Through the UN Association in France and the French Embassy in Norway, Valentin Brione has been involved in strengthening international cooperation for ocean protection.
Valentin Brione, member of the One Ocean Youth Panel, is a French representative from Nice. He is studying international governance and diplomacy at Sciences Po in Paris, with the goal of becoming a French diplomat and influencing global ocean governance. With extensive work experience in multilateralism through the French UN Association and the French Embassy in Norway, Brione wants to strengthen the One Ocean Youth Panel by restoring faith in international cooperation. He wants to communicate ocean-related international laws using contemporary tools to meet today's global challenges.
From a coastal town in southern France to global ocean advocacy
Growing up in Nice, ocean conservation was a call from Brione's backyard. He has had early exposure to ocean conservation with high school projects in ocean acidification and seaweed conservation. Rooted in his upbringing by the sea, these projects instilled a strong sense of responsibility very early on.
Today, he is driven by using diplomacy in international relations to promote collective protection of the oceans. He has explored this arena deeply through his previous projects with French UN association and at the One Ocean Youth Panel in association with the French Embassy in Norway.
Advocacy rooted in UNOC and One Ocean Summit Frameworks
The UN Ocean Conference framework recommends approaches to issues such as fisheries management, minority rights, social justice, and maritime security. Valentin’s work with the French UN association and the French Embassy in Norway explored how these recommendations can form a strong foundation for a more ambitious form of international cooperation.
“These frameworks are forward looking guidance more than binding agreements,” Valentin underscores, “leading to governments not taking them into account, and to act in their own interests instead.”
His vision is to create more binding mechanisms through reformed policies for current issues.
A changing world needs reformed politics
Countries share a fundamental interest in protecting the ocean because it provides some of the most important resources. International cooperation on ocean conservation has been promising. However, certain countries perceive ocean conservation as a secondary concern, particularly because international law follows a voluntary principle. My role in the One Ocean Youth Panel promotes collective solutions that emphasize that agreements and calls to action (for example, in UNOC III) are in everyone's interest—it promotes political stability and economic prosperity, says Brione.
At the same time, he believes that the ocean represents a unique opportunity for cooperation:
"This requires new tools and new policies that can modernize multilateralism and contribute to a UN system that is better equipped to meet the challenges of the future." Brione explains.
Participation in One Ocean Week with a strong message – Cooperation is key
The message he brings to this year's One Ocean Youth Panel is clear:
"Cooperation is still possible. It's depressing to follow the news right now and see how the ocean is being destroyed, but there is still hope. If we work together, we can still reduce future destruction," Brione says.
With all her energy, Brione is currently preparing to take competitive exams to become a French diplomat, have a stronger voice, and directly implement marine conservation policies.
This hope and optimism stem from his deep connection to the oceans:
"The ocean is life, literally. You can't ignore the ocean. It promotes life, supports livelihoods, and creates cultures. Humans also evolved from the ocean, and therefore the ocean deserves as much respect as another human being. There would be no Earth without the ocean, and this makes it obvious that we must protect it," Brione concludes.
Facts about Valentin Brione:
- Country: France
- Field of work: Governance and diplomacy
- Role in One Ocean Youth Panel: Member, French representative
- Background: International relations and diplomacy
- Institution: Sciences Po, Paris, France
- Field of study: International governance and diplomacy
- Frequently discussed topics: Reform of international law and international cooperation
- Current: Studying for competitive exams to become a French diplomat
