being given to representatives of the least developed countries and small island developing States, including coverage of economy-class air tickets, daily subsistence allowances and terminal expenses, in the meetings of the Conference and its preparatory meeting.
Annex I
Provisional agenda of the 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
Nice, France – 9 to 13 June 2025
1
Opening of the Conference.
2
Election of the two Presidents.
3
Adoption of the rules of procedure.
4
Adoption of the agenda of the Conference.
5
Election of officers other than the Presidents.
6
Organization of work, including the establishment of subsidiary organs, and other organizational matters.
7
Credentials of representatives to the Conference:
a
Appointment of the members of the Credentials Committee;
b
Report of the Credentials Committee.
8
General debate.
9
Ocean Action panels.
10
Outcome of the Conference.
11
Adoption of the report of the Conference.
12
Closure of the Conference.
Annex II
Proposed organization of work of the 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
Nice, France
1
The 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development will be held in Nice, France, from 9 to 13 June 2025.
Organization of work
Plenary meetings
2
The Conference will consist of an opening and a closing, and a total of 10 plenary meetings, to be webcast, as follows:
Monday, 9 June: from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m.
Tuesday, 10 June: from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, 11 June: from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m.
Thursday, 12 June: from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m.
Friday, 13 June: from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 to 7 p.m.
3
The plenary meetings will be devoted to statements showcasing implementation and voluntary commitments.
4
The list of speakers for the plenary meetings will be established on a first-come first-served basis, with the customary protocol that ensures that Heads of State or Government speak first, followed by other heads of delegation. The European Union will be included in the list of speakers. Detailed arrangements will be communicated in a timely manner through a note by the Secretariat.
5
At the opening of the Conference, to take place during the first plenary meeting, from 9 to 10 a.m. on Monday, 9 June, consideration will be given to all procedural and organizational matters, including the adoption of the rules of procedure and the agenda, the election of the two Presidents of the Conference, the election of officers, the establishment of subsidiary organs, as appropriate, the appointment of the members of the Credentials Committee, arrangements for the preparation of the report of the Conference and other matters. Also at the first plenary meeting, statements will be made by the Presidents of the Conference, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the President of the General Assembly, the President of the Economic and Social Council, the Secretary-General of the Conference and elected representatives of the host region and city.
6
The plenary meetings will also hear statements from representatives of other intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, international bodies, the United Nations specialized agencies, funds and programmes, as well as major groups and other stakeholders listed in paragraph 28 of the present resolution in accordance with the practices of the General Assembly.
7
The final plenary meeting, to be held on the afternoon of Friday, 13 June, is expected to conclude with, inter alia, reporting on the discussions of the Ocean Action panels, to be followed by the adoption of the brief, concise, action-oriented and intergovernmentally agreed declaration and the report of the Conference, followed by statements by the Special Adviser to the Presidents of the Conference on oceans and legal matters and the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the Ocean.
8
The plenary meetings will run in parallel with the Ocean Action panels unless otherwise specified in the present resolution.
Ocean Action panels
9
The Conference will include 10 Ocean Action panels, to be webcast, to be held in parallel with the plenary meetings, as follows:
Monday, 9 June: panel 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and panel 2 from 3 to 6 p.m.
Tuesday, 10 June: panel 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and panel 4 from 3 to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, 11 June: panel 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and panel 6 from 3 to 6 p.m.
Thursday, 12 June: panel 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and panel 8 from 3 to 6 p.m.
Friday, 13 June: panel 9 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and panel 10 from 1.30 to 4.30 p.m.
10
Summaries of the discussions of the Ocean Action panels should be submitted to the Conference at its closing plenary meeting and included in the final report of the Conference.
Main Committee
11
A Main Committee, if established in accordance with the rules of procedure of the Conference, will meet when the plenary meetings are not being held. The Main Committee will be responsible for finalizing any outstanding matters.
Credentials of representatives to the Conference: appointment of the members of the Credentials Committee
12
The Credentials Committee will be appointed according to the rules of procedure of the Conference.
Accreditation: institutional stakeholders
13
Relevant intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions and international bodies that were accredited to the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, the intergovernmental conference on an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, the United Nations Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, the Review Conference on the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, the international meeting entitled “Stockholm+50: a healthy planet for the prosperity of all – our responsibility, our opportunity”, the 2017 and 2022 United Nations Conferences to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development and to previous United Nations conferences on the sustainable development of small island developing States, held in Barbados, Mauritius and Samoa, and the upcoming fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, to be held in Antigua and Barbuda, including associate members of the regional commissions,12 may participate in the deliberations of the Conference and its preparatory meeting, as appropriate, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the Conference.
12American Samoa, Anguilla, Aruba, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Curaçao, French Polynesia, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands.
14
Interested intergovernmental organizations that were not accredited to the conferences and summits listed in paragraph 13 above may apply to the General Assembly for accreditation following the established accreditation procedure.
Accreditation: non-governmental organizations, major groups and other relevant stakeholders
15
The non-governmental organizations and major groups as identified in Agenda 21,13 in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, as well as those that were accredited to the conferences and summits listed in paragraph 13 above, shall register in order to participate.
13Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3–14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II.
16
The President of the General Assembly shall also draw up a list of representatives of other relevant non-governmental organizations, civil society and youth organizations, Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, local and regional authorities, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector, philanthropic organizations and other stakeholders whose work is relevant to the Conference, who may participate in the Conference and the preparatory meeting as observers, taking into account the principles of transparency and of equitable geographical representation, and shall submit the proposed list to Member States for their consideration on a non-objection basis. The President of the General Assembly shall bring the list to the attention of the General Assembly before the preparatory meeting and, in any case, no later than April 2024, and, where applicable, shall bring another list to the attention of the Assembly before the Conference and, in any case, no later than February 2025.14
14The list will include proposed as well as final names. The general basis of any objections, if requested by one or more States Members of the United Nations or States members of the specialized agencies, will be made known to the Office of the President of the General Assembly and the requester.
17
The provisions of paragraph 15 of General Assembly resolution 67/290 of 9 July 2013 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the Conference and its preparatory process.
Secretariat
18
The Secretary-General of the Conference will serve as focal point within the Secretariat for providing support to the organization of the Conference, in cooperation with the representatives of the two Presidents.
19
The Special Adviser to the Presidents of the Conference on oceans and legal matters will support the achievement of the goals of the Conference by providing both substantive and procedural advice.
Documentation
20
In accordance with the practice followed at previous United Nations conferences, the official documentation of the Conference will include documents issued before, during and after the Conference.
21
In accordance with the practice followed at previous United Nations conferences, it is recommended that the Conference adopt a report consisting of the decisions of the Conference, including the intergovernmentally agreed declaration, a brief account of the proceedings and a reportorial account of the work of the Conference and the action taken at the plenary meetings.
22
Summaries of the plenary meetings and Ocean Action panels and a list of voluntary commitments announced before or at the Conference should also be included in the report of the Conference.
Organization of parallel meetings and other events of the Conference
23
Parallel meetings and other events, including those of major groups and other stakeholders, will be held during the same hours as the plenary meetings and Ocean Action panels, space permitting. Interpretation services will be provided for such meetings, as available.
Side events
24
Side events, including forums, briefings, seminars, workshops and panel discussions on issues related to the implementation of Goal 14, will be organized by participants in the Conference, at their cost, and being mindful when planning side events and identifying events on similar topics or issues in an effort to minimize overlap and avoid duplication. Guidelines for organizing such events and the calendar of those events will be made available on the Conference website.
Media coverage
25
Press materials will be prepared by the Department of Global Communications of the Secretariat for journalists covering the Conference. In addition, regular press releases will be issued on the results of plenary meetings, Ocean Action panels and other events. All relevant documentation will be made available on the Conference website.
26
The plenary meetings, the Ocean Action panels and the press conferences will be broadcast live to the media area. A programme of special media briefings and press conferences will be announced.
Annex III
Provisional rules of procedure of the 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
Representation and credentials
Rule 1
Composition of delegations
The delegation of each State participating in the Conference and that of the European Union shall consist of a head of delegation and such other representatives, alternate representatives and advisers as may be required.
Rule 2
Alternates and advisers
The head of delegation may designate an alternate representative or an adviser to act as a representative.
Rule 3
Submission of credentials
The credentials of representatives and the names of alternate representatives and advisers shall be submitted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, if possible, not less than one week before the date fixed for the opening of the Conference. The credentials shall be issued either by the Head of the State or Government or by the Minister for Foreign Affairs or, in the case of the European Union, by the President of the European Commission.
Rule 4
Credentials Committee
A Credentials Committee of nine members shall be appointed at the beginning of the Conference. Its composition shall be based on that of the Credentials Committee of the General Assembly at its current session. It shall examine the credentials of representatives and report to the Conference without delay.
Rule 5
Provisional participation in the Conference
Pending a decision of the Conference on their credentials, representatives shall be entitled to participate provisionally in the Conference.
Officers
Rule 6
Elections
The Conference shall elect from among the representatives of participating States the following officers: two Presidents, one from Costa Rica and one from France, each of whom shall preside separately. The Conference shall also elect 13 Vice-Presidents,15 one of whom shall be designated as Rapporteur-General, two ex officio Vice-Presidents from the host countries as well as a Chair for the Main Committee established in accordance with rule 46. The officers shall be elected with a view to ensuring the representative character of the General Committee. The Conference may also elect such other officers as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions.
15Three from each of the following groups: African States; Asia-Pacific States; Eastern European States; Latin American and Caribbean States; and Western European and other States. The election of the two Presidents will, however, have the effect of reducing by one the number of Vice-Presidents allocated to the regions from which each of the Presidents is elected.
Rule 7
General powers of the presiding President
1
The Presidents shall take turns in presiding at the plenary meetings of the Conference. In addition to exercising the powers conferred upon her or him elsewhere by these rules, the presiding President shall declare the opening and closing of each meeting, put questions to the vote and announce decisions. The presiding President shall rule on points of order and, subject to those rules, shall have complete control over the proceedings and the maintenance of order thereat. The presiding President may propose to the Conference the closure of the list of speakers, a limitation on the time to be allowed to speakers and on the number of times each representative may speak on a question, the adjournment or closure of the debate and the suspension or adjournment of a meeting.
2
The presiding President remains, in the exercise of her or his functions, under the authority of the Conference.
Rule 8
Acting President
1
If both Presidents are to be absent from a meeting or any part thereof, they may designate one of the Vice-Presidents to preside.
2
A Vice-President acting as President shall have the same powers and duties as the President.
Rule 9
Replacement of a President or the Presidents
If either of the Presidents is unable to perform her or his functions, a new President shall be elected. If both Presidents are unable to perform their functions, new Presidents shall be elected.
Rule 10
Voting rights of the presiding President
The presiding President, or a Vice-President acting as the presiding President, shall not vote in the Conference, but may appoint another member of her or his delegation to vote in her or his place.
General Committee
Rule 11
Composition
The two Presidents, the Vice-Presidents, the Rapporteur-General and the Chair of the Main Committee shall constitute the General Committee. One of the two Presidents, as agreed between them, or, in their absence, one of the Vice-Presidents designated by them, shall serve as Chair of the General Committee. The Chair of the Credentials Committee and other committees established by the Conference in accordance with rule 48 may participate, without the right to vote, in the General Committee.
Rule 12
Substitute members
If a President or a Vice-President of the Conference is to be absent during a meeting of the General Committee, she or he may designate a member of her or his delegation to sit and vote in the Committee. In case of absence, the Chair of the Main Committee shall designate the Vice-Chair of that Committee as her or his substitute. When serving on the General Committee, a Vice-Chair of the Main Committee shall not have the right to vote if she or he is a member of the same delegation as another member of the General Committee.
Rule 13
Functions
The General Committee shall assist both Presidents in the general conduct of the business of the Conference and, subject to the decisions of the Conference, shall ensure the coordination of the work of the Conference.
Secretariat of the Conference
Rule 14
Duties of the Secretary-General of the United Nations
1
The Secretary-General of the United Nations or a designated representative shall act in that capacity in all meetings of the Conference and its subsidiary organs.
2
The Secretary-General of the United Nations or a designated representative shall direct the staff required by the Conference.
Rule 15
Duties of the secretariat of the Conference
The secretariat of the Conference shall, in accordance with the present rules:
a
Provide simultaneous interpretation of speeches made at meetings;
b
Receive, translate, reproduce and circulate the documents of the Conference;
c
Publish and circulate the official documents of the Conference;
d
Prepare and circulate records of public meetings;
e
Make and arrange for the keeping of sound recordings of meetings;
f
Arrange for the custody and preservation of the documents of the Conference in the archives of the United Nations;
g
Generally, perform all other work that the Conference may require.
Rule 16
Statements by the Secretariat
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, or any member of the Secretariat designated for that purpose, may, at any time, make either oral or written statements concerning any question under consideration.
Opening of the Conference
Rule 17
Temporary President
The Secretary-General of the United Nations or, in his absence, any member of the Secretariat designated by him for that purpose, shall open the first meeting of the Conference and preside until the Conference has elected its Presidents.
Rule 18
Decisions concerning organization
The Conference shall, at its first meeting:
a
Adopt its rules of procedure;
b
Elect its officers and constitute its subsidiary organs;
c
Adopt its agenda, the draft of which shall, until such adoption, be the provisional agenda of the Conference;
d
Decide on the organization of its work.
Conduct of business
Rule 19
Quorum
The presiding President may declare a meeting open and permit the debate to proceed when at least one third of the States participating in the Conference are present. The presence of a majority of the States so participating shall be required for any decision to be taken.
Rule 20
Speeches
1
No representative may address the Conference without having previously obtained the permission of the presiding President. Subject to rules 21, 22 and 25 to 27, the presiding President shall call upon speakers in the order in which they indicate their desire to speak. The secretariat shall be in charge of drawing up a list of speakers.
2
Debate shall be confined to the question before the Conference and the presiding President may call a speaker to order if her or his remarks are not relevant to the subject under discussion.
3
The Conference may limit the time allowed to each speaker and the number of times each participant may speak on any question. Permission to speak on a motion to set such limits shall be accorded to only two representatives in favour of and to two opposing such limits, after which the motion shall be immediately put to the vote. In any event, with the consent of the Conference, the presiding President shall limit each intervention on procedural matters to five minutes. When the debate is limited and a speaker exceeds the allotted time, the presiding President shall call her or him to order without delay.
Rule 21
Points of order
During the discussion of any matter, a representative may at any time raise a point of order, which shall be immediately decided by the presiding President in accordance with the present rules. A representative may appeal against the ruling of the presiding President. The appeal shall be immediately put to the vote, and the presiding President’s ruling shall stand unless overruled by a majority of the States present and voting. A representative may not, in raising a point of order, speak on the substance of the matter under discussion.
Rule 22
Precedence
The Chair or the Rapporteur of the Main Committee, or of other subsidiary organs, may be accorded precedence for the purpose of explaining the conclusions arrived at by the body concerned.
Rule 23
Closing of the list of speakers
During the course of a debate, the presiding President may announce the list of speakers and, with the consent of the Conference, declare the list closed.
Rule 24
Right of reply
1
Notwithstanding rule 23, the presiding President shall accord the right of reply to a representative of any State participating in the Conference or of the European Union who requests it. Any other representative of a State may be granted the opportunity to make a reply.
2
The statements made under the present rule shall normally be made at the end of the last meeting of the day, or at the conclusion of the consideration of the relevant item if that is sooner.
3
Representatives of a State or of the European Union may make no more than two statements under the present rule at a given meeting on any item. The first shall be limited to five minutes and the second to three minutes. Representatives shall, in any event, attempt to be as brief as possible.
Rule 25
Adjournment of debate
A representative of any State participating in the Conference may at any time move the adjournment of the debate on the question under discussion. In addition to the proposer of the motion, permission to speak on the motion shall be accorded to only two representatives in favour and to two opposing the adjournment, after which the motion shall, subject to rule 28, be immediately put to the vote.
Rule 26
Closure of debate
A representative of any State participating in the Conference may at any time move the closure of the debate on the question under discussion, whether or not any other representative has signified her or his wish to speak. Permission to speak on the motion shall be accorded to only two representatives opposing the closure, after which the motion shall, subject to rule 28, be immediately put to the vote.
Rule 27
Suspension or adjournment of the meeting
Subject to rule 38, a representative of any State participating in the Conference may at any time move the suspension or the adjournment of the meeting. No discussion on such motions shall be permitted and they shall, subject to rule 28, be immediately put to the vote.
Rule 28
Order of motions
The motions indicated below shall have precedence in the following order over all proposals or other motions before the meeting:
a
To suspend the meeting;
b
To adjourn the meeting;
c
To adjourn the debate on the question under discussion;
d
To close the debate on the question under discussion.
Rule 29
Submission of proposals and substantive amendments
Proposals and substantive amendments shall normally be submitted in writing to the Secretary-General or her or his designated representative, who shall circulate copies to all delegations in the languages of the Conference. Unless the Conference decides otherwise, substantive proposals shall not be discussed or put to a decision unless copies have been circulated to all delegations not later than the day preceding the meeting. The presiding President may, however, permit the discussion and consideration of amendments, even though those amendments have not been circulated or have been circulated only the same day.
Rule 30
Withdrawal of proposals and motions
A proposal or a motion may be withdrawn by its sponsor at any time before a decision on it has been taken, provided that it has not been amended. A proposal or a motion thus withdrawn may be reintroduced by any representative.
Rule 31
Decisions on competence
Subject to rule 28, any motion calling for a decision on the competence of the Conference to adopt a proposal submitted to it shall be put to the vote before a decision is taken on the proposal in question.
Rule 32
Reconsideration of proposals
When a proposal has been adopted or rejected, it may not be reconsidered unless the Conference, by a two-thirds majority of the States present and voting, so decides. Permission to speak on a motion to reconsider shall be accorded to only two speakers opposing reconsideration, after which the motion shall be immediately put to the vote.
Decision-making
Rule 33
General agreement
The Conference shall adopt, by consensus, a brief, concise, action-oriented and intergovernmentally agreed declaration focusing on, and highlighting, the science-based and innovative areas of action to support the implementation of Goal 14 and make its best endeavour to ensure that all the other work of the Conference is accomplished by consensus.
Rule 34
Voting rights
Each State participating in the Conference shall have one vote.
Rule 35
Majority required
1
Subject to rule 33, decisions of the Conference on all matters of substance shall be taken by a two-thirds majority of the States present and voting.
2
Except as otherwise provided in the present rules, decisions of the Conference on all matters of procedure shall be taken by a majority of the States present and voting.
3
If the question arises whether a matter is one of procedure or of substance, the presiding President of the Conference shall rule on the question. An appeal against that ruling shall be immediately put to the vote, and the presiding President’s ruling shall stand unless overruled by a majority of the States present and voting.
4
If a vote is equally divided, the proposal or motion shall be regarded as rejected.
Rule 36
Meaning of the phrase “States present and voting”
For the purpose of the present rules, the phrase “States present and voting” means States casting an affirmative or negative vote. States which abstain from voting shall be regarded as not voting.
Rule 37
Method of voting
1
Except as provided in rule 44, the Conference may vote by show of hands, except that a representative may request a roll call, which shall then be taken in the English alphabetical order of the names of the States participating in the Conference, beginning with the delegation whose name is drawn by lot by the presiding President. The name of each State shall be called in all roll calls, and its representative shall reply “yes”, “no” or “abstention”.
2
When the Conference votes by mechanical means, a non-recorded vote shall replace a vote by show of hands and a recorded vote shall replace a roll call. A representative may request a recorded vote, which shall, unless a representative requests otherwise, be taken without calling out the names of the States participating in the Conference.
3
The vote of each State participating in a roll call or a recorded vote shall be inserted in any record of or report on the meeting.
Rule 38
Conduct during voting
After the presiding President has announced the commencement of voting, no representative shall interrupt the voting, except on a point of order in connection with the actual conduct of the voting.
Rule 39
Explanation of vote
1
Representatives may make brief statements, consisting solely of explanations of vote, before the voting has commenced or after the voting has been completed. The presiding President may limit the time to be allowed for such explanations. The representative of a State sponsoring a proposal or motion shall not speak in explanation of vote thereon, except if it has been amended.
2
When the same matter is considered successively in several organs of the Conference, a State should, as far as possible, explain its vote only in one such organ, unless its vote in one organ is different from that in another organ.
Rule 40
Division of proposals
A representative may move that parts of a proposal be decided on separately. If a representative objects, the motion for division shall be voted upon. Permission to speak on the motion shall be accorded to only two representatives in favour of and to two opposing the division. If the motion is carried, those parts of the proposal that are subsequently approved shall be put to the Conference for decision as a whole. If all operative parts of the proposal have been rejected, the proposal shall be considered to have been rejected as a whole.
Rule 41
Amendments
A proposal is considered an amendment to another proposal if it merely adds to, deletes from or revises part of that proposal. Unless specified otherwise, the word “proposal” in these rules shall be regarded as including amendments.
Rule 42
Order of voting on amendments
When an amendment is moved to a proposal, the amendment shall be voted on first. When two or more amendments are moved to a proposal, the Conference shall vote first on the amendment furthest removed in substance from the original proposal and then on the amendment next furthest removed therefrom, and so on, until all the amendments have been put to the vote. Where, however, the adoption of one amendment necessarily implies the rejection of another amendment, the latter shall not be put to the vote. If one or more amendments are adopted, the amended proposal shall then be voted upon.
Rule 43
Order of voting on proposals
1
If two or more proposals, other than amendments, relate to the same question, they shall, unless the Conference decides otherwise, be voted on in the order in which they were submitted. The Conference may, after each vote on a proposal, decide whether to vote on the next proposal.
2
Revised proposals shall be voted on in the order in which the original proposals were submitted, unless the revision substantially departs from the original proposal. In that case, the original proposal shall be regarded as withdrawn and the revised proposal shall be treated as a new proposal.
3
A motion requiring that no decision be taken on a proposal shall be put to the vote before a decision is taken on the proposal in question.
Rule 44
Elections
All elections shall be held by secret ballot unless, in the absence of any objection, the Conference decides to proceed without taking a ballot when there is an agreed candidate or slate of candidates.
Rule 45
Balloting
1
When one or more elective places are to be filled at one time under the same conditions, those candidates, in a number not exceeding the number of such places, obtaining in the first ballot a majority of the votes cast and the largest number of votes shall be elected.
2
If the number of candidates obtaining such majority is less than the number of places to be filled, additional ballots shall be held to fill the remaining places, the voting being restricted to the candidates obtaining the largest number of votes in the previous ballot, to a number not more than twice the places remaining to be filled.
Subsidiary organs
Rule 46
Main Committee
The Conference may establish a Main Committee.
Rule 47
Representation on the Main Committee
Each State participating in the Conference and the European Union may be represented by one representative on the Main Committee. They may assign to the Committee such alternate representatives and advisers as may be required.
Rule 48
Other committees and working groups
1
In addition to the Main Committee referred to above, the Conference may establish such committees and working groups as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions.
2
Subject to the decision of the plenary of the Conference, the committees may set up subcommittees and working groups.
Rule 49
Members of committees, subcommittees and working groups
1
The members of the committees and working groups of the Conference, referred to in rule 48, paragraph 1, shall be appointed by the two Presidents, subject to the approval of the Conference, unless the Conference decides otherwise.
2
Members of the subcommittees and working groups of committees shall be appointed by the Chair of the committee in question, subject to the approval of that committee, unless the committee decides otherwise.
Rule 50
Officers
Except as otherwise provided in rule 6, each committee, subcommittee and working group shall elect its own officers.
Rule 51
Quorum
1
The Chair of the Main Committee may declare a meeting open and permit the debate to proceed when at least one quarter of the States participating in the Conference are present. The presence of a majority of the States so participating shall be required for any decision to be taken.
2
A majority of the members of the General Committee or the Credentials Committee or of any committee, subcommittee or working group shall constitute a quorum.
Rule 52
Officers, conduct of business and voting
The rules contained in sections II, VI (except rule 19) and VII above shall be applicable, mutatis mutandis, to the proceedings of committees, subcommittees and working groups, except that:
a
The Chairs of the General Committee and the Credentials Committee and the Chairs of the committees, subcommittees and working groups may exercise the right to vote, provided that they are representatives of participating States;
b
Decisions of committees, subcommittees and working groups shall be taken by a majority of the members present and voting, except that the reconsideration of a proposal or an amendment shall require the majority established by rule 32.
Languages and records
Rule 53
Languages of the Conference
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish shall be the languages of the Conference.
Rule 54
Interpretation
1
Speeches made in a language of the Conference shall be interpreted into the other five languages.
2
A representative may speak in a language other than a language of the Conference if the delegation concerned provides for interpretation into one of the languages of the Conference.
Rule 55
Languages of official documents
Official documents of the Conference shall be made available in the languages of the Conference.
Rule 56
Sound recordings of meetings
Sound recordings of the plenary meetings of the Conference, the Ocean Action Panels and of the meetings of the Main Committee shall be made and kept in accordance with the practice of the United Nations. Unless otherwise decided by the Conference or the Main Committee, no such recordings shall be made of any of the other meetings held during the Conference.
Public and private meetings
General principles
Rule 57
The plenary meetings of the Conference and the meetings of any committee shall be held in public unless the body concerned decides otherwise. All decisions taken by the plenary of the Conference at a private meeting shall be announced at an early public meeting of the plenary.
Rule 58
As a general rule, meetings of the General Committee, the Credentials Committee, subcommittees or working groups shall be held in private.
Rule 59
Communiqués on private meetings
At the close of a private meeting, the presiding officer of the organ concerned may issue a communiqué through the Secretary-General of the United Nations or a designated representative.
Other participants and observers
Rule 60
Intergovernmental organizations and other entities having received a standing invitation to participate as observers in the sessions and work of the General Assembly
Representatives designated by intergovernmental organizations and other entities having received a standing invitation to participate as observers in the sessions and work of the General Assembly have the right to participate as observers, without the right to vote, in the deliberations of the Conference, the Main Committee and, as appropriate, any other committee or working group.
Rule 61
Associate members of regional commissions
Representatives designated by the associate members of regional commissions listed in the footnote below may participate as observers, without the right to vote, in the deliberations of the Conference, the Main Committee and, as appropriate, any other committee or working group.
Rule 62
Representatives of the specialized agencies and related organizations
Representatives designated by the specialized agencies and related organizations may participate as observers, without the right to vote, in the deliberations of the Conference, the Main Committee and, as appropriate, any other committee or working group on questions within the scope of their activities.
Rule 63
Representatives of other intergovernmental organizations and other international bodies
Save where otherwise specifically provided with respect to the European Union in these rules of procedure, representatives designated by other intergovernmental organizations and other international bodies invited to the Conference may participate as observers, without the right to vote, in the deliberations of the Conference, the Main Committee and, as appropriate, any other committee or working group on questions within the scope of their activities.
Rule 64
Representatives of interested United Nations organs
Representatives designated by interested organs of the United Nations may participate as observers, without the right to vote, in the deliberations of the Conference, the Main Committee and, as appropriate, any other committee or working group on questions within the scope of their activities.
Rule 65
Representatives of non-governmental organizations, major groups and other relevant stakeholders
1
Non-governmental organizations, major groups and other relevant stakeholders approved to participate in the Conference may designate representatives to attend public meetings of the Conference and the Main Committee as observers.
2
Upon the invitation of the presiding officer of the Conference and subject to the approval of the Conference, such observers may make oral statements on questions in which they have special competence. If the number of requests to speak is too large, the non-governmental organizations shall be requested to form themselves into constituencies, such constituencies to speak through spokespersons.
Rule 66
Written statements
Written statements submitted by the designated representatives referred to in rules 60 to 65 shall be circulated by the secretariat to all delegations in the quantities and the languages in which the statements are made available to it at the site of the Conference, provided that a statement submitted on behalf of a non-governmental organization must be related to the work of the Conference and be on a subject in which the organization has a special competence. Written statements shall not be made available at United Nations expense and shall not be issued as official documents.
Suspension and amendment of the rules of procedure
Rule 67
Method of suspension
Any of these rules may be suspended by the Conference provided that 24 hours’ notice of the proposal for the suspension has been given, which may be waived if no representative objects. Any such suspension shall be limited to a specific and stated purpose and to a period required to achieve that purpose.
Rule 68
Method of amendment
These rules of procedure may be amended by a decision of the Conference taken by a two-thirds majority of the States present and voting, after the General Committee has reported on the proposed amendment.
Table of contents
Who cites this mandate in the budget?
3 entities
Entity
(Sub-)Programme
Title
Total mandates cited
Expenditure
Subprogramme 3
Sustainable development
27
Subprogramme 4
Law of the sea and ocean affairs
44
Programme 11
Environment
151
Historical expenditure covers the complete programme or subprogramme, not this mandate. For an overview of all UN entities and programmes, see UN entities and programmes.
