Policy Updates

From June 9-13, 2025, the 3^rd UN Ocean Conference was hosted in Nice, France, ending with over 170 countries adopting a joint declaration committing to urgent measures for ocean conservation and sustainable use.

The event featured 55 heads of state and government as well as upwards of 15,000 participants from civil society, business, and science. The Nice Ocean Action Plan, combining this declaration with voluntary pledges, was said to mark renewed global political will for marine protection.

Key commitments included:

• A European Commission pledge of EUR1 billion (US$1.1 billion) for ocean conservation;
• A pledge by French Polynesia to create the world’s largest marine protected area;
• A pledge by New Zealand of US$52 million for Pacific Ocean governance;
• A pledge by Italy of EUR6.5 million (US$7 million) to strengthen Coast Guard surveillance in marine protected areas and on oil platforms;
• A pledge by Spain to establish five new marine protected areas, aiming to safeguard 25% of its marine territory;
• A pledge by Germany of EUR100 million (US$115 million) for Baltic and North Sea munitions clearance;
• The launch of a Coral Bond for reef conservation by Indonesia, WB, and partners.

37 countries, led by Panama and Canada, launched the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean, while Canada pledged US$9 million to the Ocean Risk and Resilience Alliance. UN agencies and global partners also launched a co-design process for One Ocean Finance to unlock billions in new financing from ocean-dependent industries and blue economy sectors.

Nineteen more states ratified the Marine Biodiversity Treaty, bringing total signatures to 136 and ratifications to 50 states, plus the EU. Ten more ratifications are needed for the Agreement to enter into force. The 4^th UN Ocean Conference, in 2028, will be co-hosted by Chile and the Republic of Korea.

On June 4, 2025, new findings from the Global Climate and Health Alliance showed that only 21 of 195 countries party to the UNFCCC Paris Agreement have submitted updated NDCs for 2035, nearly four months past deadline with most NDCs mentioning health benefits, such as reduced air pollution, but few including systems to track health outcomes.

The GCHA reviewed 11 countries’ NDCs and found that while many reference health benefits, only the UK’s plan includes specific air quality monitoring. Kenya’s NDC aims for 100% renewable energy and a 35% emissions cut by 2035, yet does not explicitly measure air pollution benefits. Brazil’s NDC focuses on deforestation and fossil fuel transition but lacks clarity on new oil extraction and zero deforestation pledges. The US, after submitting its plan, has withdrawn its targets, weakening global momentum.

Recent NDCs highlight varied approaches: New Zealand targets “super pollutants” but is seen as unambitious; Japan’s continued fossil fuel use has significant health impacts; Canada is phasing out coal; and the UAE is developing a national monitoring system. However, most plans fall short of the 1.5°C goal, with the UK as a notable exception.

The World Bank estimates that halving global exposure to dangerous air pollution by 2040 would require annual investments to rise from US$9 billion in 2020 to US$14 billion in 2040. Despite this, climate finance commitments remain inadequate, and the ;abbrUS exit further strains resources.

On November 19, 2024, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau concluded his participation at the G20 Leaders Summit where he announced over CAD68 million (US$49 million) in new investments to address organized crime and drug smuggling, as well as support climate action and protection for women and girls.

Funding included:

• Nearly CAD24 million (US$17 million) to stop drug and human trafficking into Canada, increase collaboration with international security organizations, and enhance the capacities of airports in Latin America and the Caribbean to prevent the shipment of illicit drugs;
• Over CAD25 million (US$18 million) to help restore global biodiversity, support measures to alleviate malnutrition, work with farmers in climate-stressed regions, and enhance food security; and
• Over CAD19 million (US$14 million) to support women and girls in Latin America by preventing discrimination and GBV and encouraging women’s participation in conservation, land and water resource management, and improved health services for at-risk women, including Indigenous women.

Trudeau also secured Canada’s participation in two key global partnerships - the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty and the Global Clean Power Alliance. Throughout the summit, Trudeau also participated in various G20 working sessions to advance progress on global peace and security, focusing on Ukraine and the Middle East.

On November 15, 2024, Canada announced nearly CAD13 million (US$9 million) for the Building Climate Resilience from Indigenous Perspectives project, which aims to support climate resilience and Indigenous-led climate action projects in Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, and Peru in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada.

The project is a partnership between the BCAFN and Save the Children Canada, the ONAMIAP, and the ECMIA Sur.

The funding will help advance nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation by strengthening climate governance in Indigenous communities and creating space for knowledge sharing.

On November 12, 2024, Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen announced CAD35 million (US$25 million) to support gender equality and women’s empowerment initiatives across Africa.

The funding supports a range of projects to strengthen gender equality, human rights, supporting women’s leadership, and improving access to essential services, with an emphasis on collaboration with local organizations and communities to ensure sustainable and culturally appropriate solutions.

Funding announcements included:

• CAD12 million (US$9 million) for World Vision Canada’s RESILIENT-WE: Reducing Environmental Shocks in Ethiopia to improve health and livelihoods for 56,000 people, mainly women, in the Oromia region by addressing climate resilience and GBV;
• CAD10 million (US$7 million) to UN Women’s Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women;
• CAD6 million (US$4 million) to Gender Links Renewed Women's Voice and Leadership project to support approximately 50 women’s rights organizations and LGBTQI+s groups in South Africa;
• CAD5 million (US$4 million) to the UN Somalia Joint Fund’s Supporting the Rights of Women and Girls in Somalia project to build inclusive public institutions to protect human rights, with an emphasis on women and girls; and
• CAD2 million (US$1 million) to Emmanuel Relief and Rehabilitation International of Canada’s Titukule Azimai (Empower Women) project to support survivors of GBV in Malawi.

On November 7, 2024, Canada announced a total of CAD231 million (US$166 million) to support a series of flagship initiatives for peace and security in Africa, as well as building stronger and mutually beneficial partnerships by supporting economic empowerment, climate change action, and gender equality.

The funding was announced by Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of International Development, and Minister of International Trade and Economic Development on the margins of the Canada-African Union Commission High-Level Dialogue in Toronto, Ontario.

Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen announced nearly CAD177 million (US$127 million) in funding to advance women’s and youth’s economic and social empowerment, support climate-change adaptation, and skills enhancement through the following projects:

• Supporting the UPSNJP - CAD75 million (US$54 million);
• Leading on funding the Renewed Women's Voice and Leadership in Crisis- and Conflict-affected Contexts - CAD25 million (US$18 million);
• Advancing women and youth’s economic and social empowerment in Senegal - CAD20 million (US$14 million);
• Backing the Climate Resilience through Empowering Women project - CAD15 million (US$11 million);
• Providing resources to AWBG - CAD14 million (US$10 million);
• Contributing to the United Nations Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Kenya - CAD10 million (US$7 million);
• Contributing to FIRST - CAD10 million (US$7 million);
• Strengthening the South Africa Skills Enhancement Program - CAD5 million (US$4 million); and
• Supporting Morocco's WESE - CAD2 million (US$1 million).

Hussen also announced initiatives to strengthening partnership to reduce poverty, provide humanitarian assistance, support economic development, and empowering youth by:

• Creating a new Africa trade and development program at GAC which will support development initiatives that contribute to food security, job creation, gender equality, and environmental sustainability; and
• Enhancing and expanding education and skills training programming to harness economic empowerment.

Additionally, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly announced CAD54 million (US$39 million) in funding for flagship initiatives and projects in the following key focus areas: peace and security, good governance, strengthened people-to-people ties, and enhancing Canada’s diplomatic footprint. This includes by:

• Supporting youth and women in peace processes;
• Supporting community-led conflict-prevention in Darfur and civilian-led political process throughout Sudan;
• Investing in counterterrorism capacity and threat resilience;
• Working to prevent violent extremism and support SGBV;
• Naming a Special Envoy for Africa and for the Sahel; and
• Formalizing Canada’s relationship with the AU Commission through a new memorandum of understanding.

On November 6, 2024, Canada’s Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen announced CAD10 million (US$7 million) to support industry-relevant skills training for young people in Egypt’s agribusiness sector.

The funding will support CICan to work with local partners and the Egyptian Ministry of Education and Technical Education to support over 20,000 students with technical training, internships, and career counselling. The project will set up an innovative learning hub to help youth gain climate-smart skills and join the agribusiness industry.

On November 4, 2024, Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen announced over CAD50 million (US$36 million) over the next four years for the UNHCR.

The funding will help the UNHCR respond to the critical humanitarian and protection needs of refugees and other displaced populations around the world in the face of escalating conflicts, persecution, and the effects of climate change.

On October 29, 2024, Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen attended COP16 where he announced CAD62 million (nearly US$45 million) for global biodiversity and Indigenous empowerment, with a particular focus on Latin America.

The funding includes:

• CAD20 million (US$14 million) to Conservation International for the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund to advance gender equality by strengthening leadership skills among women conservationists and enhance locally driven conservation in key biodiversity areas in the Cerrado in Brazil, countries in the Indo-Burma region, and countries in the Tropical Andes;
• Nearly CAD13 million (US$9 million) to the UNDP Biodiversity Ecosystem Restoration for the Community Resilience in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh project;
• Nearly CAD10 million (US$7 million) to the WFP's Enhancing Indigenous Peoples’ Resilience to Climate Change in Colombia project;
• CAD7 million (US$5 million) to the IUCN - Podong Indigenous Peoples Initiative to help Indigenous people build their capacity to implement gender-responsive biodiversity conservation actions in Guatemala, Nepal, Panama, and Tanzania;
• CAD5 million (nearly US$4 million) to Fisheries and Oceans Canada for the Supporting the Protection of Marine Biodiversity Within the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean project, focused in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru;

On September 24, 2024, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced CAD203 million (US$151 million) for SRHR, gender equality, global peace and security, and climate change at the UNGA and the Summit of the Future.

New funding included:

• Over CAD112 million (US$83 million) to help protect the comprehensive SRHR of women and girls worldwide;
• CAD58 million (US$43 million) in projects that empower women and promote gender equality, particularly in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. With this funding, Canada will fulfill its CAD100 million (US$74 million) commitment to address issues in unpaid and paid care work in low- and middle-income countries;
• Over CAD16 million (US$12 million) to support Haiti’s transitional government’s election preparedness, increase humanitarian aid, reduce gang violence, and expand access to justice for women and youth detainees while supporting their reintegration into society;
• Prime Minister Trudeau also convened a High-Level Meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti to strengthen efforts to restore democracy, security, and stability in Haiti;
• CAD9 million (US$7 million) to support the UN’s efforts to strengthen development, humanitarian, and peacebuilding assistance globally.
• CAD4 million (US$3 million) to Canada’s Global Forest Leadership Program to respond to increasing wildfires in the face of climate change and advance international leadership on sustainable forest management; and
• CAD4 million (US$3 million) in new wide-ranging investments to strengthen global peace and security, including on land mine clearance, and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, particularly women affected by conflict.

At the UNGA, Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s support for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, strengthening democratic institutions globally, and defending Ukraine. Trudeau also welcomed six new members to Canada’s Global Carbon Pricing Challenge, which calls on countries to price carbon to cover 60% of global emissions by 2030.